How to Become a Registered Migration Agent in Australia

The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice

The first and largest step toward registration is completing an accepted qualification in migration law — most candidates do the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice (GDAMLP). As at September 2026, OMARA lists six universities offering the graduate diploma: Australian Catholic University, Griffith University, University of Technology Sydney, Victoria University, Western Sydney University, and Murdoch University. A Master of Australian Migration Law and Practice is also accepted — currently offered by Australian Catholic University, with Griffith University's version accepted only if it was awarded or commenced before 1 April 2026 — and a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice awarded before 1 January 2018 still qualifies. Course length, delivery mode (online, hybrid or in-person) and tuition fees vary by provider and by year — Western Sydney University's indicative annual fee, for example, started at AUD 11,885 in 2026 — so check the current fee and duration directly with the university you're considering; universities may also offer FEE-HELP to eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents. The qualification must be completed within the time limit set by the relevant institution; outdated qualifications are not accepted for MARA registration.

The Capstone Assessment

After completing the Graduate Diploma (or an accepted equivalent), candidates must pass the Migration Agents Capstone Assessment. Legal Training Australia (LTA) is the sole provider, running intakes at set times each year (the next two, as published, are October 2026 and February 2027). The Capstone tests a candidate's competence against the Occupational Competency Standards for registered migration agents across three components — two written and one oral — and a candidate passes overall by passing at least one component within an intake. Published results vary by intake: in the most recently published intake at the time of writing (February 2026), 41% of candidates passed. The fee is $2,156 (GST inclusive), covering the assessment platform, one attempt at each exam component, and supporting resources; failing a component means enrolling and paying again for a future intake. After passing the Capstone, a candidate must apply to become a registered migration agent within 12 months, or the assessment is no longer accepted.

English Language Requirements

OMARA separately requires proof of English language skills, shown one of two ways. Applicants who completed at least 4 years of secondary schooling and a bachelor's degree or higher (at least 3 years full-time study), while living, studying and being taught in English the whole time in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK or the USA, can meet the requirement through education alone (a longer, 10-year primary-and-secondary-schooling combination in one of those countries is also accepted). Everyone else needs a result, no more than 3 years old, from one of six accepted tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (187 speaking / 169 listening / 168 reading / 180 writing, 178 overall), IELTS Academic including One Skill Retake (6.5 in each of the four components, 7 overall), LanguageCert Academic (76 / 62 / 65 / 71, 73 overall), Michigan English Test including Single Section Retake (53 / 59 / 59 / 64, 62 overall), PTE Academic (66 / 53 / 54 / 60, 63 overall), or TOEFL iBT Australia (22 / 19 / 19 / 23, 91 overall — this scoring applies to tests sat on or after 21 January 2026). A transitional provision under Legislative Instrument LIN 26/002 lets a TOEFL iBT result taken before 1 July 2026, no more than 2 years old and used in an application lodged by 31 March 2027, meet the requirement at the earlier benchmark of 94 overall, with at least 20 in speaking, 20 in listening, 19 in reading and 24 in writing. Failing to provide the required evidence at the time of application can mean a refusal that blocks reapplying for 12 months, and OMARA does not refund the application fee.

Character and Suitability Requirements

Before the qualification and exam are even relevant, OMARA checks basic eligibility: applicants must be 18 or older, and must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa and physically in Australia when the decision is made. A licensed New Zealand immigration adviser can register under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997, provided they hold professional indemnity insurance of at least AUD 250,000 and continue to comply with any restrictions on their New Zealand licence. OMARA will not register an applicant who was refused registration in the last 12 months, had their registration cancelled in the last 5 years, is currently barred, or is currently suspended. Beyond those bars, OMARA also assesses whether the applicant is a fit and proper person of integrity — considering, among other things, disciplinary history in other professions and past conduct — and a national police check is required as evidence. The check must come from the Australian Federal Police specifically, not a state or territory police service; it is valid for 12 months from issue, and a registered agent needs a new one every 5 years. Material misrepresentation or omission in the registration application is itself disqualifying, so candid disclosure with explanation is the standard advice.

Registration Costs and the First Year

Under the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 2026, there are two registration application fees: general and non-commercial. Most agents pay the general fee — AUD 1,760 for the first (initial) application and AUD 1,595 for each later (repeat) application. The lower non-commercial fee — AUD 160 initial, AUD 105 repeat — is only available to someone giving migration advice as an employee or volunteer of a not-for-profit organisation that charges nothing for the service; anyone who also runs or works for a fee-charging practice must pay the general fee. Every registered agent must also hold professional indemnity insurance of at least AUD 250,000, in their own name or in the name of an organisation they work for — the regulator doesn't publish what that policy costs to buy, since premiums are set by individual insurers. Add the Capstone fee ($2,156), the general registration fee ($1,760), a national police check, and whatever the chosen graduate diploma provider charges in tuition, and the two fixed regulatory costs alone come to $3,916 before tuition and insurance. Many candidates complete the qualification while working in other roles, then move to migration work full-time after registration.

Ongoing Requirements: CPD and Annual Renewal

Registration is not a one-off achievement. Every year, a registered migration agent must earn 10 CPD points and apply to re-register. Two of those points are fixed subjects everyone must complete — Ethical standards for migration agents (1 point) and the Code of Conduct (1 point) — and at least 5 points must come from OMARA's Category A activities, with the remaining points from either Category A or B. No more than 6 points can come from online activities completed within any 24-hour period, and points can't be carried forward to a future registration year. CPD is delivered by OMARA-approved providers and typically covers updates to migration law, the Code of Conduct, ethics, and specific visa subclass developments. Renewal also requires paying the (lower, repeat) application fee, maintaining professional indemnity insurance, and confirming continuing eligibility under the character requirements. A migration agent who fails to renew on time loses the right to practise until they re-register, which is itself a more involved process than ordinary renewal.

Australian Lawyers and the Migration Agent Pathway

Australian legal practitioners admitted to practice in an Australian jurisdiction can give immigration assistance without MARA registration — their legal practising certificate is the separate lawful basis the Migration Act recognises, alongside registered migration agents and other exempt persons. Some lawyers nonetheless choose to also register with OMARA, particularly if they want to appear on the public Register of Migration Agents. OMARA's own published registration steps don't describe a shortened or partially-recognised pathway for lawyers: an admitted lawyer who wants to register still needs the qualification, the Capstone, the English requirement (if it applies to them) and the same character check as any other applicant. Overseas-qualified lawyers without Australian admission cannot use their legal qualification as a substitute for the standard OMARA pathway.

What the Profession Looks Like in Practice

Australia currently has approximately 5,500 registered migration agents on the public register. Most work in private practice — either solo or in small firms — with a smaller cohort working in larger immigration law firms, in-house at universities or large employers, or in not-for-profit migration support services. There is no official fee schedule for migration agents and no published 'market rate': under the Code of Conduct, an agent's fee has to be fair and reasonable and set out in a written service agreement before most payments can be taken, and it's itemised on invoice. Fees vary by visa type, case complexity and the individual agent — one measurable data point is Migratio's own record of 686 agent-quoted initial consultation fees across 57 agents (median $220, middle half between $150 and $275, as at September 2026), though a consultation is a smaller service than running a full case to completion, so it isn't a proxy for total case fees. How long it takes a new registrant to build a sustainable solo client base varies by region, specialisation and networking; those who join an established firm typically earn a structured salary instead. Migration work is technically demanding, document-heavy, and time-sensitive — the role rewards careful, organised practitioners who enjoy combining administrative discipline with client-facing work.

How long does it take to become a registered migration agent in Australia?

OMARA doesn't publish a fixed timeline, and it depends on the course length and delivery mode you choose — these vary by provider. After that, the Capstone assessment only runs at set intakes (the next two published intakes are October 2026 and February 2027), so your start date can add a wait of several months depending on when you finish the qualification. You then have 12 months from passing the Capstone to lodge your registration application, after which OMARA's own character and registration processing adds further time.

Do I need to be an Australian citizen to become a registered migration agent?

No. Citizenship is not required. The character and suitability assessment is the gating step, not citizenship. However, you do need to be able to lawfully work in Australia for the duration of your registration. Many registered agents are permanent residents or hold appropriate work visas.

Can I become a registered migration agent online or remotely?

Largely yes, though it depends on the provider — University of Technology Sydney, for example, delivers its graduate diploma entirely online, while other accepted providers offer online, hybrid or on-campus study. The Capstone assessment is completed on an online platform at scheduled intake dates. Once registered, many migration agents practise entirely remotely, particularly for cases that do not require in-person document witnessing.

Is the Migration Agents Registration Authority the same as OMARA?

Effectively yes — the Migration Agents Registration Authority is the regulatory framework, and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is the operational regulator within the Department of Home Affairs that administers it. In practice the terms are used interchangeably.

What if my Graduate Diploma is from a long time ago?

Each institution sets its own time limit on how recent the Graduate Diploma must be when you apply for registration. If your qualification is older than the institution's accepted window, you may need to complete refresher study or restart the qualification. Check with the institution and with MARA before proceeding.

Do registered migration agents need to specialise?

Specialisation is not legally required — registration authorises the agent to handle any visa subclass. In practice, many agents specialise to some extent over time: partner visas, skilled migration, employer sponsorship, tribunal review work, or specific source countries.