How to Find a Good Migration Agent in Australia (What to Check First)

Over 5,000 people in Australia can call themselves a migration agent. This covers the one non-negotiable check before you pay anyone, the payment rule the Code of Conduct actually sets, and how to compare quotes. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Over 5,000 registered migration agents — quality varies
  2. 0:14 What registration actually means
  3. 0:28 Unregistered advice is a criminal offence under the Migration Act 1958
  4. 0:40 Who can legally give you immigration advice
  5. 0:52 Match their experience to your visa type
  6. 1:04 The rule most people don't know
  7. 1:18 The red flag: money before the agreement, not after
  8. 1:29 What consultations actually cost
  9. 1:48 Compare at least 3 agents before deciding
  10. 1:59 The register confirms registration — not quality
  11. 2:11 Switching agents uses Form 956
  12. 2:22 Where to read more

Transcript

Australia has over 5,000 registered migration agents, and the quality varies enormously. Before anything else, there's one non-negotiable check.

Registration with OMARA means the agent completed a Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice, passed the Capstone assessment, is bound by the Code of Conduct, and holds professional indemnity insurance of at least $250,000.

Giving immigration advice without registration is a criminal offence under the Migration Act 1958. If an agent is reluctant to give you their MARN, walk away.

Only three kinds of people can legally give you immigration assistance: a registered migration agent, a qualified lawyer, or certain exempt persons. Not a friend, however well-meaning.

Match their experience to your visa. An agent who handles partner visas regularly knows what evidence the Department prioritises. Ask what share of their caseload is your visa type.

Here's the payment rule that actually matters. Under the Code of Conduct, an agent can't take payment of any kind before a written service agreement is in force — except a reasonable fee for an initial consultation.

So the red flag isn't an agent offering paperwork quickly. It's an agent asking for money before that agreement exists, or being vague about fees instead of itemising them.

There's no official fee schedule for migration agents — every fee must simply be fair and reasonable. On Migratio, the middle half of initial consultation quotes have run $150 to $275, with a median of $220, across 686 quotes from 57 agents.

Get quotes from at least three agents before deciding. The cheapest isn't always the best value, and the most expensive isn't always the most competent.

The official register at portal.mara.gov.au confirms registration status — but it won't tell you about specialisation or case volume. It's a starting point, not the whole search.

Switching agents mid-application? Your new agent lodges Form 956 with the Department to be appointed. Get your complete file from the previous agent first.

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