How to check that a migration agent is registered
How to check that a migration agent is registered before you pay anyone for visa help.
Last reviewed on 6 October 2026 by MigrateMark. · 1 min read
Before you pay anyone for visa help, check they are allowed to give it.
Who can help you. In Australia, paid immigration assistance can only be given by registered migration agents and Australian lawyers. Registered agents have a Migration Agents Registration Number, called a MARN.
How to check
- Ask for their full name and MARN.
- Search for them on the public register kept by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority: search the register.
- Check the name and business match the person you are dealing with.
- If they say they are a lawyer, ask which state they are licensed in and check with that state's legal authority.
What a registered agent must give you
- A written agreement before paid work starts
- A clear statement of fees
- Information about your rights as a client
If they cannot give you a number, walk away.