Choosing an immigration adviser vs solicitor for your UK visa means choosing between two kinds of regulated professional: immigration advisers regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), and immigration solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Either can be the right choice. The more useful question is which one suits your case, your budget and the stage your application has reached.
- Only regulated or legally qualified people may give immigration advice in the UK. Anyone else is breaking the law.
- IAA advisers specialise in immigration and are authorised at Level 1, 2 or 3, which sets the work they can take on.
- For most visa, settlement, citizenship and sponsor licence applications, a suitably authorised IAA adviser can do the same job as a solicitor.
- Some court work, cases tied to other areas of law and legal aid cases usually need a solicitor.
Who is allowed to give immigration advice in the UK?
UK law restricts immigration advice to people who are regulated or otherwise qualified. In practice that means three groups: advisers regulated by the IAA, members of the legal profession such as solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives, and a small number of exempt organisations.
The IAA was known as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) until January 2025, so you will still see both names online. Whatever it is called, the rule has not changed: advice from someone outside these groups is unlawful, and the person giving it can be prosecuted.
What an IAA-regulated immigration adviser does
An IAA adviser works only in immigration and nationality. Each adviser is authorised at a level that reflects their experience and the complexity of work they are trusted with:
- Level 1, advice and assistance: straightforward applications where the rules are clear and little judgement is needed.
- Level 2, casework: more involved applications, including cases that rely on discretion, previous refusals or detailed evidence.
- Level 3, advocacy and representation: the most complex work, including preparing appeals and representing clients at the immigration tribunal.
Every regulated adviser must follow the IAA Code of Standards, carry professional indemnity insurance and run a formal complaints procedure. If something goes wrong and the firm does not resolve it, you can complain to the IAA directly.
What an immigration solicitor does
A solicitor is a qualified lawyer who can practise in any area of law. An immigration solicitor has chosen to focus on immigration, but their training also lets them handle connected legal issues and conduct litigation in the higher courts, often working alongside a barrister.
Some solicitors’ firms also hold a legal aid contract, which allows them to offer free representation to people who qualify. In immigration, legal aid is mainly limited to asylum and certain protection cases.
When an IAA adviser is usually the right fit
A suitably authorised IAA adviser can normally handle the applications most people need, often with a fixed fee and one dedicated contact from start to finish:
- Spouse and partner visas, including extensions and switching
- Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship
- Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and Graduate visas
- Sponsor licence applications and compliance support for employers
- Visit visas and administrative reviews after a refusal
When you may need a solicitor instead
Some situations sit outside what an IAA adviser can, or should, take on. You are likely to need a solicitor if:
- your case is heading for complex court proceedings beyond the tribunal;
- a criminal conviction, family court case or other legal matter is tied up with your immigration status;
- you may qualify for legal aid; or
- the adviser you are speaking to is not authorised at the level your case requires.
A good adviser will tell you plainly when your case needs a different kind of professional and refer you on, rather than taking on work they are not authorised to do.
Immigration adviser vs solicitor: is one cheaper?
Not automatically. When comparing an immigration adviser vs solicitor, fees depend far more on the complexity of the case and how each firm prices its work than on the type of professional. The safest approach is to ask two or three regulated providers for a written quote and compare what is actually included. Our guide on how much an immigration adviser costs in the UK explains what to look for.
How to check before you instruct anyone
- Ask for the adviser’s or firm’s registration number and, for IAA advisers, their authorisation level.
- Search the official register: the IAA adviser register through gov.uk’s find an immigration adviser service, or the SRA register for solicitors.
- Make sure their level covers your type of case.
- Ask for a written client care letter that sets out the work, the fee and the complaints process.
Be wary of anyone who guarantees a visa, will not put fees in writing, or asks you to leave out or change information. A regulated adviser will never do these things.
Not sure which route fits your case?
IAUK’s IAA-regulated advisers will review your situation, tell you honestly what is possible and confirm the fee in writing before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Is an IAA adviser as good as a solicitor?
For the work they are authorised to do, yes. IAA advisers specialise only in immigration and are held to a strict code of standards. What matters most is that the person’s authorisation level matches your case.
Can an immigration adviser represent me at an appeal?
Advisers authorised at IAA Level 3 can prepare appeals and represent you at the immigration tribunal. Advisers at Levels 1 and 2 cannot, so always check the level first.
What does OISC mean?
OISC stood for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, the former name of the Immigration Advice Authority. Advisers once described as “OISC regulated” are now regulated by the IAA.
Last reviewed: October 2026. This article is general information, not advice on your individual case.