Who Can Give Migration Assistance in Australia?
Moving to Australia offers exciting opportunities, but the migration process is complex and must follow strict legal requirements. To protect applicants, the Migration Act 1958 regulates who is allowed to provide immigration assistance.
Who is allowed to give immigration assistance?
- Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) – Professionals registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), trained in migration law and bound by a strict Code of Conduct.
- Lawyers – Australian legal practitioners may also provide immigration assistance.
- Exempt persons – People may lawfully provide immigration assistance without registration if they do not charge a fee and are:
- A nominator, sponsor, or close family member of the visa applicant.
- A parliamentarian, or a member of a diplomatic mission, consular post, or international organization.
- A person offering free help to prepare a submission to the Minister.
What about education agents?
Education agents are authorized to assist with school or course applications and enrolments, but they are not exempt persons. Unless they are also a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner, they cannot legally provide immigration assistance in Australia.
Penalties for unlawful assistance
Providing immigration assistance without being registered or authorized is a criminal offence. Anyone who does so may face penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment. These laws safeguard applicants from being misled, overcharged, or given incorrect advice.
AMVPS Australia’s role
At Aussie Migration and Visa Professional Solutions (AMVPS Australia), migration services are delivered only by qualified professionals. The agency is led by Atty. Edmund Cyril S. Galvez, a Philippine-licensed lawyer and a Registered Migration Agent (MARA #1909251) in Australia.
With his background in both law and migration practice, Atty. Edmund ensures that clients receive reliable, ethical, and legally compliant guidance. Since 2018, AMVPS has supported hundreds of international students, skilled professionals, and families in navigating visas, enrolments, and settlement pathways.
With AMVPS, every step of your migration journey is handled with professionalism, integrity, and care.
For more information, please visit: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
