Our governance
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-16)

Key information about the IAA's corporate structure, including our vision and mission, governance, policies and annual publications.

IAA’s vision, mission, and values

Vision

All advice seekers receive reliable immigration advice from regulated professionals.

Mission

To protect seekers of immigration advice through regulation, enforcement, and promoting best practice.

Values

All that we do and all that we are is based on five values:
- Supportive: We support each other, working as one organisation to deliver our mission
- Progressive: We continuously improve, innovate, and look to the future with curiosity and agility
- Authoritative: We act with authority and professionalism, demonstrating leadership across the advice sector for the benefit of the advice seeker
- Inclusive: We create an environment that is inclusive for all, respecting, valuing, and celebrating our diverse team
- Collaborative: We collaborate, welcoming different perspectives and contributions to drive success
Governance

Overview of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and the Advisory Board

The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) supports the Immigration Services Commissioner by overseeing corporate governance, risk management, and financial controls. It advises on key areas such as risk, governance, audit activity, financial reporting, and audit procurement. ARAC is chaired by a non-executive member and includes two additional non-executive members.

The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance across all IAA operations. It advises on the organisation’s strategic direction, business and financial plans, risk management, and stakeholder relations. Chaired by the Immigration Services Commissioner, the board comprises four non-executive members, with IAA directors and Home Office representatives attending as non-members.

Together, these bodies ensure robust oversight and strategic alignment with the IAA’s objectives.

The Immigration Services Commissioner has provided clarification of the Immigration Advice Authority’s jurisdiction (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clarification-of-the-oiscs-jurisdiction) and scope of the organisations work.

Policies and procedures
- unacceptable behaviour (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-unacceptable-behaviour-oisc-policy-march-2012)
- procurement (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81d787e5274a2e87dbfc4a/Procurement_Policy.doc)
- disclosure of information (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oisc-disclosure-of-information-policy-and-procedure-march-2011)
- personal information charter (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority/about/personal-information-charter)
- criminal enforcement policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-prosecution-policy)
- privacy notices (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oisc-privacy-notice)
Reports and publications

Official publications, including annual reports, accounts, business plans, and transparency documents, are published on the Transparency and Freedom of Information Releases pages.

The IAA rebranded in January 2025. Official publications previously released under the OISC, including annual reports and accounts and business plans (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-reports-and-business-plans), remain accessible.

Commitment to equality and diversity

The IAA is dedicated to promoting equality and diversity across all aspects of its work, including its staff, advisers, advice seekers, and external stakeholders. The equality and diversity scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority/about/equality-and-diversity) outlines how we will fulfil our commitment to embedding equality and diversity at the core of our operations and continuously improving in this area.

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by the IAA are published on our FOI page (https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?content_store_document_type=foi_release&organisations%5B%5D=immigration-advice-authority).

The IAA rebranded in January 2025. Official publications previously released under the OISC, including Freedom of Information responses (https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases), remain accessible.

Contacting the IAA

The contact us page (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/check-it-out-oisc-on-social-media) provides information on how to get in touch with us based on your query and outlines the best ways to stay updated with latest