How to check a migration agent is registered
Only registered migration agents and Australian lawyers can legally give immigration assistance in Australia. Checking takes two minutes and protects you from costly mistakes.
On this page
In Australia, immigration assistance, such as advising on visas or preparing applications for a fee, may only be given by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. Registered agents have a Migration Agents Registration Number (MARN) and follow a Code of Conduct.
How to check an agent
- Ask for the agent's full name and MARN. Registered agents must show their MARN in their advertising.
- Search the official register of migration agents run by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).
- Check the details match: the name, MARN, business and registration status.
- Confirm who will handle your case and sign your agreement.
Migration agents, lawyers and education agents
- Registered migration agents give immigration assistance and must follow the Code of Conduct.
- Australian lawyers with a current practising certificate can also give immigration assistance.
- Education agents help with course choice and admission but cannot give visa advice unless they are also registered migration agents.
Other countries have their own rules. For Canada, look for a licensed RCIC; for New Zealand, a licensed immigration adviser.
What a registered agent must do
- Give you a written agreement and an estimate of fees before starting work
- Give you the official Consumer Guide
- Act in your best interests and keep your information confidential
- Keep you informed about your application
Warning signs of a scam
- A "guaranteed" visa or job offer
- Requests to give false information or documents
- Pressure to pay quickly in cash or to personal accounts
- No written agreement, no MARN or a name that is not on the register
Making a complaint
If you have a problem with a registered migration agent, raise it with the agent first. If it is not resolved, you can complain to OMARA.
You can check our own registered migration agent's details at the bottom of every page of this website.
Questions people ask
What is a MARN?
A Migration Agents Registration Number, the unique number given to each registered migration agent in Australia. You can search it on the official register.
Can an education agent help with my visa?
Only if they are also a registered migration agent or an Australian lawyer. Otherwise they can help with course choice and admission, but not visa advice.
Can a migration agent guarantee my visa?
No. Visa decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs. A guarantee is a warning sign.
Official sources
We check this page against the official information below and last reviewed it on 14 November 2026. Rules, fees and processing times change, so confirm the current position before you apply.
