Government cracks down on unlicensed migration agents
Australian authorities have suspended or cancelled three migration agents who illegally allowed unregistered people to handle visa applications. The crackdown aims to protect visa applicants from fraud and unqualified advice.
Official source ↗The Australian Government has taken action against three registered migration agents who broke the law by allowing unlicensed individuals to provide migration assistance. According to Home Affairs, these "front agent" arrangements involved unregistered people using a licensed agent's registration number to process visa applications without proper qualifications or oversight.
In the cases investigated, serious problems were found including hundreds of undeclared applications, suspended agents whose family members provided unlicensed advice, and instances where clients received fake government letters about their applications. One agent's registration was cancelled entirely, while others were suspended.
If you use a migration agent, you should verify they are properly registered and that only qualified, registered staff handle your application. You can check an agent's credentials with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Home Affairs encourages anyone aware of migration scams or unlicensed agents to report them through Border Watch, which accepts anonymous reports.
This enforcement action is part of the Government's broader effort to improve the integrity of Australia's migration system and protect applicants from fraud and poor-quality advice.