What Is a MARA Migration Agent? Role, Powers, Cost
Who is a migration agent?
A migration agent is someone trained and registered to give legal advice on Australian migration law and to represent clients before the immigration department (Department of Home Affairs — DHA) and the migration tribunal (AAT).
In Australia, anyone who receives a fee to advise on or assist with a visa application must hold MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) registration. This is a legal requirement, not optional. An unregistered person taking payment to help with a visa is operating unlawfully.
Two groups are allowed to help you with a visa without MARA registration:
- Immigration lawyers holding a current legal practising certificate in Australia (a lawyer does not need MARA, but does need a practising certificate)
- Family or friends who help for free, with no fee involved
MARA — the regulator
MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) is the Australian government body that regulates and oversees migration agents. MARA:
- Grants and renews registration for migration agents
- Receives complaints about agents who breach the professional code of conduct
- Maintains the Register of Migration Agents — a public search tool you can use to check your own agent
You can look up any agent on the mara.gov.au website by name, registration number (MARN — Migration Agent Registration Number), or company name.
What a migration agent can do
A migration agent is allowed to:
- Advise on the suitable visa type, eligibility, and prospects of success
- Prepare and lodge the visa application on the client’s behalf
- Communicate with DHA on the client’s behalf throughout processing
- Represent you at the AAT (Administrative Appeals Tribunal) where a visa is refused and appealed
- Assist in complex situations: bridging visas, character waivers, health waivers, merits review
A migration agent is not allowed to:
- Guarantee a visa outcome (no one may do this — the decision rests with DHA)
- Access your ImmiAccount directly without your authorisation
- Hold the visa fee on behalf of DHA (the visa fee is paid directly to DHA)
The cost of a migration agent
Migration agent service fees are not fixed by regulation — each agent sets their own. The cost depends on the complexity of the case, the visa type, the agent’s experience, and their location.
Common fee components:
- Initial consultation fee: many agents charge for the first consultation; some offer a free first consultation
- Service fee: charged at an hourly rate or as a flat fee per visa type
- Disbursements: out-of-pocket costs the agent pays on your behalf (translation, courier, and so on)
The migration agent’s service fee is separate and does not include the visa application charge (VAC) — that fee is paid directly to DHA.
Before you sign, the agent must provide a written agreement setting out the scope of service and the cost. This is a MARA requirement.
MARA registration — how to verify
Before engaging any agent, verify their MARA registration:
- Go to mara.gov.au → “Find an Agent”
- Enter the agent’s name or MARN
- Check the registration status: “Current” means actively and validly registered
- Review their disciplinary history (if any)
MARA registration is renewed each year. An agent with expired or cancelled registration is operating unlawfully — do not use their service, and report them to MARA if you are approached by someone who is not validly registered.
Migration agent vs immigration lawyer
Migration agents and immigration lawyers can both handle visas, but there are differences:
| Migration Agent (MARA) | Immigration lawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated by | MARA | State legal board |
| Scope | Migration | Migration + general legal |
| Court representation | AAT (merits review) | AAT + federal court (judicial review) |
| Cost | Often lower | Often higher |
If your case reaches the federal court appeal stage (Federal Court — judicial review), you need a lawyer with a practising certificate, not a migration agent.
Deciding whether to engage an agent
Knowing what a migration agent is, is only the first step. The more important step is deciding when you need one and how to choose the right person.