Staying safe
How to check a migration agent is registered, and the warning signs of a scam.
Last reviewed on October 6, 2026 by MigrateMark.
People lose money to visa scams every year. A few checks protect you.
Check the agent is registered. In Australia, only registered migration agents and Australian lawyers can give paid immigration assistance. Ask for the agent's registration number and look it up on the public register. Ours is MARN 1681792.
Warning signs
- A promise that your visa will be granted
- An offer to sell you a place or a win in a ballot
- Pressure to pay today
- Payment to a personal account, or by gift card or cryptocurrency
- No written agreement
- Someone claiming to work for the government who contacts you first on chat
What is true
- Only the Australian Government decides visas
- No agent can guarantee a result or speed up a decision
- Ballot selection is random
- Government fees are paid to the government
What we will always do: give you a written agreement, tell you the fee first, and give you our registration number.