Immigration Advice Authority
Definition
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is the UK statutory body that regulates immigration advisers, ensuring they are fit, competent, and act in clients' best interests. Renamed from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) on 16 January 2025, it kept the same statutory powers; providing immigration advice unregulated remains a criminal offence.
What the IAA does
The IAA regulates people who give immigration advice or services in the UK outside of already-regulated legal professions. It registers advisers at defined levels of competence, sets standards, audits practice, and enforces against those advising illegally. Its remit spans regulating compliance, enforcing against unlawful practice, and promoting good standards across the sector.
Registration is tiered by the complexity of work an adviser is authorised to handle. Advising on immigration matters for a third party without appropriate regulation (by the IAA or another approved regulator, such as a legal regulator) is a criminal offence in the UK.
The 2025 rename from OISC
On 16 January 2025 the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) was renamed the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). The change was a rebrand, not a change of powers: existing registrations, the statutory remit, and enforcement functions all carried over unchanged, and official communications moved to the new name and web address. Sources still refer to the old name during the transition, so verify the current position with the regulator.
For agencies, the practical point is that a regulator called "OISC" and one called "IAA" are the same body — a distinction worth getting right when explaining who may lawfully advise. This is different from software: a tool like VisaCRM runs client operations but is not a regulator or a substitute for regulated advice, as covered in can immigration lawyers use a visa CRM.
In the UK, only advisers regulated by the IAA (or another approved regulator) may lawfully give immigration advice, so agencies must know where advice ends and administration begins. VisaCRM is operational software that runs an agency's client workflow and documents — it is not a regulatory shortcut and does not authorise anyone to give immigration advice.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Immigration Advice Authority?
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is the UK government body that regulates immigration advisers who are not covered by another approved regulator. It registers advisers by competence level, sets and audits standards, and takes enforcement action against people who give immigration advice unlawfully. It ensures advisers are fit, competent, and act in their clients' best interests.
Is the IAA the same as the OISC?
Yes. The Immigration Advice Authority is the renamed Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). The change took effect on 16 January 2025 and was a rebrand only — the same statutory powers, remit, and registrations carried over. Documents referring to the OISC and the IAA describe the same regulator; verify the current details with the authority.
Do I need to be regulated to give immigration advice in the UK?
Generally yes. Giving immigration advice or services to others in the UK usually requires regulation by the IAA or another approved regulator, such as a legal-profession regulator. Doing so without appropriate authorisation is a criminal offence. Using visa management software does not grant this authorisation — it handles operations, not the regulated advice itself.
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