The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) has released its inaugural annual report following its transition from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), detailing its performance, regulatory activity, and enforcement work for the 2024/25 financial year. The report marks a significant period of change for the regulator, encompassing a rebrand, growing regulatory demand, expanded enforcement activity, and preparations for new statutory powers.
The 118-page report, which can be downloaded here, explains that the rebrand to the IAA was intended to clarify the organisation’s purpose and reflect a broader evolution in the regulation of immigration advice. The move is guided by the IAA’s first Corporate Plan, running to 2027, which sets out four key aims: enhancing access to high-quality immigration advice, disrupting illegal activity, raising awareness among advice seekers, and building a high-performing organisation.
During 2024/25, the IAA regulated over 3,800 individual advisers and more than 2,000 registered organisations through its registration, compliance, and enforcement framework. Revenue from fees rose to £1,647,000 (up from £1,375,000 in 2023/24), while expenditure for the year was £5,454,000.
The regulator saw considerable activity over the year. There were 1,029 new adviser applications, compared with 1,117 the previous year, of which 599 were approved. A further 1,220 continued registration applications were also approved. Organisational demand increased, with 206 organisations registering for the first time, up from 140 in 2023/24. Additionally, 415 applications were received to raise levels of regulation, alongside 22 applications for new legal entity registrations.
Competence assessment remained a cornerstone of regulation. Sixteen assessment events were held-12 at level 1 and four at levels 2 and 3-with 851 applicants sitting the tests and 464 passing, reflecting a 55% pass rate consistent with previous years. The IAA emphasised that this standard maintains the sector’s “consistently high standards.”
Audit activity also increased, with 84 audits completed-both in person and online-compared to 79 the previous year. Common breaches related to client care, record-keeping, adviser competence, and financial handling, while a smaller number of audits identified serious concerns such as unregulated advice or fitness issues, prompting follow-up enforcement.
Complaints against regulated advisers doubled to 182 in 2024/25. Investigations identified breaches of the IAA’s Codes of Standards in 32 cases, with a further 10 resolved through the Commissioner’s redirection scheme. Mediation led to £28,667 being refunded to complainants, more than twice the previous year, despite the IAA not currently having statutory powers to compel fee refunds.
The report highlights an accelerated approach to tackling illegal immigration advice. The IAA received 606 referrals regarding suspected unregulated advice, up from 501, resulting in 62 new investigations, a significant increase from 13 in 2023/24. Of the 41 investigations closed during the year, 12 were resolved through disruption or restitution, and two resulted in successful criminal prosecutions. Notable cases included a 16-month suspended custodial sentence for fraud and unregulated advice and a six-month suspended sentence for providing unregulated advice.
Looking forward, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025-receiving Royal Assent in December 2025-will grant the IAA additional regulatory and enforcement powers. The report outlines plans to secure new fining powers and the ability to compel fee refunds and compensation for victims of unregulated advice. The Home Office also intends to consult on powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), further strengthening enforcement capabilities.
Gaon Hart, the Immigration Services Commissioner, reflected on challenges posed by the 2024 riots, which led to a temporary suspension of the Adviser Finder and Adviser Register tools to protect registered advisers. The tools were later reinstated with improved safeguards, and a map function is being introduced to assist advice seekers.
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