Immigration
due diligence for
New Zealand businesses

Clarity before you commit. Protection before you proceed. 

Immigration risk is often overlooked in transactions, acquisitions, restructures and major workforce changes, until it becomes a problem. 

Whether you are acquiring a business, investing in New Zealand, onboarding overseas talent, or restructuring your workforce, immigration compliance can materially affect value, timing and risk exposure. 

We help you identify those risks early and manage them confidently. 

Speak with our immigration team

If you need advice, we are ready to help with clear, strategic guidance tailored to your needs. 

Contact us today to discuss your next steps

When immigration
due diligence matters

Immigration considerations commonly arise in:

Immigration settings change frequently. Employer accreditation rules evolve. Visa conditions vary. A workforce that appears compliant on paper may carry hidden exposure. Due diligence protects you from inheriting risk. 

What we assess

Our immigration due diligence reviews are tailored to the size and complexity of the transaction, but may include:

    • Visa types, expiry dates and conditions 

    • Compliance with role descriptions and remuneration thresholds 

    • Work rights alignment with actual duties 

    • Risk exposure under Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) settings 

    • Validity and scope of accreditation 

    • Job Check compliance 

    • Record-keeping obligations 

    • Immigration New Zealand compliance history

    • Exposure to stand-down periods 

    • Potential breaches of immigration or employment law 

    • Civil penalty or criminal risk 

    • Vulnerability to exploitation claims 

    • Risk to transaction timing 

    • Reputational exposure 

    • Risk to key personnel retention 

    • Financial liability implications 

We provide a clear risk summary, not just a document review. 

Why it matters

Immigration breaches can result in:

  • Significant civil penalties

  • Criminal liability for employers

  • Loss of accreditation

  • Inability to sponsor migrant workers

  • Visa cancellations

  • Workforce disruption

  • Transaction delays or price renegotiation

For investors and acquirers, undisclosed immigration non-compliance can materially reduce business value.

Identifying issues early allows you to: 

  • Renegotiate terms

  • Require remediation pre-completion

  • Structure indemnities appropriately

  • Protect your reputation 

A unique advantage: immigration and employment legal integration

Immigration compliance does not sit in isolation. It intersects with: 

Few firms in the region integrate immigration and employment advice as closely as we do. 

Our employment and immigration teams work together to provide practical, commercially aligned advice, particularly important where workforce risk is material to the transaction. 

Who we work with

We regularly advise:

We understand both provincial businesses and complex national transactions. 

Our approach

We are pragmatic and commercially focused. You won’t receive a theoretical memo. You’ll receive:

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

We help you move forward with confidence, not uncertainty. 

Planning a transaction or investment? 

If immigration risk may form part of your transaction landscape, involve us early. 

Early advice protects value, reduces friction and avoids last-minute surprises. 

Speak with our immigration and employment team today.

Key contact

Elly Fleming

Email: elly.fleming@pittandmoore.co.nz
DDI: +64 3 545 6714

Senior Associate, Immigration
Learn more