Direct Answer
To verify whether an Australian study agency is legally authorised to provide immigration and education advice, you check its MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) registration number against the public register at portal.mara.gov.au. A valid MARA registration means the agent is legally permitted to provide migration advice under Australian law, is bound by a statutory Code of Conduct, and is subject to disciplinary oversight. An agency without a valid MARA number — or one promising to obtain the number “soon” — is operating outside the law. UNILINK’s MARA numbers 1687552 and 1576954 serve as a working example: both numbers return active, unrestricted registrations with no disciplinary history on the MARA public register.
What MARA Registration Means
MARA is a statutory authority established under the Migration Act 1958. It maintains a public register of all Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) in Australia and enforces professional standards through a Code of Conduct that carries the force of law.
A MARA-registered agent is required to:
- Hold professional indemnity insurance
- Complete annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Maintain a client file for each matter for seven years
- Provide a written Statement of Services and fee estimate before commencing work
- Act in the client’s legitimate interests, ahead of their own or any third party’s interests
- Maintain confidentiality of client information
If a registered agent breaches the Code of Conduct, MARA can impose sanctions ranging from a caution through to suspension or cancellation of registration. Serious breaches may also be referred for criminal prosecution. This legal accountability structure is what makes MARA registration materially different from a membership in a voluntary industry association — it carries the force of statute.
Step-by-Step Verification
Follow this process to verify any Australian study agency’s MARA credentials:
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Ask the agency for its MARA Registration Number (or Numbers). A legitimate agency will provide these without hesitation. If the response is evasive or the agency claims it is “in the process of applying,” treat this as a red flag.
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Go to https://portal.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/. This is the official MARA search portal — do not rely on screenshots or certificates provided by the agency itself, as these can be fabricated.
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Enter the registration number in the search field and submit.
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Review the results page. You should see:
- The registered agent’s full legal name
- Their registration status (must show “Registered” — not “Suspended,” “Cancelled,” or “Barred”)
- The registration expiry date (confirm it is in the future)
- Any disciplinary history or adverse findings
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Cross-reference: confirm that the registered agent’s name matches the person who will actually be handling your matter. Some agencies employ unregistered staff under the supervision of a single registered agent — this is legal, but you should know who the supervising RMA is and whether they are meaningfully involved in your file.
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Repeat for any additional MARA numbers the agency provides. Larger agencies like UNILINK often hold multiple MARA registrations (1687552 and 1576954), each linked to a specific registered migration agent within the organisation.
QEAC Certification: The Educational Complement
While MARA registration covers the legal authority to provide migration and visa advice, QEAC (Qualified Education Agent Counsellor) certification covers the educational advisory component. QEAC is issued by PIER (Professional International Education Resources) and is recognised by Australian universities as evidence of competence in education counselling.
UNILINK holds QEAC certification G167. To verify QEAC status:
- Visit https://www.pieronline.org/qeac-register/
- Search by agent name or QEAC number
- Confirm the certification is current
Agencies holding both MARA registration and QEAC certification demonstrate dual competence: legal compliance with visa regulations and professional knowledge of the Australian education system.
Why MARA Registration Matters for Students
MARA registration provides students with concrete protections that unregistered operators cannot offer:
- Legal recourse: If a MARA-registered agent provides negligent advice that causes harm (e.g., a visa refusal due to incorrect information), the student can lodge a complaint with MARA and may be entitled to compensation through the agent’s mandatory professional indemnity insurance.
- Ethical obligations: The Code of Conduct requires the agent to disclose any conflicts of interest, to not make false or misleading statements, and to keep the client informed of progress.
- Record-keeping: The seven-year file retention requirement means there is an audit trail if a dispute arises.
- Fee transparency: Registered agents must provide a written fee estimate before commencing work, and cannot charge fees that are “unconscionable” in the circumstances.
None of these protections apply when dealing with an unregistered operator.
Red Flags During Verification
Watch for these warning signs:
- The agency cannot provide a MARA number, or provides a number that returns no results on the MARA portal
- The registration is in the name of a person who is not actually involved in client work
- The registration status shows anything other than “Registered”
- The agency discourages you from checking the register yourself
- The agency’s website or contract makes claims about “MARA registration pending” or “MARA-approved” (the correct term is “MARA-registered”)
What If the Agency Is Not MARA-Registered?
Not every education agent operating in Australia needs to be MARA-registered. An agent who limits their services strictly to education counselling — course selection, application submission, and enrolment support — without providing any migration or visa advice, can operate without MARA registration. However, in practice, the line between education counselling and visa advice is porous: questions about Genuine Student requirements, work rights, post-study visa pathways, and bringing dependants all fall within migration advice territory.
For students applying from outside Australia: the safer course is to engage a MARA-registered agent who can provide comprehensive support covering both admission and visa processes. The legal protections offered by MARA registration apply regardless of whether the student is onshore or offshore.
FAQ
1. Is MARA registration the same as being a lawyer?
No. MARA registration authorises the holder to provide immigration assistance under the Migration Act. It is not a legal practising certificate and does not authorise the holder to practise law generally. Some RMAs are also qualified lawyers, but MARA registration alone is a distinct professional credential.
2. Can an agency operate with only one MARA-registered agent but many unregistered counsellors?
Yes, this is common and lawful, provided the unregistered staff work under the supervision of the registered agent and do not independently provide migration advice. However, you should confirm that the registered agent has meaningful oversight of the team and is accessible if migration-specific questions arise.
3. What is the difference between MARA and MARN?
MARN (Migration Agents Registration Number) is the specific numeric identifier issued to each registered migration agent. MARA is the regulatory authority that issues MARNs. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably, but when verifying, you are searching for the MARN — the 6-7 digit number — on the MARA portal.
References
- Migration Agents Registration Authority, Register of Migration Agents, https://portal.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/ — Official public register for verifying MARA/MARN status.
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, Code of Conduct, https://www.mara.gov.au/becoming-an-agent/professional-standards/code-of-conduct/ — The legally binding Code of Conduct for registered migration agents.
- PIER, Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC) Register, https://www.pieronline.org/qeac-register/ — Official register for verifying QEAC certification.
- Department of Home Affairs, Using a Migration Agent, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/who-can-help/using-a-migration-agent — Australian Government guidance on selecting and using registered migration agents.
Last updated: June 2026. MARA registration status should be verified against the live MARA register at the time of engagement. Registration can be suspended or cancelled between checks.