The real adrenaline rush at the airport isn’t the plane taking off. It’s that nerve-wracking moment in the immigration room when you’re silently praying your documents are flawless and your answers don’t raise eyebrows.

It’s such a downer when you’ve ticked every box for your big move, only to find out some paperwork is still missing. 

That’s why we say skip the stress and let an immigration lawyer handle it. Trust us, it makes the whole process so much smoother.

If you’re still on the hunt for the right one, don’t worry. We’ve done the digging for you and found the best immigration lawyers in the Bay of Plenty.

1. Stay Legal

Address: Basestation, 1/148 Durham Street, Tauranga Central

Phone: +64 7 575 2882

Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Stay Legal is led by Lauren Qiu, who has a reputation for being approachable while also handling some of the toughest immigration cases. 

She’s worked with clients needing medical or character waivers, people who lost their legal status, and even those facing appeals. It gave us the impression that she isn’t afraid of complex or high-stakes work.

It’s also appealing how balanced their team is, even though it’s small. Lauren takes the lead on strategy and the more complex legal side, while Paul Milne and Jennie Whelan provide the kind of support that makes the process less overwhelming.

Paul’s background as both a lawyer and a lecturer adds a sense of calm and patient guidance. Jennie’s international experience brings practical problem-solving.

Their strength comes down to how they communicate and tailor their advice too. They walk their clients through each step in clear and simple terms.

That said, being a boutique firm does come with a few downsides. With only three people on the team, their availability is limited. You’d want to contact them as early as possible if your case is time-sensitive.

They’re great at navigating the immigration process effectively

“For the past four years, I’ve sought assistance from Stay Legal on both business and personal immigration matters. With their invaluable guidance, I quickly and easily obtained work visas for my employees and my partner. Thanks to Lauren’s expertise and experience, she successfully advocated for our visa application to be prioritised by INZ, due to extenuating circumstances. This resulted in the swift approval of my partner’s visa, allowing her to enter New Zealand months earlier than would have otherwise been possible. Throughout the process, Lauren was straightforward, practical and dedicated, often going the extra mile by working outside of normal business hours. Lauren’s professionalism, combined with her empathy and commitment to clients, make her a standout immigration advisor. I highly recommend Stay Legal for their expertise and ability to navigate the immigration process effectively to get results for their clients.”

– Mike Steele, Google review

The best legal immigration institution in the world

“This is the best legal immigration institution in the world. They know exactly what you need. They have excellent, smart and proactive Legal advisors and immigration lawyers. On top of that, their prices are the most affordable. They are also very kind and go the extra mile. My family and I are so grateful to Stay Legal and will never thank Lauren Qiu, our immigration lawyer, who was so supportive and client-centred. She is fast, smart, determined and lovely. We obtained our visas on the first attempt because she is extremely competent. Thanks to Stay Legal for their outstanding, excellent service offered to clients. I will recommend everyone to use Staylegal if they really want to win their immigration cases, and they specialise in all sorts of visas.”

– Roland Tshibeya, Google review

2. Access NZ Immigration & Settlement

Address: Level 1 Unit 5/147 Cameron Road

Phone: +64 7 571 1171

Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 3 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Access NZ Immigration & Settlement has a very thorough process. You start with a one-on-one consultation, where they go over your background and goals.

What makes this meeting stand out is that they’ll give you a written summary. They will lay out your visa options and the next steps in simple terms. It’s useful because you don’t have to rely on memory when planning your move. 

For applications, they also offer their full support. They prepare your application, collect documents, and deal with Immigration New Zealand for you. 

Clients have said the team is very responsive and supportive. One person even highlighted Doris Schoeller, saying she was patient and made the process much easier.

We also noticed that they focus on personalised service and local expertise. They know the regional job market and community well, but they also work with people overseas who haven’t arrived in NZ yet.

That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. We found out that most of their team are licensed immigration advisors, not lawyers. 

That’s fine for almost all visa applications, but if your case needs to go to the tribunal, you’d only have one lawyer from their team to represent you.

I truly appreciate the effort, care, and efficiency shown throughout

“I had a wonderful experience working with Access NZ, especially with Doris Schoeller. From the very beginning, the team was incredibly professional, responsive, and supportive. Doris was always patient in answering all of my questions and guided me carefully in preparing my documents. I recently received my work visa and couldn’t be happier! I truly appreciate the effort, care, and efficiency shown throughout. I highly recommend Access NZ and will definitely return to them for future immigration or business advice. Thank you again for your excellent service!”

– Lee Giang, Google review

I will definitely recommend your services to my friends and family

“I am truly satisfied with the service provided by Access NZ, especially the dedicated support from Doris. From the very beginning, Doris was clear, professional, and patient in answering all my questions. Thanks to her close guidance, my application was processed quickly and smoothly without any issues. I felt very reassured and confident working with Doris and the entire Access NZ team. Thank you so much — I will definitely recommend your services to my friends and family. Fully deserving of 5 stars!”

– William Truong, Google review

3. Harris Tate Lawyers

Address: 29 Brown Street

Phone: +64 7 578 0059

Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

We found out that Harris Tate Lawyers has been around since 1980. For us, this instantly gives them a strong reputation and a sense of trust.

They cover a lot of immigration services, not just basic visa applications. They also work on residency cases, appeals, and even refugee support.

Immigration law can be confusing, but their team focuses on making things clear and easy to follow. Instead of using complicated legal words, they explain options in a way people can actually understand.

Another strength is that they don’t just stop at immigration. Often, moving to a new country is connected with other areas like work, business, or family. The firm also has lawyers in those areas, so clients can get all the help they need in one place.

However, we heard a complaint about emails not being answered for several weeks. That’s a big concern when the immigration deadline can be very strict.

While this might not happen to everyone, it’s worth checking upfront how quickly the firm usually responds, so you know what to expect. 

Personable and empathetic during a very emotional time

“I can highly recommend Leone and her amazing team at Harris Tate. They were personable and empathetic during a very emotional time, yet they were professional and delivered an excellent outcome that far exceeded my expectations.”

– Megan Ramsbottom, Google review

Professional, prompt, and showed great attention to detail

“My sister and I have used Harris Tate’s services for a number of years. Recently, we reviewed and renegotiated some contracts/agreements. Michelle Igasan and her capable team were professional, prompt, and showed great attention to detail. Michelle picked up things we had missed, and she had our backs throughout the whole process. We highly recommend Harris Tate.”

– Linda Clarke, Google review

4. Tompkins Wake 

Address: 108 Durham Street

Phone: +64 7 578 5033

Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Tompkins Wake covers a lot in their immigration services, but we noticed that they’re especially strong when it comes to the 2022 work visa rules. This requires employers to be accredited before they can hire migrant workers.

Many businesses have found this process confusing, but Tompkins Wake helps by giving step-by-step guidance and even looking at the bigger picture, like how hiring migrants fits into long-term business plans. 

For individuals and families, they cover the tricky parts of immigration: health or character waivers, appeals, and even ministerial intervention. 

These are often the most stressful parts of the process, so having a team that understands both the legal side and the emotional side is a huge plus.

Long-term clients describe them as professional, reliable, and approachable, which matches what we found.

On the flip side, some people mentioned delays when first contacting them. In some cases, the firm couldn’t take on new clients due to high demand. This means they might not always be available right away. 

You know the advice is on the mark and reliable

“Tompkins Wake have been our lawyers for over 20 years now. The people are professional and friendly. When you need someone in your corner, there are none better. You know the advice is on the mark and reliable. We cannot recommend Tompkins Wake enough.”

– Brent Bosnan, Google review

Can’t speak of them highly enough 

“An anxiety-ridden visit turned into a discussion, and advice that was sound, easy to take on board, and simplified my queries. Very professional. Can’t speak highly enough of the people whom I have dealt with over the past 14 years.”

– Joy Crean, Google review

5. McSweeney Immigration Law 

Phone: ​​+64 7 777 0075

Business hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

We can see why people often recommend McSweeney Immigration Law. They have a clear process that takes you from the first consultation all the way to lodging your application with Immigration New Zealand.

They’re very straightforward. They explain your options, check your eligibility, and point out any possible challenges right from the start, so you know what to expect.

Their consultation service costs $250 for an hour, and while that might sound like a lot, it’s not just a quick chat. They give you a proper plan for your situation, show you the possible migration pathways, and warn you about the common mistakes people make.

We felt this was really valuable because it gives you a clear roadmap rather than leaving you in the dark.

It’s also impressive how well they handle complex cases. Not every firm is confident with appeals, visa cancellations, or tricky circumstances, but this team seems to specialise in them. 

Client feedback highlights the attention to detail and extra effort they put in, such as checking whether existing medical results could be reused to save time and money.

That said, the cost may feel high for families already managing moving expenses.

Absolutely brilliant from start to finish

“The whole team were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. They guided us through every step of the process for securing our New Zealand Resident Visa, making what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and manageable. Their communication was clear, timely, and supportive — always quick to follow up and ensure everything was in order, especially when something wasn’t quite right. We felt completely looked after throughout. Thank you so much for your professionalism, patience, and expert advice. We couldn’t have done it without you!”

– Richard Gladwin, Google review

We received an unexpectedly positive outcome

“We are grateful to Tim and his amazing team for their professional and efficient handling of our visa case, especially regarding my supporting partner’s character waiver issues. Thanks to their hard work, we received an unexpectedly positive outcome. Tim is not only highly knowledgeable and experienced, but also genuinely friendly and approachable. He was always willing to answer our questions and provide support whenever we needed it. The whole team was responsive and supportive. We feel very lucky to have found Tim and highly recommend Tim and his team for anyone dealing with difficult or complicated immigration visa situations.”

– Daisy L., Google review