Finding a migration agent takes about five minutes. Finding a good one takes a bit more care. Here's what's actually worth checking.
Step One: Verify the MARN
Before anything else, go to mara.gov.au and look up the agent's Migration Agent Registration Number. Every registered agent has one. If someone is giving you migration advice and charging for it without being on that register, they are breaking the law — and you have zero legal recourse if it goes wrong.
When you're on the register, check three things beyond whether they're current:
- Is the registration active — not lapsed, suspended, or cancelled?
- Is there any disciplinary history — cautions, conditions, or sanctions?
- How long have they been registered? Experience matters for complex matters.
Ask Who Actually Handles Your Case
This is the question most people forget to ask. Some agencies operate with one registered agent whose name is on everything — but the actual work is done by unlicensed staff. The registered agent signs off, but they may barely read your file.
Ask directly: who will read my documents? Who will prepare my submission? Who will I be in contact with day-to-day? If the answer is vague, that's an answer in itself.
The Service Agreement Is Not Optional
MARA-registered agents are required by the Code of Conduct to provide a written service agreement before starting work. That agreement must set out:
- What is included in the service
- The total fee — agent fee and government fees separately
- What happens if the application is refused
- What happens if you want to cancel the engagement
If an agent is reluctant to put fees in writing before starting work, walk away.
What Good Agents Do
A well-prepared agent asks about your full history before advising you — not just the visa type you've decided you want. That's because issues in your background (previous refusals, overstays, health matters) affect the strategy. An agent who doesn't ask these questions before quoting you can't actually assess your case.
They also tell you when something is unlikely to succeed. That's not a comfortable conversation to have, but it's the honest one. An agent who takes your money for an application they know is weak isn't helping you — they're charging you for a refusal.
Red Flags Worth Knowing
- Guaranteed outcomes. No agent can guarantee a visa. Anyone who does is either uninformed or dishonest.
- Very low fees that don't make sense. Complex visa applications take significant time. If the price seems too low for the work involved, ask what's not included.
- Suggestions to omit or misrepresent information. This is fraud. It can result in permanent bans from Australia and in some cases criminal prosecution. Walk away from any agent who suggests it.
- Offshore operators without MARA registration. MARA registration is an Australian requirement. If an agent is operating from overseas without registration, they are not accountable under Australian law.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Engage
- Can I see your MARN? (They should provide it without hesitation.)
- Who will handle my case day-to-day?
- How many applications of this type have you personally managed?
- What is included in your fee, and what costs are extra?
- What are my options if my application is refused?
A confident, experienced agent answers all five clearly. Evasiveness on any of them is worth noting.
Written by Jeevan Kumar, MARN 2418470, Genuine Migration & Education Australia, Adelaide SA.