We will assess your individual circumstances and let you know the cost at the outset. The prices below are indicative and include a principal applicant only. Some applications may be comparatively straightforward, whilst others may be complicated and require us to spend more time on them.

Fees You Can Afford


Licensed immigration adviser New Zealand

Our Services

Residence Visa

Our goal: Help you choose the right pathway to live in New Zealand long-term and prepare a strong, well-evidenced residence application.

Best for: Skilled workers, people on work-to-residence pathways, and families wanting certainty about long-term options.

Fees from: Skilled Migrant Category from $4500. Parent, Residence from Work, Partner or Dependent Child of NZ Citizen or Resident from $2000 * additional family not included

What we help with:

  • Pathway mapping (e.g., Skilled Migrant Category, Green List Straight to Residence / Work to Residence, other eligible residence routes).

  • Eligibility and evidence planning (identity, health/character, role/skill alignment, relationship evidence where relevant).

  • Application preparation, submission, and Immigration NZ correspondence support.


Work Visa

Our goal: Get you working legally in NZ on the right visa and keep your options open for future residence where possible.

Best for: Applicants with NZ job offers, workers employed by accredited employers, and people needing a work visa linked to study or partnership.

Fees from: Essential Skills, Specific Purpose or Event, Work to Residence, Partner of NZ Citizen or Resident $1200 to $2000

What we help with:

  • Work visa strategy (e.g., Accredited Employer Work Visa, post-study work options, partnership-based work visas).

  • Employer/job/role alignment checks (conditions, length of stay, and what the visa allows).​

  • End-to-end application support and practical guidance on maintaining visa conditions.


Immigration consultant New Zealand cost

Student Visa

Our goal: Support students to study in NZ with the right visa plan, including work rights and realistic next-step pathways after graduation.

Best for: New international students, returning students, and graduates considering post-study work.

Fees from: $600

What we help with:

  • Student visa planning aligned to course/qualification and timing.​

  • Post-study pathway planning (including Post-Study Work Visa considerations where applicable).​

  • Ongoing support as your circumstances change (course changes, extensions, transitioning to work).


Family Visa

Our goal: Help families reunite in New Zealand by choosing the right family/partnership visa and presenting strong relationship and settlement evidence.

Best for: Partners, parents, and dependent children wanting to join family in NZ (or switch to a family-based pathway).

Fees from: $400

What we help with:

  • Partnership-based applications (what evidence is typically needed and how to present it clearly).​

  • Broader family options (parents/children/other eligible categories depending on your situation).

  • Practical guidance on timelines, conditions (e.g., open work conditions in some partnership scenarios), and next steps.

Trusted NZ Immigration Adviser Dunedin

NZ Employer Support

Our goal: Reduce risk and admin for NZ employers hiring migrants by guiding accreditation, job checks, and ongoing immigration compliance.

Best for: NZ businesses hiring on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pathway or managing multiple migrant employees.

Fees from: $600

What we help with:

  • Employer accreditation support (process steps, evidence expectations, and sharing access with your adviser in Immigration Online).​

  • Job checks and hiring workflow guidance (what happens after accreditation and how it links to AEWV hiring).​

  • Ongoing employer compliance and support to retain staff on the best-fit visa options.


Business Investor

Our goal: Support investors/entrepreneurs to choose a viable NZ investment or business route and manage the visa process from planning to approval.

Best for: People wanting to invest in and actively run a NZ business and (where available) pursue a residence outcome over time.

Fees from: $4,000

What we help with:

  • Visa option fit (e.g., Business Investor Work Visa requirements and what the visa allows).​

  • Funds/source-of-funds and “fit and proper” preparation aligned to Immigration NZ expectations.​

  • Coordinating the application process for you (and including partner/dependent children where eligible).​


Citizenship applications

Our goal: To make your transition from resident to citizen clear, well-timed, and well-documented, so your application is straightforward for decision-makers to assess.

Best for: People who already hold residence (or are close to it) and want to understand when and how to apply for New Zealand citizenship with minimal surprises.

Fees from: From NZD $1000 for NZ based applicants (plus government application fees and any third-party costs such as translations or certificates).

What we help with:
We check your eligibility and timing for citizenship, explain residence and presence requirements in plain English, and help you prepare and organise your supporting documents. We can review your application before submission and talk through next steps if your situation is not straightforward.


Complex and high‑risk cases

Including section 61 and special directions

Our goal: To give you a realistic view of your position and, where a pathway exists, build the strongest possible request or application in a high‑risk setting.

Best for: People with complex immigration histories (for example, unlawful status, visa breaches, or previous declines) who may need a section 61 request, special direction, or other discretionary consideration.

Fees from: From NZD $1000, quoted case by case depending on complexity and urgency (plus any government and third-party costs).

What we help with:
We assess your current immigration position and risks, and advise whether a section 61 request, special direction, or another option is appropriate. We then help gather and structure supporting evidence, prepare detailed written submissions to Immigration New Zealand, and discuss alternative pathways if a discretionary option is unlikely to succeed.

Book a consultation to discuss your eligibility.

  • "It has been fantastic working with Dan. So helpful and friendly and a great support in an environment that is usually cold and bureaucratic. He was full of advice and tips and catered to my complicated needs. I look forward to completing my journey towards residency with him as my reliable and dependable assistant."

    D, 2024 Work Visa

  • "I am fully satisfied with the services of the Settler Immigration. Dan is very helpful, professional, and supportive to listen your circumstances and provide you the legal options and explains your eligibility. He is very strong to pre-access the application and indicate any extra information or documents required for visa. I used the services of Settler Immigration since my student visa application and until my residency approval. I strongly recommend the services of Settlers Immigration."

    — WA, 2022-2024 Student Visa to Skilled Migrant Residence Visa

  • “I’m really thankful to Dan for all his help with my husband’s visa application. He was so professional and handled every challenge that came up during the process. Whenever we had any issues or questions, Dan was always there to guide us and solve them. He really knows his stuff and made sure everything went smoothly. Not only is Dan great at his job, but he’s also a really kind and patient person. He took the time to understand our situation and made us feel supported every step of the way. Thanks to his hard work, my husband is finally here with me, and I couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend Dan to anyone needing help with immigration. He’s trustworthy, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with.”

    S&P, 2024 Partnership Work Visa

  • “I recently worked with Dan Prain on my mother’s visa application, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. As I was pregnant at the time, I felt completely overwhelmed by the thought of navigating the visa process myself. From the very beginning, Dan was supportive, professional, and reassuring. He immediately put my mind at ease, taking full responsibility for the application and guiding us through every step with care. Dan managed the entire process seamlessly, from start to finish. He was responsive, kind, and understanding, always making sure I felt informed and confident. Thanks to his expertise, my mother’s visa was approved smoothly and without any issues, allowing her to stay with me for the delivery and to help care for the baby after birth. Having been through numerous visa applications over the past eight years, from study, to work, to residency. I know firsthand how stressful and challenging these processes can be. This was, without a doubt, the smoothest and most stress-free immigration experience I have ever had in New Zealand. Dan’s professionalism, dedication, and genuine care made all the difference, and I am deeply grateful for his support. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone seeking an immigration advisor they can truly trust.”

    P – 2025 – family visa

  • "My experience with Settlers Immigration has been truly outstanding. From the very beginning, Mr. Dan provided clear guidance, timely communication, and genuine care throughout my visa process. They took the time to understand my situation, offered practical advice, and supported me at every stage with professionalism and integrity. What impressed me most was their deep knowledge of New Zealand immigration pathways and their commitment to ensuring every detail was handled correctly. Thanks to Mr. Dan and Settlers Immigration, the entire process felt smooth, transparent, and stress- free. I am sincerely grateful to Mr. Dan and Team for their exceptional service and highly recommend Settlers Immigration to anyone seeking reliable and expert immigration support."

    — IH, 2025 Family Visas

  • "We are truly grateful to Settlers Immigration Services for the incredible support we received during our visa application journey. From our very first conversation with Dan, we felt reassured, supported and in safe hands. Applying for family visas can be stressful and overwhelming, especially with so many requirements and documents to manage. Dan guided us through the entire process with patience, clarity and care. He took the time to answer all our questions, explain each step clearly and double check every detail to make sure nothing was missed. His calm and approachable manner made a huge difference and gave us confidence throughout the process. Thanks to Dan’s expertise and personalised support we successfully secured our visas. We would wholeheartedly recommend Settlers Immigration Services to anyone looking for trustworthy immigration support."

    — Y, 2025 Family Visas

  • “I’m really thankful to Dan for all his help with my husband’s visa application. He was so professional and handled every challenge that came up during the process. Whenever we had any issues or questions, Dan was always there to guide us and solve them. He really knows his stuff and made sure everything went smoothly. Not only is Dan great at his job, but he’s also a really kind and patient person. He took the time to understand our situation and made us feel supported every step of the way. Thanks to his hard work, my husband is finally here with me, and I couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend Dan to anyone needing help with immigration. He’s trustworthy, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with."

    — S & P, 2025 Partner Work Visa