Questions to ask before hiring a migration agent
A checklist of questions drawn from what the Code of Conduct already requires of registered migration agents, so you know what you are entitled to ask for.
Most of the useful questions are not tricky. They come straight from duties the Code of Conduct already places on registered migration agents, so a careful agent should be able to answer each one plainly and in writing. This page does not rate or recommend any agent or firm, and it is not a way to judge whether anyone is good at the work.
If you are weighing agents against lawyers first, read migration agent vs migration lawyer. For the fee rules in detail, see migration agent fees and written agreements.
Who they are
The OMARA says to check the Register even if someone recommends an agent. Lawyers generally do not appear on the Register; they are checked with the state or territory legal professional body. Step-by-step instructions are in how to check a migration agent is registered.
- What is your MARN, and can I check it on the Register? (Agents must show their MARN on their correspondence and business cards, and a business's website and advertising must show the MARN of at least one registered agent in it.)
- Are you a registered migration agent, or an Australian lawyer with a practising certificate? (Only those two can lawfully charge for immigration assistance.)
- Who will actually do the work on my matter, and are they registered or a lawyer too?
- Has the agent been cautioned or suspended? (Those decisions are noted on the Register.)
Source: OMARA, Steps to choose a registered migration agent (checked 16 October 2026)
Before any money changes hands
- Will I get a written service agreement to read and sign before you take any payment? (Registered agents must not give immigration assistance without one, and must not receive fees or disbursement amounts before it is in force, apart from a permitted initial consultation fee.)
- Have you given me the OMARA consumer guide? (An agent must give you a copy before giving immigration assistance.)
- If there is a fee for the first consultation, can you put it in writing first? (The OMARA says to ask for the fee information in writing, and the Code requires an initial consultation fee to be reasonable.)
- Can I take the agreement away and read it before I sign? (The OMARA says not to sign until you have read and understood it.)
About fees and costs
No official fee range exists, so a question like "is this price normal?" has no official answer; migration agent fees and written agreements explains why. The ART application fee is separate from anything an agent charges.
- Is the fee hourly or fixed, and does it include GST? (The agreement must state one or the other.)
- If hourly, what is your reasonable estimate of the time? What happens if it takes longer?
- What other costs will there be, such as visa charges, police checks, medicals or skills assessments, and what is the amount or estimate for each?
- Will I get an itemised invoice before I pay, and a receipt after?
- What is the refund policy, and how long do refunds take? (The Code requires a refund policy that is fair and reasonable, and refunds within 14 days of becoming payable.)
About your money and your documents
- Will my advance payment go into a separate client money account? (Client money must be held in an account used only for that purpose.)
- If I end the arrangement, what happens to my money, and how will I be told in writing?
- How do I get my documents back if I ask? (An agent must return documents the client is entitled to within 14 days of a request.)
- Will I be told in writing when something is lodged, and be given a copy?
- Can you arrange an interpreter if I ask? (The agent must arrange one on request, though the client may have to pay.)
Warning signs
Home Affairs says any provider who tells you they can fast-track your visa or guarantee a visa is lying and may be trying to scam you. The Code also bars an agent from stating that they can procure a particular decision for a client. A lawyer cannot fast-track processing or guarantee a visa either.
The review time limit in your decision letter is real and cannot usually be extended, so a practitioner may need to move quickly. That still does not take away your right to read the agreement and the fee terms before you sign.
Source: Home Affairs, Using a migration agent (checked 16 October 2026)
These questions are general information. They cannot tell you whether a particular person is right for your matter, and they are not legal advice. Your own time limit is in your decision letter; what to do after a visa refusal covers the first steps in general terms.
Where this came from
- Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021 (checked 16 October 2026).
- OMARA, Steps to choose a registered migration agent (checked 16 October 2026).
- Home Affairs, Using a migration agent (checked 16 October 2026).
- Home Affairs, Using a legal practitioner (checked 16 October 2026).
- ART, Immigration and citizenship (checked 16 October 2026).