What Is a Registered Migration Agent (RMA)? Australia's Licensed Immigration Professionals

What Is a Registered Migration Agent?

A Registered Migration Agent (RMA) is a licensed professional in Australia who provides migration assistance — helping people with visa applications, understanding visa options, preparing documents, and communicating with the Department of Home Affairs on their behalf. Migration agents are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Every registered migration agent has a MARN (Migration Agent Registration Number) — a unique identifier issued by OMARA. Only people on the OMARA register can legally charge for migration assistance in Australia.

What Are OMARA and MARA?

The two terms are often confused:

• MARA = the Migration Agents Registration Authority — the statutory authority responsible for regulating migration agents.
• OMARA = the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority — the government office that performs that function and maintains the public register.

When you hear “MARA-registered”, it means the agent appears on the official register administered by OMARA. Both terms refer to the same regulatory system.

What Can a Migration Agent Do?

A registered migration agent can assist with:

• Student visas (Subclass 500)
• Work and skilled visas (e.g. Skills in Demand/Subclass 482, Skilled Independent 189, Skilled Nominated 190, Skilled Regional 491)
• Partner visas (spouse, de facto, prospective marriage)
• Family visas (parent, child, remaining relative)
• Employer-sponsored visas
• Protection visas (refugee claims)
• Visitor visas
• Citizenship applications
• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) review — if a visa is refused, the agent can help you lodge a review (the ART replaced the former AAT on 14 October 2024)

A migration agent can advise on visa eligibility, help prepare forms, gather supporting documents, communicate with Home Affairs on your behalf, and represent you at ART hearings.

What Can a Migration Agent Not Do?

• Federal Court judicial review — only lawyers can file applications to the Federal Court to challenge Home Affairs or ART decisions.
• General legal advice — migration agents are migration specialists only; they cannot advise on family, criminal, employment, or tax law unless they are also licensed lawyers.
• Act as a lawyer — a migration agent cannot represent you in matters requiring legal expertise outside immigration.

Migration Agent vs Immigration Lawyer — When to Use Each

Both migration agents and immigration lawyers can help with visa applications. How to decide:

Choose a migration agent for:

Student, work, skilled, partner, and family visas; ART review of a refused visa; standard applications without complicating factors; a more budget-conscious approach (agents typically charge less than lawyers).

Choose a lawyer for:

Federal Court judicial review of Home Affairs or ART decisions; cases involving criminal convictions or character issues; cases where visa matters intersect with family or employment law; complex cases needing senior expertise.

How to Become a Migration Agent

To become a registered migration agent in Australia, a person must:

1. Hold relevant qualifications in migration law or complete OMARA-approved training;
2. Pass a conduct and professional-practice examination;
3. Undergo a character and background assessment;
4. Maintain professional indemnity insurance;
5. Comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.

OMARA publishes all registered migration agents on its public register at portal.mara.gov.au. Only people listed there are licensed to charge for migration assistance in Australia.

Your Rights When Hiring a Migration Agent (Code of Conduct Summary)

When you hire a registered migration agent, you have rights under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct:

• Written agreement required — before any work starts, the agent must provide a written service agreement stating the services, the fees, and the refund policy.
• A fair and reasonable refund policy — the agreement must include one, and any refund you are owed must be paid within 14 days. (Australia no longer has a fixed cooling-off period; you can stop using the agent at any time.)
• Clear fees — all fees must be disclosed in writing and cannot be changed without your agreement.
• Access to your file — you have the right to your documents, even where fees are in dispute.
• File retention — the agent must keep your file for the period required by the Code of Conduct.
• No undisclosed commissions — the agent cannot accept hidden commissions or referral fees.
• Complaint right — you can lodge a complaint with OMARA at no cost.

How Much Does a Migration Agent Cost?

Migration agent fees vary by visa type and complexity. As an indicative guide (2026):

• Student visa (Subclass 500): $800–$2,000
• Partner visa (820/801 or 309/100): $3,000–$8,000
• Employer-sponsored (Subclass 482): $2,500–$6,000
• Skilled — state nominated (Subclass 190): $3,000–$7,000
• Skilled — regional (Subclass 491): $2,500–$6,000
• Citizenship application: $500–$1,500
• ART review: $2,000–$8,000 depending on complexity

Always request a written fee estimate before engaging a migration agent. The Code of Conduct requires a written agreement.