Safety
Migration agent help — what's legal, what isn't
Paid immigration assistance requires MARA registration. How to check the register, the red flags, and what to do if a registered agent gets it wrong.
Published 17 May 2026 · Last reviewed 17 May 2026
Providing immigration assistance for a fee without registration with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) is an offence under the Migration Act 1958.
This is distinct from:
- Free help from friends, family, or community groups. The Act regulates paid immigration assistance, not unpaid help. A friend can help you fill in a form for free.
- Help from an Australian legal practitioner. Lawyers admitted to practise in an Australian state or territory can provide immigration legal assistance without separate MARA registration, but they must still comply with the same professional standards.
Practical checks before paying anyone
- Ask for their MARA Registration Number (MARN). It's a 7-digit number.
- Check the public register at https://www.mara.gov.au/
- Confirm they have a written agreement with you that complies with the Migration Code of Conduct.
- Cross-check with another source if anything feels off.
Red flags
- "Guarantees" of visa outcomes. No agent can guarantee anything.
- Requests to pay in cash or to overseas accounts.
- "Connections" inside Home Affairs.
- Asking you to lie on the application (e.g. claim a relationship that doesn't exist, claim work experience you don't have).
- Holding your passport "for processing".
Complaints about a registered agent
- Lodge a complaint with the Office of MARA: https://www.mara.gov.au/making-a-complaint