Immigration Advice Authority Handed More Power to Penalise Unregulated Advisers

Under the government’s new rules announced on 22 October 2025, immigration advisers who do not comply and are not legally registered and regulated to offer immigration advice will be penalised.

Following a consultation, more power has been placed in the hands of regulatory body, the Immigration Advice Authority, to seize dirty money from such operations.

Funds from these operations will be reinvested in border security and policing, helping to shut down networks that offer sham immigration advice.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:  

“Rogue immigration advisers exploiting our system will pay the price.

“By backing the Immigration Advice Authority with tough new powers, we’re stripping criminals of their dirty money and using it to strengthen our borders and keep our streets safe.”

These measures build on new powers granted to the Immigration Advice Authority under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will impose fines of up to £15,000 on individuals falsely claiming to be immigration lawyers.

As the bill moves through Parliament, the government is intensifying efforts to protect the UK’s borders – returning over 35,000 people with no legal right to remain and collaborating with France to increase migrant returns.

Officials emphasise that the government remains firm in its commitment to tackling illegal migration and safeguarding national borders.

How Do You Know if Your Immigration Advisers are Regulated?

There are a few ways to tell if your immigration adviser is regulated to offer immigration advice.

If a firm is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority, you can find them using the adviser register.

• In the case of the Immigration Advice Service, you would search “Immigration Advice Service” on the adviser register where you will see the following:

Alternatively, you can look at an adviser’s website to find the IAA logo, where there is usually an option to verify by clicking the image. On the IAS website, you can find this in our footer at the bottom of each page. Other firms may have their registration number in the footer which you can search on the adviser register.

If the IAA does not regulate a firm, it may be regulated by the SRA instead. You can search the SRA register for their name.