How to Become a Migration Agent in Australia: Your Complete 2026

How to Become a Migration Agent in Australia: Your Complete 2026 Step-by-Step Guide to OMARA Registration, Qualifications, Costs and Career Pathways

Understanding how to become a migration agent in Australia is the first step toward a rewarding career in one of Australia's most technically demanding and growing professional fields. Registered migration agents play a critical role in Australia's immigration system, helping individuals, families and businesses navigate visa applications, employer sponsorship, business migration, partner visas, citizenship applications and the complex web of migration law that governs who can come to Australia and on what terms.

In Australia, providing immigration assistance for a fee or reward without being a registered migration agent or a qualified legal practitioner is a criminal offence under the Migration Act 1958. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, known as OMARA, is the regulatory body responsible for registering, monitoring and disciplining migration agents across Australia. Every person who wishes to work as a professional migration agent must satisfy the OMARA registration requirements, maintain their registration annually and comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct throughout their career.

This guide from CollinsQuarters explains the complete pathway to becoming a registered migration agent in Australia in 2026, including the qualifications required, the Capstone Assessment process, the OMARA registration application, ongoing compliance obligations, the costs involved and the important distinction between a registered migration agent and an immigration lawyer in Melbourne or any other Australian city. At CollinsQuarters, we work with both registered migration agents and qualified immigration lawyers across our integrated national practice spanning migration and global mobility, employer sponsorship, business migration and FIRB advisory, corporate commercial law and dispute resolution.

Understanding the difference between a registered migration agent and a qualified immigration lawyer is essential — for your own career pathway and for the clients you will serve. This guide covers both paths in detail so you can make an informed decision.

What Is a Registered Migration Agent in Australia and What Do They Do

A registered migration agent in Australia is a professionally accredited practitioner authorised under the Migration Act 1958 to provide immigration assistance to clients for a fee or reward. Immigration assistance is defined broadly under the Act and includes advising a person on their visa options, preparing and lodging a visa application on their behalf, responding to requests for further information from the Department of Home Affairs and representing a client before the Administrative Review Tribunal in most migration matters.

Registered migration agents work with a diverse range of clients including individual skilled professionals seeking to migrate to Australia through the points-tested skilled visa program, families applying for partner visas and parent visas, employers seeking to sponsor overseas workers through the employer sponsorship framework, business investors pursuing business migration and investment pathways, and students applying for student visas and post-study work visas. The breadth of the visa system means that migration agents typically develop specialisations in particular visa categories or client groups over the course of their career.

It is important to understand both what a registered migration agent can do and what they cannot do. A migration agent can provide immigration assistance and represent clients before the Administrative Review Tribunal in most cases. A migration agent cannot provide formal legal advice on connected matters such as employment contracts, corporate structuring, property law and conveyancing, FIRB compliance, estate planning or family law. A migration agent also cannot represent clients in the Federal Circuit and Family Court or the Federal Court on judicial review matters. These matters require a qualified legal practitioner. This is the core distinction between a migration agent and an immigration lawyer, and it is an important consideration for anyone assessing whether to pursue a migration agent career or a legal practitioner pathway to providing immigration services.

At CollinsQuarters, our integrated practice includes both registered migration agents and qualified immigration lawyers working together across all Australian cities. For clients of the firm requiring legal advice beyond the migration agent scope, our immigration lawyers at the best immigration lawyer in Melbourne, the best immigration lawyer in Sydney, the best immigration lawyer in Brisbane, the best immigration lawyers in Perth and across our full national network provide the complete legal practitioner scope supported by our dispute resolution practice and mergers and acquisitions practice.

Step One: Meet the Eligibility Requirements to Become a Migration Agent in Australia

Before beginning the formal qualification pathway to become a registered migration agent, you must confirm that you meet the basic eligibility requirements set by OMARA. The eligibility requirements are designed to ensure that registered migration agents are of good character, have the English language ability to provide competent immigration assistance and have no conflicts of interest that would prevent them from acting in the best interests of their clients.

You must be at least 18 years of age to register as a migration agent in Australia. You must be of good character, which is assessed by OMARA on the basis of your criminal history, financial integrity and compliance with any previous professional regulatory obligations. OMARA requires a current National Police Check from Australia and police clearance certificates from any country in which you have lived for a substantial period. Any criminal convictions, outstanding court orders, bankruptcy or professional misconduct findings in your history must be disclosed to OMARA and may affect your registration eligibility. OMARA conducts a thorough character assessment as part of every new registration application and has the authority to refuse registration or impose conditions where character concerns are identified.

You must demonstrate English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS 7.0 across all four bands, which are listening, reading, writing and speaking, or an equivalent score from another approved English language test. Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents automatically satisfy the English language proficiency requirement and do not need to provide an English language test result. For applicants who have completed their educational qualifications in English at an Australian institution, evidence of this may satisfy the English language requirement in some circumstances. The English language requirement reflects the fact that migration agents must be able to communicate complex legal information accurately and clearly to the Department of Home Affairs and to clients.

Certain matters will disqualify an applicant from registering as a migration agent regardless of their qualifications. These include being a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than Australia who does not have lawful authority to work in Australia, being an undischarged bankrupt or having entered into a personal insolvency agreement under the Bankruptcy Act 1966, having been deregistered as a migration agent by OMARA for misconduct within a certain period, and being a current officer or employee of the Department of Home Affairs or another government agency with a conflict of interest in providing immigration assistance. If you have any character or eligibility concerns in your background, seeking legal advice before commencing the qualification pathway is strongly recommended. Contact the CollinsQuarters consultation team to discuss your circumstances confidentially.

OMARA's character assessment is thorough and transparency is essential — failure to disclose relevant matters during the registration process is itself a ground for refusing registration or taking disciplinary action after registration is granted.

Step Two: Complete the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice

The primary academic qualification required to become a registered migration agent in Australia is the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice from an OMARA-approved university provider. This requirement has applied to all new registration applicants since 2018, when the previous Graduate Certificate qualification was replaced by the more comprehensive Graduate Diploma with the additional requirement of passing the Capstone Assessment.

The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice covers the full framework of Australian immigration law including the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994, the structure of the Australian visa system, the skills assessment framework for points-tested visas, the employer sponsorship program, business migration pathways, partner and family visas, protection visas, citizenship law, the OMARA regulatory framework and the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. The qualification is designed to ensure that registered migration agents have a comprehensive and current understanding of immigration law before they are permitted to provide immigration assistance to clients.

OMARA-approved providers of the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice include Griffith University, the University of Technology Sydney and Victoria University, among others. The course is available in full-time and part-time modes and online delivery, making it accessible to applicants across all Australian states and territories as well as to international applicants who intend to work in Australia. Tuition costs for the Graduate Diploma typically range from AUD 8,000 to AUD 15,000 depending on the provider and mode of study.

It is important to note that the Graduate Diploma qualifies a person to practise as a registered migration agent, not as a qualified Australian legal practitioner. Graduates who wish to also provide formal legal advice on connected legal matters, represent clients in Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings or advise on corporate structuring, property law, family law or estate planning matters alongside their immigration practice must also complete an Australian law degree and be admitted as a legal practitioner in an Australian state or territory. For authoritative and current information on approved Graduate Diploma providers and OMARA registration requirements, visit the official OMARA steps to register page at the Migration Agents Registration Authority website.

Step Three: Pass the Capstone Assessment Within 12 Months of Completing Your Graduate Diploma

After completing the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice, you must pass the Capstone Assessment within 12 months of completing the qualification. The Capstone Assessment is an independent examination administered by OMARA that tests whether you meet the professional standard required to practise as a registered migration agent. It is designed to test the practical application of immigration law, not merely academic knowledge, and assesses your ability to identify the appropriate visa pathway for a client, identify potential risks and complications in a visa application and apply the legal framework correctly to a range of factual scenarios.

The Capstone Assessment is marked by OMARA and results are typically provided within six to eight weeks of submission. If you do not pass the Capstone Assessment on your first attempt, you may attempt it again within the 12-month window from the completion of your Graduate Diploma. Failing to pass the Capstone Assessment within the 12-month period means you must re-enrol in the Graduate Diploma before you can attempt the Capstone Assessment again. This makes adequate preparation for the Capstone Assessment a critical part of the journey to becoming a registered migration agent.

Migration agents who registered before July 2006 were not required to complete the Graduate Diploma or pass the Capstone Assessment and instead sat a multiple-choice examination called the MAPKEE. The current Graduate Diploma and Capstone Assessment framework represents a significantly higher standard of entry into the profession, reflecting the increased complexity of the Australian immigration system and the importance of protecting vulnerable clients from incompetent or unethical immigration advice.

The 12-month Capstone Assessment deadline is strict — failing to pass within this window means re-completing the entire Graduate Diploma at a cost of AUD 8,000 to AUD 15,000 before you can attempt the assessment again. Plan your study timeline carefully.

Step Four: Obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance Before Lodging Your OMARA Registration Application

Before lodging your registration application with OMARA, you must obtain professional indemnity insurance at the minimum level required by the OMARA regulatory framework. Professional indemnity insurance for registered migration agents must provide coverage of at least AUD 250,000 per claim. This insurance protects clients who suffer loss as a result of a migration agent's error, negligence or breach of the Code of Conduct, and it is a non-negotiable requirement for registration.

The cost of professional indemnity insurance for registered migration agents varies depending on the insurer, the scope of coverage, the size of your practice and the nature of the migration matters you intend to advise on. New agents starting in practice typically pay several hundred to several thousand dollars per year for professional indemnity cover. It is advisable to obtain insurance quotes from multiple specialist insurers before lodging your OMARA registration application to ensure you have adequate coverage at the best available cost.

Professional indemnity insurance must be maintained throughout your registration period and must be renewed before your OMARA registration renewal falls due on 31 December each year. A lapse in professional indemnity insurance during your registration period is a breach of the OMARA regulatory requirements and must be reported to OMARA immediately. OMARA has the authority to suspend or cancel the registration of a migration agent whose professional indemnity insurance lapses.

Step Five: Lodge Your OMARA Registration Application and Complete the Character Assessment

Once you have completed the Graduate Diploma, passed the Capstone Assessment and obtained professional indemnity insurance, you are ready to lodge your registration application with OMARA. The OMARA registration application requires you to provide certified copies of your Graduate Diploma qualification, your Capstone Assessment pass result, evidence of your professional indemnity insurance, your National Police Check and any required international police clearances, evidence satisfying the English language proficiency requirement if applicable, a statutory declaration addressing the disqualifying matters, and payment of the OMARA annual registration fee.

The OMARA annual registration fee is approximately AUD 1,900 in 2026, reflecting the cost of OMARA regulatory oversight including the annual audit program and the complaints and disciplinary processes. The registration fee is non-refundable, which makes it important to confirm your eligibility thoroughly before lodging your application. For authoritative and up-to-date information on the current OMARA registration fee and application requirements, refer directly to the official OMARA website.

OMARA conducts a thorough character assessment as part of the registration application process, examining your criminal history, financial integrity and compliance with any previous professional regulatory obligations. Transparency during the character assessment is essential. Failure to disclose relevant matters to OMARA during the registration process is itself a ground for refusing registration or taking disciplinary action after registration is granted. If you have any character concerns in your background, seeking legal advice from a qualified immigration lawyer before lodging your OMARA registration application is strongly recommended. Our dispute resolution practice at CollinsQuarters can advise on the character assessment framework and the prospects of a successful registration application where character issues exist.

Where all criteria are satisfied, OMARA issues the applicant a Migration Agents Registration Number, commonly known as a MARN. This MARN must be used on all correspondence and in all communications with the Department of Home Affairs on behalf of clients. The MARN must also be displayed on all advertising, client correspondence and published materials.

Ongoing Obligations of a Registered Migration Agent in Australia in 2026

Becoming a registered migration agent is not the end of the process but the beginning of a career with significant and ongoing professional obligations. Understanding these obligations from the outset is essential to avoiding the compliance failures that result in OMARA sanctions, suspension or deregistration.

Your OMARA registration must be renewed annually by 31 December each year. The renewal process requires payment of the annual registration fee of approximately AUD 1,900, evidence of current professional indemnity insurance at the minimum AUD 250,000 level and evidence of completion of the required Continuing Professional Development hours for the year. Failure to renew your registration by the deadline means your registration lapses and you are no longer authorised to provide immigration assistance. Providing immigration assistance while unregistered is a criminal offence under the Migration Act 1958.

Registered migration agents must complete a specified number of hours of OMARA-approved Continuing Professional Development activities each year before their registration renewal. CPD activities include seminars, workshops, webinars, online courses and other learning activities that update agents on changes to immigration law, policy and practice. The CPD requirement ensures that registered migration agents maintain current knowledge of the immigration system throughout their career, which is particularly important given the frequency with which Australian immigration law and policy changes. OMARA regulates organisations that provide CPD activities and maintains a list of approved CPD providers on its website.

All registered migration agents must comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct throughout their registration period. The Code of Conduct sets out the professional and ethical standards that agents must meet in their dealings with clients, the Department of Home Affairs and OMARA. Key obligations under the Code of Conduct include providing written fee agreements to clients before commencing work, maintaining comprehensive client files documenting all advice given and the rationale behind visa strategies, communicating with clients in writing every two weeks during the course of their application, avoiding false or misleading advertising including any guarantee or percentage of success for visa applications, and disclosing any conflicts of interest and avoiding situations where a conflict of interest could compromise the quality of advice provided.

OMARA audits approximately 15 per cent of registered migration agents each year to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct and the OMARA regulatory framework. An audited agent must produce requested documentation including client files, fee agreements and CPD records within 14 days of receiving an audit notice. Maintaining well-organised and comprehensive client files using compliant practice management software is essential for passing an OMARA audit without complication. Agents who fail an audit or who are found to have breached the Code of Conduct may face a range of sanctions including formal cautions, conditions on their registration, suspension or deregistration.

OMARA audits approximately 15 per cent of registered migration agents each year and requires documentation within 14 days — maintaining comprehensive client files, CPD records and insurance documentation at all times is not optional, it is a core professional obligation.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Registered Migration Agent in Australia in 2026

The total cost of becoming a registered migration agent in Australia from the commencement of the Graduate Diploma through to receiving final OMARA registration approval is typically between AUD 15,000 and AUD 25,000. This figure covers the Graduate Diploma tuition fees of between AUD 8,000 and AUD 15,000, the Capstone Assessment fee, the OMARA annual registration fee of approximately AUD 1,900, the National Police Check and any international police clearance fees, and the first year of professional indemnity insurance at the minimum AUD 250,000 coverage level.

Once registered, the ongoing annual cost of maintaining registration includes the OMARA annual registration fee of approximately AUD 1,900, professional indemnity insurance renewal, CPD activities and professional library subscriptions. These ongoing costs are a normal part of operating as a registered migration agent and should be factored into business planning from the outset.

For comparative context, the cost of becoming a qualified Australian immigration lawyer is significantly higher due to the cost of a law degree and admission to the Australian legal profession. However, immigration lawyers have a broader scope of practice and higher earning potential in complex matters such as business migration and FIRB compliance, employer sponsorship compliance, corporate commercial structuring, mergers and acquisitions and tribunal and court representation through dispute resolution. CollinsQuarters immigration lawyers across all Australian cities including the best immigration lawyer in Melbourne, the best immigration lawyer in Sydney, the best immigration lawyers in Perth and the best immigration lawyer in Brisbane work alongside registered migration agents within our integrated practice.

Migration Agent vs Immigration Lawyer Australia: Which Career Path Is Right for You

One of the most important career decisions for anyone interested in providing immigration services in Australia is whether to pursue the registered migration agent pathway through the OMARA Graduate Diploma and Capstone Assessment framework, or the immigration lawyer pathway through a law degree, admission to the Australian legal profession and potential additional OMARA registration or legal practitioner exemption.

The registered migration agent pathway is the more accessible entry route. The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice is typically completed in 12 to 18 months and costs between AUD 8,000 and AUD 15,000. A registered migration agent can begin providing immigration assistance to clients and earning income from immigration work within approximately two years of commencing the Graduate Diploma. The scope of work available to a registered migration agent is broad and covers the vast majority of Australian visa applications encountered in a typical migration practice.

The immigration lawyer pathway requires completing an undergraduate law degree or a law conversion program, being admitted to practice as a solicitor or barrister in an Australian state or territory, and either registering with OMARA or relying on the legal practitioner exemption from the requirement to hold OMARA registration. Qualified Australian lawyers are permitted to provide immigration assistance in connection with their legal practice without holding OMARA registration, provided they hold a current practising certificate issued by the relevant state or territory law society. The immigration lawyer pathway takes significantly longer and costs significantly more than the migration agent pathway, but it confers a broader scope of legal practice including the ability to advise on connected legal matters such as employer sponsorship obligations, corporate structuring, FIRB compliance and foreign investment, property law and conveyancing, family law and estate planning alongside immigration advice.

For clients of CollinsQuarters who need immigration assistance, our integrated practice can match the appropriate professional to the complexity of the matter. For straightforward visa applications, a registered migration agent provides efficient and cost-effective assistance. For complex matters involving business migration, FIRB compliance, employer sponsorship, visa refusal appeals and cross-border transactions, our immigration lawyers at the best immigration lawyer in Melbourne, the best immigration lawyer in Sydney, the best immigration lawyer in Adelaide, the best immigration lawyer on the Gold Coast, the best immigration lawyer in Canberra, the best immigration lawyer in Hobart and the best immigration lawyer in Darwin provide the full legal practitioner scope.

Career Opportunities for Registered Migration Agents in Australia in 2026

The career outlook for registered migration agents in Australia in 2026 is strong. Australia's permanent and temporary migration program continues to be a major contributor to population growth, workforce development and economic activity, and the complexity of the immigration system ensures consistent demand for qualified professional immigration assistance across all visa categories.

Registered migration agents in Australia work in a variety of practice settings including private immigration consultancy practices, immigration law firms, corporate human resources departments with large volumes of employer-sponsored visa work, not-for-profit organisations providing immigration assistance to refugees and humanitarian entrants, education institutions assisting international students and government agencies in advisory roles. The migration agent profession is particularly active in the major capital cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and in regional areas with significant employer-sponsored migration activity.

For migration agents working in employer sponsorship, the technology, healthcare, infrastructure, hospitality, financial services and education sectors represent the highest volume of work across the Australian economy. Migration agents who develop deep expertise in the employer sponsorship framework including the Skills in Demand visa subclass 482, the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 and the regional subclass 494 employer-sponsored visa are well positioned in the current market.

For migration agents working with Indian clients, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement has expanded mobility provisions and increased the volume of Indian business and professional migration to Australia, creating strong demand for agents with specific expertise in the India-Australia migration corridor. CollinsQuarters India practice, operating from offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune, is at the forefront of this corridor. Our India-Australia cross-border advisory service serves Indian business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals preparing to migrate to Australia through our India practice working alongside our Australia practice. Clients in technology and intellectual property sectors can also access our Indian tech and IP legal advisory service for matters involving cross-border technology transfer or IP licensing between Indian and Australian entities.

How to Find and Verify a Registered Migration Agent in Australia

If you are an individual or business seeking immigration assistance in Australia, rather than pursuing a career as a migration agent, this section explains how to verify that the person or firm you are considering is properly registered and authorised to provide immigration assistance.

All registered migration agents in Australia are listed on the OMARA public register, which can be searched by name, Migration Agent Registration Number or location. Every registered migration agent must display their Migration Agent Registration Number on all documents and correspondence provided to clients. Before engaging a migration agent in Australia, you should verify their current registration status on the OMARA public register and confirm that their registration is active and not subject to any conditions, suspensions or disciplinary findings.

You can verify a migration agent's registration status through the official OMARA public register at the Migration Agents Registration Authority check the register page. This is a free and publicly accessible tool that provides real-time information on every registered migration agent in Australia.

For immigration matters involving business migration and FIRB compliance, employer sponsorship, visa refusal appeals, cross-border transactions or connected family law, property or estate planning issues, the additional legal expertise of a qualified immigration lawyer is recommended over a migration agent. CollinsQuarters provides immigration legal services across all Australian cities through our national practice network. Whether you are looking for the best immigration lawyers in Perth, the best immigration lawyer in Newcastle, the best immigration lawyer in Geelong, the best immigration lawyer in Parramatta, the best immigration lawyer in Wollongong or the best immigration lawyer on the Sunshine Coast, CollinsQuarters provides immigration law services across every major Australian city and region.

Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents Across Australia: CollinsQuarters National Coverage

CollinsQuarters provides immigration law services and migration and global mobility legal advice across all major Australian cities and regions. Whether you are a client seeking immigration advice, an employer needing employer sponsorship assistance, a professional exploring a career in immigration law or a migration agent seeking to work within an integrated immigration law firm, our national network of immigration lawyers is available to assist.

Best immigration lawyer in Melbourne · Best immigration lawyer in Sydney · Best immigration lawyer in Brisbane · Best immigration lawyers in Perth · Best immigration lawyer in Adelaide · Best immigration lawyer on the Gold Coast · Best immigration lawyer in Canberra · Best immigration lawyer in Hobart · Best immigration lawyer in Darwin · Best immigration lawyer in Newcastle · Best immigration lawyer in Geelong · Best immigration lawyer in Parramatta · Best immigration lawyer in Wollongong · Best immigration lawyer on the Sunshine Coast

For a complete overview of our national Australian practice, visit our Australia practice page and our Australia overview page. For our India practice connecting Indian clients to Australian immigration law services, visit our India practice page.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Become a Migration Agent in Australia

What qualifications do you need to become a migration agent in Australia in 2026?

To become a registered migration agent in Australia in 2026, you must complete a Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice from an OMARA-approved university provider such as Griffith University, the University of Technology Sydney or Victoria University. The Graduate Diploma costs between AUD 8,000 and AUD 15,000 and takes 12 to 18 months to complete. After graduating, you must pass the Capstone Assessment within 12 months, demonstrate English language proficiency at IELTS 7.0 or equivalent, obtain a National Police Check and any applicable international police clearances, secure professional indemnity insurance of at least AUD 250,000 and pay the OMARA registration fee of approximately AUD 1,900. For authoritative details, refer to the official OMARA steps to register page. If you are seeking a qualified immigration lawyer rather than a migration agent, the best immigration lawyer in Melbourne and the best immigration lawyers in Perth at CollinsQuarters hold full legal practitioner status. Book a consultation to discuss your migration career or immigration legal needs.

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

The typical total timeline is between 12 and 24 months from commencing the Graduate Diploma through to receiving OMARA registration approval. The Graduate Diploma takes 12 to 18 months to complete depending on full-time or part-time study. You then have 12 months to pass the Capstone Assessment, with OMARA marking submissions within six to eight weeks. The OMARA registration application including police checks, insurance and character assessment typically takes an additional one to three months. Total costs from education through to first registration are typically between AUD 15,000 and AUD 25,000. Annual ongoing costs for registration renewal, CPD, professional indemnity insurance and library subscriptions are typically between AUD 3,000 and AUD 5,000 per year.

What is the difference between a registered migration agent and an immigration lawyer in Australia?

A registered migration agent is authorised to provide immigration assistance including preparing visa applications, giving immigration advice and representing clients before the Administrative Review Tribunal. A migration agent cannot provide formal legal advice on connected matters such as corporate structuring, FIRB compliance, property law, family law or estate planning, and cannot represent clients in the Federal Circuit and Family Court or Federal Court. An immigration lawyer holds full legal practitioner status and can advise on the complete legal context of a migration matter and represent clients in court proceedings. Qualified Australian lawyers are exempt from the OMARA Graduate Diploma requirement and may provide immigration legal services under their legal practitioner exemption. CollinsQuarters provides immigration lawyer services in every Australian city including the best immigration lawyer in Sydney, the best immigration lawyer in Brisbane and the best immigration lawyer in Adelaide.

What are the ongoing obligations of a registered migration agent in Australia?

Registered migration agents must renew their OMARA registration annually by 31 December each year at a fee of approximately AUD 1,900, complete the required CPD hours each registration year, maintain professional indemnity insurance at the minimum AUD 250,000 level, comply at all times with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct including maintaining comprehensive client files, providing written fee agreements and communicating with clients every two weeks, and cooperate fully with OMARA audits. OMARA audits approximately 15 per cent of agents annually and requires requested documentation within 14 days. Sanctions for non-compliance include cautions, conditions, suspension or deregistration. For current details on CPD requirements and the Code of Conduct, visit the official OMARA website.

How much does it cost to become a registered migration agent in Australia?

The total cost from commencing the Graduate Diploma through to OMARA registration is typically between AUD 15,000 and AUD 25,000. This covers Graduate Diploma tuition of AUD 8,000 to AUD 15,000, the Capstone Assessment fee, the OMARA annual registration fee of approximately AUD 1,900, police check fees, English language test fees if applicable and the first year of professional indemnity insurance. Ongoing annual costs include OMARA registration renewal, professional indemnity insurance renewal, CPD activities and professional library subscriptions. For the most current fee information, refer to the official OMARA registration steps page.

Can a migration agent represent clients at the Administrative Review Tribunal in Australia?

Yes. A registered migration agent can represent clients before the Administrative Review Tribunal in most migration matters including visa refusal and cancellation reviews. However, a migration agent cannot represent clients in the Federal Circuit and Family Court or the Federal Court on judicial review matters, which require qualified legal practitioner representation. For complex ART matters involving character assessments, health waivers, DAMA compliance disputes or employer nomination refusals, the additional legal expertise of an immigration lawyer is advantageous. CollinsQuarters immigration lawyers across all Australian cities including the best immigration lawyer in Hobart, the best immigration lawyer in Darwin and the best immigration lawyer in Canberra represent clients in ART and judicial review proceedings through our dispute resolution practice.

What disqualifies you from becoming a registered migration agent in Australia?

Certain matters disqualify an applicant from OMARA registration regardless of qualifications. These include being an undischarged bankrupt or having entered into a personal insolvency agreement under the Bankruptcy Act 1966, having been deregistered by OMARA for misconduct within a specified period, being a current Department of Home Affairs officer or employee with a conflict of interest, having serious criminal convictions, and not having lawful authority to work in Australia. OMARA conducts a thorough character assessment as part of every new registration application. If you have character concerns, seeking legal advice from a qualified immigration lawyer before lodging your OMARA application is recommended. Contact the CollinsQuarters consultation team to discuss your circumstances.

Can Australian lawyers provide immigration assistance without OMARA registration?

Yes. Qualified Australian lawyers who hold a current practising certificate from their relevant state or territory law society are permitted to provide immigration assistance in connection with their legal practice under the legal practitioner exemption, without needing to separately register with OMARA. This exemption allows immigration lawyers to provide the full scope of immigration assistance alongside formal legal advice on connected matters such as employer sponsorship compliance, FIRB compliance and foreign investment advisory, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, property law, family law and estate planning. CollinsQuarters immigration lawyers hold full legal practitioner status and provide integrated immigration and connected legal services through our migration and global mobility practice.

Speak With a CollinsQuarters Immigration Lawyer or Book a Consultation Today

Whether you are at the beginning of your journey to understand how to become a migration agent in Australia, are already a registered migration agent looking to work within or refer to an integrated immigration law firm, or are a visa applicant looking for the best immigration lawyer or migration agent for your specific visa matter, CollinsQuarters is here to help.

The best immigration outcomes come from qualified professionals working within an integrated legal practice — whether you are building a career in migration or seeking expert immigration advice, CollinsQuarters provides the platform and the expertise to achieve your goals.

CollinsQuarters provides immigration law services across all of Australia within a single integrated legal practice that covers migration and global mobility, employer sponsorship, business migration and FIRB advisory, mergers and acquisitions, corporate commercial law, dispute resolution, family law, property conveyancing and wills and estates.

Our immigration lawyers across Australia include the best immigration lawyer in Melbourne · best immigration lawyer in Sydney · best immigration lawyer in Brisbane · best immigration lawyers in Perth · best immigration lawyer in Adelaide · best immigration lawyer on the Gold Coast · best immigration lawyer in Canberra · best immigration lawyer in Hobart · best immigration lawyer in Darwin.

Our India-Australia cross-border capability, delivered through our India practice offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune working in coordination with our full Australian practice, means clients with interests in both India and Australia have a single integrated legal team managing their matter from end to end through our India-Australia cross-border advisory service.

To explore our complete range of immigration and legal services, visit our expertise overview, our sectors page, our team page, our immigration and legal blog, our legal insights page, our office locations across Australia and India and our about page.

To speak with a CollinsQuarters immigration lawyer or to book an immigration consultation, contact us directly through our contact page or book through our consultation page. Our team will assess your circumstances, explain your options and provide a clear strategy and transparent fee estimate.

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