How to Check If a Migration Agent Is MARA Registered (OMARA Lookup Guide)

The OMARA Public Register: Where to Check

The official public register of all registered migration agents in Australia is maintained by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and is accessible at no cost at portal.mara.gov.au ("Search for registered migration agents"). As published in September 2026, you can search by: the agent's given name; family name; Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN); business name; and business location (country, state, suburb or postcode). An agent's details page shows: their name; their MARN; their current status (for example "Registered"); the date their most recent registration commenced; and their business name, business address, phone, email and website. Under sections 280 and 281 of the Migration Act 1958, a person who is not a registered migration agent must not give immigration assistance or charge a fee for it, subject to listed exceptions — the main one for paid work being an Australian legal practitioner acting in connection with legal practice.

Step-by-Step: How to Verify an Agent

Step 1: Ask the agent for their MARN. Any legitimate migration agent will give you their MARN immediately and without hesitation. It should appear on their website, their email signature, their business card, and any written quote or client agreement. If an agent refuses to give you their MARN or says 'I don't need one' — do not engage them. Step 2: Go to portal.mara.gov.au and open "Search for registered migration agents". This is the official OMARA register. Step 3: Search by MARN or by name. Both work — searching by MARN is more precise. Step 4: Check the result. The agent's current status should show "Registered". Check that the name and business on the register match the person you are dealing with. If the MARN is not found, or the status is not "Registered", that person is not a registered migration agent. Step 5: Screenshot the result. Keep a record of your verification in case you need to reference it later.

Red Flags: Signs an Agent May Not Be Legitimate

Beyond the OMARA check, several red flags should make you cautious when evaluating a migration agent: They guarantee visa approval — the decision is made by the Department (or, on review, the ART), not the agent, and section 15 of the Code of Conduct prohibits an agent from making a false or misleading statement. They won't provide their MARN upfront or it doesn't check out on the register. They request payment in cash only or to a personal bank account rather than a business account. They ask you to sign blank forms or forms in a language you don't understand. They claim to have 'connections' inside the Department of Home Affairs that will speed up or guarantee your visa. They pressure you to sign a client agreement immediately without giving you time to review it. They want to start paid work without a written service agreement — outside an initial consultation, section 42 of the Code of Conduct requires one, in writing and signed, before the agent gives immigration assistance. They communicate only via WhatsApp and have no verifiable business address. They cannot explain which visa subclass they are recommending and why.

What MARA Registration Actually Means

OMARA registration means the agent has: completed a prescribed course and passed a prescribed examination (regulation 5 of the Migration Agents Regulations 1998); been found a fit and proper person; holds professional indemnity insurance of the prescribed kind (regulation 6B); is bound by the Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021; and must meet continuing professional development (CPD) requirements to be registered again (section 290A of the Migration Act 1958). Importantly, OMARA registration is not a guarantee of quality or experience — it is the minimum legal requirement. An agent can be fully registered and still provide poor service, give incorrect advice, or mismanage your file. Registration screens out unqualified and unlicensed operators; it does not screen for competence, diligence, or specialist expertise in your specific visa type. When choosing an agent, look beyond registration to their experience with your specific visa type, their reviews, and how they communicate with you during the initial consultation.

How Migratio Verifies Every Agent in Its Directory

Migratio sources its agent data from the OMARA register and removes agents who no longer appear on it when the register is refreshed. Because registration status can change between refreshes, check the register entry yourself before you engage anyone. Their MARN is displayed on their profile, and every profile includes a direct link to their OMARA register entry so you can verify their registration independently in seconds. When you use Migratio to get matched with a migration agent, you are matched with agents who are: currently MARA registered; have expressed interest in your visa type; located in a relevant state or remote territory for your application. The pre-qualification step eliminates the need to independently research and screen agents before initial contact — and every profile links to the agent's OMARA register entry so you can confirm their current status in seconds.

What if the agent isn't on the OMARA register?

If the MARN or name doesn't return a record with a current status of "Registered", that person is not a registered migration agent. Under sections 280 and 281 of the Migration Act 1958, an unregistered person must not give immigration assistance or charge for it, unless an exception applies (for example, an Australian legal practitioner acting in connection with legal practice).

Who else can help with a visa application without being registered?

Section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 lists the exceptions: an Australian legal practitioner (in connection with legal practice), a parliamentarian, an official in the course of their duties, a close family member, the person nominating or sponsoring the applicant, and members of diplomatic or consular missions. Apart from Australian legal practitioners, section 281 means none of them can charge a fee for it.

What should I do if I suspect an agent is unlicensed?

The OMARA website's "Unlawful immigration assistance" link routes reports to the Department of Home Affairs' Border Watch online form (immigration offences). Complaints about a registered agent go to OMARA through the contact options on mara.gov.au.

Is a 'visa consultant' the same as a migration agent?

No. 'Visa consultant' is an unregulated title. Anyone can call themselves a visa consultant regardless of qualifications or legal authority. Only a registered migration agent (with a current MARN) or an Australian legal practitioner is legally permitted to provide immigration assistance for payment in Australia.