Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession in Australia
Migration agents operating in Australia are required by law to be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA).
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA)
Prior to 1 July 2009, the MIA acted as the MARA under a Deed of Agreement between the MIA and the department. The 2007-08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession, which was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the regulatory scheme, recommended that the government consider establishing a regulatory body separate from the MIA.
In response to the review recommendation, the Minister announced the establishment of the Office of the MARA as a discrete office attached to the department and headed by a specifically designated senior officer solely responsible for Office of the MARA activities. The new body is located in Sydney and assumed functions from the MIA from 1 July 2009.
The Office of the MARA is supported by a representative advisory board, which includes a nominee from the MIA, a nominee from the Law Council of Australia, a consumer advocate and a community representative.
The Office of the MARA undertakes a range of functions including:
- processing registration and re-registration applications
- administering the profession's entrance exam and continuing professional development program
- monitoring the conduct of registered migration agents
- investigating complaints about registered migration agents
- taking appropriate disciplinary action against registered migration agents who breach the migration agents Code of Conduct or otherwise behave in an unprofessional or unethical way.
See: Office of the MARA website
Related information
Becoming an Australian Registered Migration Agent
Professional Associations for Migration Agents in Australia
Migration Agent Statistics
Immigration Assistance (494KB PDF file)
Using a Migration Agent Brochure (384KB PDF file)