Frequently asked questions

A migration agent is a professional who provides immigration advice and assistance in Australia. To practise legally, they must be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), a division of the Department of Home Affairs. Registered migration agents (RMAs) are bound by a Code of Conduct, carry professional indemnity insurance, and must complete ongoing professional development. Using a registered agent means your adviser is qualified, regulated, and accountable under Australian law. You can verify any agent's registration on the official OMARA register.

You are not required to use a migration agent — anyone can apply for a visa directly through the Department of Home Affairs. However, Australia's immigration system is complex, and mistakes on an application can lead to delays, refusals, or bans from reapplying. A registered migration agent can assess your eligibility, prepare your application correctly, and communicate with the Department on your behalf. They are especially valuable for complex cases such as visa refusals, character or health issues, employer-sponsored visas, or appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Search the official OMARA register at the Department of Home Affairs website. Every registered agent has a unique Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN). You can search by name or MARN to confirm their registration status is current. On MIGI you can search the register by name, MARN or city — every profile shows the agent's MARN and registration status, verified against the official register.

Fees vary widely depending on the visa type, complexity of your case, and the agent's experience. Simple visa applications might cost $1,000–$3,000, while complex cases (employer sponsorship, appeals, ministerial intervention) can range from $5,000–$15,000 or more. Agent fees are separate from the government's own visa application charge — you can estimate that charge with our visa fee calculator. Agents must provide a written agreement outlining their fees before starting work; it is illegal for a registered agent to charge fees without this agreement.

Processing times vary by visa subclass and change constantly as the Department works through its caseload. The Department of Home Affairs publishes global processing times for each subclass, which we mirror in our visa processing times tool — showing how long 50% and 90% of applications currently take. A registered migration agent can help you understand what drives the timeline for your specific case.

The General Skilled Migration program (subclasses 189, 190 and 491) uses a points test covering age, English ability, skilled work experience, qualifications and other factors. You need at least 65 points to be invited, though competitive scores are usually higher. Our points calculator estimates your score under the current points table, and our SkillSelect invitation rounds tool shows the minimum scores invited in each recent round.

Skilled visas require a nominated occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list. Which list your occupation appears on determines which visa subclasses you can apply for. Search your occupation by title or ANZSCO code in our skilled occupation lists tool to see its list membership, the visa subclasses it opens, and the skills assessing authority.

Yes. MIGI lists registered migration agents by city, using the practice address published on the MARA register. Browse agents by city to find registered agents who practise in your area, or search the register directly by name or MARN. Many agents also work with clients remotely, so you are not limited to agents in your own city.