Migration agents sanctioned over front agent arrangements: protecting yourself

Official release date: 19 August 2026 · Compliance

OMARA has cancelled or suspended three registered migration agents for letting unregistered people give immigration assistance under their registration numbers. Applicants should check who is really advising them.

Picture this. You find someone who promises to sort out your visa quickly. They seem confident, they quote a registration number, and they ask you to hand over your documents. But the person actually giving you advice is not registered at all. That is the kind of arrangement regulators call a "front agent", and it has been in the spotlight.

What happened

Here's the thing. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) has sanctioned three registered migration agents. One had their registration cancelled and two were suspended. The reason was that they allowed unregistered people to give immigration assistance using their Migration Agents Registration Numbers (MARNs).

One case involved hundreds of applications lodged through three business ImmiAccounts. Another involved alleged falsified departmental correspondence given to clients.

The bigger picture

OMARA set up a dedicated Monitoring team in October 2025. In 2025-26 it monitored 85 agents and found 43 instances of non-compliance. Over that year OMARA sanctioned 28 agents in total. The message is clear: the regulator is actively watching how immigration assistance is provided.

Who can give immigration assistance

The rule itself is simple. Only these people may give immigration assistance:

• Registered migration agents
• Australian legal practitioners
• Exempt persons

Who is affected

Anyone applying for an Australian visa, sponsoring a worker or family member, or seeking review of a decision. Clients of sanctioned agents may also need to check the status of applications lodged on their behalf, and confirm that letters or emails they received genuinely came from the Department.

What you should do

Ask the person advising you for their name and registration details, and check that the person you are actually dealing with is the one who is registered or legally qualified. Ask to see copies of everything lodged in your name, and be cautious if someone discourages you from contacting the Department directly.

This matters for your visa, not just your wallet. You are responsible for the information in your application. If an application contains false or misleading information or documents, it can be refused, an existing visa can be cancelled, and in some cases you may face a period during which further visas cannot be granted. Choosing a properly qualified adviser is one of the simplest ways to protect your future.

This is general information only and not personal advice. If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld are here to help.

Official source: Assistant Minister Julian Hill – media release