Become an Agent

The Profession

Working as a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) can mean assisting clients in making one of the most important decisions of their lives: helping them migrate to Australia.

Australia’s strong economy, world class higher education system, multicultural society and stable governance makes it a highly attractive destination for migrants, and in an increasingly interconnected world, demand for the services provided by RMAs has never been higher.

The Migration Act 1958 and its associated Regulations govern Agents’ registration requirements and Code of Conduct, while the profession itself is regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).

Opportunities

Practicing as a Migration Agent is challenging and rewarding and suits detail oriented professionals with good people skills and the drive to develop and maintain requisite legal knowledge within an ever changing legislative and regulatory field.

New agents can find employment with an existing organisation or strike out on their own as sole practitioners, and while there are large migration films, most Agents work in a small business.

RMA incomes vary widely, with the majority of practitioners reporting annual earnings between $50,000 and $80,000.

Becoming an RMA

Registration with the MARA is mandatory in order to practice in Australia, with registration requirements including:

• Being at least 18 years of age;
• Being of “good character”;
• Holding Australian citizenship or permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship with a special category visa; and
• Holding a current Australian legal practicing certificate or a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice.

• From 1 January 2010, higher English language requirements apply for new Agents.

  Active RMAs must also have a professional library and professional indemnity insurance, must hold client monies is a segregated account and complete annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

  Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice

  Information about the Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice is available from the Office of the MARA.

  Costs of becoming a RMA

  The fees commonly accrued when entering the migration advice profession include:

• Graduate Certificate course fees of $7500 - $9000
• An initial registration fee of $1760
• Building a professional library costs about $1500

• Additional annual fees include Professional Indemnity Insurance for a minimum cover of $250,000 (which costs about $400), recommended membership with the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), registration renewal and costs for CPD courses, as well as the normal costs associated with running a business.

  The Practice Ready Program (PRP)

  The Practice Ready Program (PRP) is a practical course for agents in their first year of registration, designed to enhance the knowledge and professionalism of the migration advice profession.

  All applicants for initial registration with the Office of the MARA after 1 September 2011 will be required to complete this course prior to repeat registration, with exemptions available for agents holding valid Legal Pracitising Certificates (LPC) or membership with a recognised professional accounting body.

  In its initial offering, the PRP will be delivered by by the MIA and Fragomen Australia and will be worth eight CPD points and include agents' first year mandatory requirements. The MIA's PRP will cost $1995 and include membership.

  For more information on course delivery, cost, availability and assessment, please visit the MIA's dedicated PRP page as well as the PRP section on the MARA website, which also includes an information sheet and FAQs.

  The MIA

  The MIA is the peak body representing the migration advice profession representing over 2000 Members and supporting the profession through a broad range of services designed to assist Agents and promote the profession in general.

  The MIA provides assistance to those studying for the Graduate Certificate through an online Student Forum, the publication of a number of useful texts and subscriptions to a selection MIA services free of charge.

  Services and benefits are available to full Members include an active Member Forum, discounted CPD costs, regular information sessions and social functions, high level liaising with governmental and industry bodies, weekly news bulletins and legislative and regulatory changes alerts as they happen, a database of useful governmental and community contacts and much more.

  Click to join the MIA today.