Becoming a Registered Migration Agent in Australia
Who needs to register in Australia
You need to register as a migration agent with the Office of the Migration Agent Registration Authority (Office of the MARA) if you:
- provide immigration assistance
- ask for or receive a fee or reward for communicating with the department or the minister on behalf of the client
- ask for or receive a fee or reward for assisting with a ministerial intervention request.
Immigration assistance is using knowledge of immigration law and procedures to provide services to:
- visa applicants
- people who nominate another person for a visa application
- sponsors of visa applicants
- a person who is applying for review of a decision to cancel their visa.
If you do not register, there are limitations on the activities that you can lawfully undertake.
See: Activities unregistered people can perform in Australia
People who practice as unregistered migration agents in Australia may be subject to penalties, ranging from fines of up to 60 penalty units (that is, $6 600) to imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Exemptions:
Only the following groups are exempt from registration:
- close family members of the visa applicant/nominator/sponsor or cancellation review applicant
- sponsors or nominators of visa applicants
- parliamentarians and their staff
- officials acting in the course of their duties
- members of diplomatic missions, consular posts or international organisations.
Eligibility for registration
To be eligible to register with the Office of the MARA, you must be over 18 years of age and be either:
- an Australian citizen
- the holder of an Australian permanent visa
- a New Zealand citizen holding a special category visa.
In considering registration applications, the Office of the MARA must be satisfied that an applicant:
- is a fit and proper person to provide immigration assistance (an AFP National Police Check is required)
- has demonstrated competence in the English language
- has completed a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice or holds a current legal practicing certificate
- holds professional indemnity insurance.
The Office of the MARA website contains forms and guidance about the requirements for becoming a registered migration agent.
See: Office of the MARA website
How to register
The Office of the MARA manages the registration of migration agents in Australia. It also manages the registration renewal process, including monitoring requirements for ongoing professional development by migration agents.
See: Office of the MARA website