Quick Answer: MARA Registration Is the Legal Gatekeeper for Australian Immigration Advice
If you are planning to study in Australia in 2026 and will need support with a student visa, graduate work visa, or any immigration-related matter, there is one question you must ask every advisor: “What is your MARA registration number?” Under the Migration Act 1958, any individual providing immigration assistance in Australia for a fee must hold a valid MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) registration. This is not an optional certification, a marketing badge, or a “nice to have” — it is a legal requirement enforceable through criminal penalties. This article explains what MARA registration actually means, the legal duties it imposes on registered agents, and how you can independently verify an agent’s credentials.
What MARA Registration Legally Requires
MARA is the statutory body responsible for regulating migration agents in Australia. Since July 2021, it has operated under the direct authority of the Department of Home Affairs, meaning its enforcement powers are fully integrated with the immigration system. To obtain and maintain MARA registration, an individual must: complete a Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice, pass a character test, hold professional indemnity insurance with a minimum cover of AUD 1 million, complete at least 10 hours of Continuing Professional Development annually, and comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
As of mid-2026, approximately 6,800 registered migration agents are active in Australia, according to MARA’s annual registration data. Of these, an estimated 15-20% specialise in student and graduate visa categories. The remaining agents focus on skilled migration, family reunion, employer sponsorship, and refugee and humanitarian visas.
UNILINK Education holds two MARA registration numbers — 1687552 and 1576954 — reflecting its multi-office operational structure where each location providing immigration assistance must have corresponding registered coverage. Both registrations are verifiable through the MARA public register at mara.gov.au.
Registered Agent vs Education Consultant: The Legal Boundary
This distinction is the most important concept for international students to understand. An education consultant can help you select universities, prepare application documents, write personal statements, and submit course applications. These activities fall under educational advising and do not require MARA registration.
However, the moment the conversation shifts to any of the following, the advisor must hold MARA registration: assessing your eligibility for a specific visa subclass, advising on how to respond to a Department of Home Affairs request for further information, explaining the legal implications of visa conditions, preparing or reviewing visa application forms, representing you in communications with the Department, or advising on appeal options following a visa refusal.
In practice, these topics arise in almost every study-abroad consultation that goes beyond a basic course recommendation. An advisor who says “your profile looks fine for a student visa” has just provided immigration assistance. If that advisor does not hold a personal MARA registration, they have crossed a legal line — and you are relying on advice that carries no regulatory protection.
The Four Core Legal Duties of a MARA-Registered Agent
Every registered migration agent must fulfil four statutory duties that form the foundation of consumer protection in Australia’s immigration system.
First, the duty of disclosure and informed consent requires the agent to provide a written service agreement before any work begins. This document must specify the agent’s name and MARN, a detailed breakdown of fees, an estimate of third-party costs, the expected timeline, and the client’s right to complain to MARA.
Second, the duty of competence and diligence means the agent must only operate within their area of expertise and maintain current knowledge through mandatory CPD. The 2026 CPD framework requires at least 10 hours annually, with a minimum of one hour focused on professional ethics.
Third, the duty of confidentiality and record-keeping requires the agent to protect client information and retain complete files — including all correspondence, document copies, agreements, and payment records — for seven years. This creates an audit trail that is critical if a dispute arises.
Fourth, the duty to carry professional indemnity insurance means that if an agent’s negligence causes you financial loss — for example, by advising you to apply for the wrong visa subclass, resulting in a refusal and application fee forfeiture — you can claim compensation through their insurance. This is the protection mechanism that non-registered consultants cannot offer.
How to Verify a MARA Registration in 2026
The MARA public register is freely accessible at mara.gov.au and requires only the agent’s MARN (Migration Agent Registration Number) or full name. The search returns the agent’s registration status (Registered, Suspended, Cancelled, or Expired), the registration expiry date, and any disciplinary actions on record.
When verifying a registration, check three things. First, the status must show “Registered” — any other status means the agent is not currently authorised to provide immigration assistance. Second, the agent’s full name on the register must match the name of the person actually advising you. Third, the disciplinary record should be clean. According to MARA’s 2025-2026 annual report, 47 registered agents received disciplinary sanctions in the 2025-2026 registration year, including 23 licence cancellations.
In 2026, MARA introduced a QR code verification system: each registered agent receives a unique QR code that links directly to their live registration page on the MARA website. Scanning the code provides instant verification and eliminates the risk of being given a fabricated registration number.
What Happens When an Unregistered Person Provides Immigration Advice
Under Section 280 of the Migration Act, providing unregistered immigration assistance is a criminal offence carrying penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine equivalent to AUD 1,596,000. In the 2025-2026 financial year, MARA pursued enforcement action against 12 individuals for unlawful provision of immigration assistance, with four cases referred to the Federal Court.
For the student, the consequences of receiving advice from an unregistered person can be equally severe. If a visa application contains errors or misleading statements based on that advice, the student — not the advisor — is legally responsible for the contents of the application. The Department of Home Affairs holds the visa applicant accountable for all information submitted, regardless of who prepared it. A visa refusal based on incorrect advice creates a permanent record that must be disclosed in all future Australian visa applications.
CPD Requirements and Why They Matter for Your Application
The Continuing Professional Development obligation is not an abstract regulatory detail — it directly affects the quality of advice you receive. Australian immigration law changes frequently: in 2025 alone, the Department of Home Affairs issued 47 legislative instruments amending migration regulations, affecting student visas, graduate visas, and skilled migration pathways. An agent who has not completed CPD may be operating on outdated information.
You have the right to ask your agent to produce evidence of their CPD completion for the current registration year. The Code of Conduct requires agents to provide this information upon client request. If an agent refuses or deflects, that is a significant red flag — it suggests either non-compliance or a lack of transparency, neither of which is acceptable in an advisor handling your immigration matters.
FAQ
Q1: My education agent says they have a “MARA-registered partner” who reviews visa applications. Is that sufficient?
Not if the partner does not personally handle your case. MARA registration is an individual credential — it cannot be borrowed or shared across a team. If the person who discusses your visa strategy with you, reviews your documents, and advises on how to respond to Department requests is not personally registered, you are receiving immigration assistance from an unregistered person, regardless of who ultimately signs the form. Ask directly: “Will you, personally, be my migration agent? What is your MARN?”
Q2: I am applying from outside Australia. Does the MARA requirement still apply?
The Migration Act’s jurisdiction is based on where the immigration assistance is provided, not where the client is located. If the person advising you is in Australia, they must be MARA-registered regardless of whether you are in China, India, or anywhere else. If the advisor is outside Australia, the Australian regulatory framework may not apply — but that also means you have no access to MARA’s consumer protection mechanisms. In such cases, verify what regulatory framework governs the advisor in their jurisdiction.
Q3: What should I do if I suspect my agent is not MARA-registered but is giving me visa advice?
Stop the engagement immediately. Do not sign any visa-related documents or pay any fees for visa services. Verify the agent’s claimed MARN at mara.gov.au — if it does not return a valid, active registration, or if the agent cannot provide a MARN at all, you can report the matter to MARA through the complaint portal on their website. Then seek a MARA-registered agent to review any visa materials already prepared. Catching errors before lodgement is far easier than correcting them after a refusal.
References
- Migration Act 1958 (Cth), Sections 276-280, current as of January 2026
- Office of the MARA, Code of Conduct for Registered Migration Agents, 2022 revised edition
- Department of Home Affairs, MARA Annual Report 2025-2026
- MARA, Continuing Professional Development Requirements 2026
- Department of Home Affairs, Student Visa (Subclass 500) Policy Guidance, updated March 2026