Do you need a migration agent? When DIY works, and when it doesn't

An honest, visa-by-visa breakdown of when a migration agent is worth it, what a first consultation actually costs, the Code of Conduct rules on agent fees, and the real difference between an agent and a lawyer. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Partner visa refused?
  2. 0:15 Often manageable yourself
  3. 0:29 Worth it almost every time
  4. 0:43 $220
  5. 0:56 Before you sign anything:
  6. 1:08 A middle ground:
  7. 1:20 Answer yes to any of these?
  8. 1:35 Agent or lawyer?
  9. 1:49 Before you decide:
  10. 2:02 Where to read more

Transcript

Not every visa application needs a migration agent. But for a partner visa, getting it wrong costs the full $11,710 government charge — with no refund.

Some applications are straightforward enough to handle yourself: simple visitor visas from low-risk countries, working holiday visas, student visas with no prior refusals, and citizenship where you clearly meet the residency requirement.

Other applications are worth professional help almost every time: partner visas, skilled visas, employer sponsorship, anything after a previous refusal, and health, character, business or protection visa cases.

There's no official fee schedule for a migration agent's advice. Migratio's own data, from 686 quoted consultations, puts the median first consultation fee at $220.

Under the Code of Conduct, every fee has to be fair and reasonable. And beyond a reasonable consultation fee, an agent can't take payment until you've signed a written service agreement.

Some agents offer a review-only service instead: you prepare the application, they check it before you lodge. There's no set price for this — ask, and get it in writing.

Ask yourself: have you ever had a visa refused? Any health conditions, or criminal history? Is your evidence complicated, or your employer unfamiliar with sponsorship? Answer yes to any of it, get an assessment.

A registered agent is listed on the OMARA register and bound by its Code of Conduct. A lawyer with a practising certificate can also advise, without OMARA registration, and can additionally represent you in court.

Whichever you choose, check them on the free OMARA register before you pay anyone anything. Or describe your case once on Migratio, and MARA-registered agents who handle it can reply with their consultation fees.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

Short versions

Talk it through with a registered agent

Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.

Related Migratio resources