The Legal, Research and Monitoring Directorate is established under Section 17(1)(c) of the Immigration Service Act, 2016 [Act 908] and Regulation 1(2) of Immigration Service Regulation 2016 (LI 2245). The Directorate supervises three main Departments including the Prosecutions, Legal Affairs, and International Relations & Treaties.

The Directorate provides legal direction and advice to the Comptroller-General and the Council on all legal matters, relating to immigration. It drafts, reviews or renews legal contracts and maintenance agreements in relation to tenancies, leases, estates, the procurement of goods and services (sales and supply agreements, after sale agreements), etc. Also, it reviews existing immigration laws and regulations for possible amendments or repeal or initiate new Immigration Bills in order to address contemporary challenges and make the Service relevant in matters of national security, economy, social and migration issues; represents the Service in both the Lower and Superior Courts of judicature in both civil and criminal cases; interprets the provisions of GIS legal instruments and other related laws and regulations for the conduct of GIS business; submits inputs to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the drafting of laws relating to migration, bilateral or multilateral protocols on migration-related activities such as child labour, anti-human trafficking or smuggling, visa exemption agreements, etc; submits comments or inputs to the Attorney General’s Department for the drafting of laws on immigration related issues; vets and advises on applications for citizenship and long term residence permits; prepares inputs for the drafting of protocols and other immigration related international agreements; educate GIS officers on immigration laws and regulations and any relevant new law; and reviews existing immigration laws and regulations for possible amendments or repeal.