A visa service advisor operating in the migration advice profession in Australia, who charges a fee to provide immigration advice and/or assistance, is known as a Migration Agent.
There is a legal requirement in Australia for ALL Migration Agents to be registered with the regulating body – Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA).
To acquire registration with the Office of the MARA, an individual must:
- satisfy the education requirements for registration
- be of good character
- be a fit and proper person
- agree to comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct
Consumers who appoint an Australian Registered Migration Agent are afforded legal recourse under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
Agents and Visa/Migration Firms operating outside of Australia
Consumers who are located outside of Australia are best advised to only appoint or engage a Migration Agent who is registered with the Office of the MARA.
Agents located outside of Australia who are not registered with the Office of the MARA play by their own rules and do not answer to anyone.