Establishing your own immigration practice is an important professional milestone. However, the move from individual candidate to regulated firm owner involves more than simply booking an exam date.
Under the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) framework — the body that replaced the OISC in January 2025 — your business registration and your personal assessment are considered together. This means the process is best understood as a single, structured journey rather than a series of separate steps.
While the requirements are detailed, they are designed to ensure that new firms are set up on a sound footing from the outset.
Understanding the IAA’s Twin-Track Application Process
You cannot apply to sit the Level 1 Immigration Adviser exam on its own. Instead, the IAA requires two linked applications to be submitted through its online portal:
The Organisation Application, which assesses whether your firm is suitably governed and financially viable
The New Adviser Application, which assesses your personal fitness and readiness to provide immigration advice
The IAA will only issue an invitation to sit the Level 1 exam once it is satisfied, in principle, with the organisation’s documentation. This approach reflects the regulator’s focus on both adviser competence and organisational standards.
Preparing the Firm’s Core Documents
From the outset, the IAA expects firms to operate to a professional standard. As part of your application, you will be asked to upload a set of key documents that demonstrate how your practice will function in reality. There are several documents which you are responsible for providing. These documents are not intended to be punitive; they provide the IAA with assurance that clients will be protected from day one.
Individual Requirements and the IAA “Fitness” Assessment
Before assessing competence through the exam, the IAA first considers whether an applicant is fit to practise. This involves submitting:
An enhanced DBS check, issued within the last six months
Evidence of your right to work in the UK
Recent training history that is aligned with the Level 1 syllabus
This stage is about safeguarding the profession and the public, rather than assessing exam performance.
Demonstrating Competence Before the Exam
While the Level 1 assessment is the formal test of competence — and it does carry a notable fail rate — the application process itself also requires you to show that your background has prepared you for Level 1 work.
Relevant experience may come from related fields such as housing, welfare, or advice work, provided it demonstrates transferable skills such as client communication, regulatory awareness, and case handling.
For many applicants, it is helpful to first step back and consider the wider career context. This overview of how to become a UK immigration lawyer or adviser can help confirm whether Level 1 is the most appropriate entry point.
What to Expect From the Exam Timeline
Once both applications are submitted, the process generally unfolds as follows:
Caseworker allocation, during which your firm’s documents and personal fitness are reviewed
Invitation to sit the assessment, usually issued around three to five weeks after submission if the application is satisfactory
Outcome, where a pass leads to finalised firm registration, and a non-pass typically requires a fresh application
Understanding this timeline in advance can help reduce uncertainty and support better planning.
Supporting a Strong Foundation for Your Firm
Setting up an IAA-regulated immigration firm requires both time and financial commitment, from securing insurance to preparing compliant documentation. Given that the IAA generally permits one exam attempt per application, careful preparation is a sensible investment.
Our IAA Level 1 Exam Preparation and Immigration Adviser Training Programme supports candidates not only with exam readiness, but also with guidance on the registration process itself. The aim is to help you approach both the assessment and the firm setup with clarity, confidence, and a well-structured plan — so your practice begins on solid ground. Contact us to learn how we can support you on your journey.