How To Become A Migration Agent in Australia
Posted on: 16 October 2015
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Becoming a migration agent in Australia requires a post-graduate certificate. To qualify for this post graduate certificate, you first require an under graduate degree in law, then you must be accepted at a registered training institute for the graduate certificate in Australian migration law and practice. However, there are also other requirements, both personal and professional, that a migration agent needs, as well as further legal requirements. There may be road blocks if you don't pass all steps. This article details the perquisite steps to becoming qualified.
1. You must meet age and citizenship requirements.
To legally practise as a migration agent in Australia, you need to be an Australian citizen, or hold a permanent residency visa. The only exception to this rule is New Zealand citizenship holders, who hold a special category visa. You also need to be at least 18 years of age to qualify and work as a migration agent in Australia as it is a a legal profession.
2. You must meet all the educational requirements.
Work as a migration agent can be a full time occupation, or you may chose to practise it on a freelance basis, or as an addition to your other legal work. No matter how you practise, you need to hold the relevant, specific, qualifications. As a prerequisite, you must hold an undergraduate degree in law. There is only one post-grad certificate that will allow you to qualify as a migration agent. The name of the certificate you must complete is the 'Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice'. You need to complete this certificate and pass the compulsory unit "common assessment items relating to registration" to qualify as a licence migration agents. This certificate can be obtained at both university and Tafe providers, with online options at some institutions.
3. You must register as a migration agent.
Simply passing the graduate certificate is not enough. To qualify and work legally as a migration agent, you need to register through the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. This authority decides who can and can't practise migration law based on legal, educational, and personal requirements. Once you are formally accepted and registered you will be able to work as a migration agent.
4. You will need to meet all personal requirements.
The MARA requires strong personal qualities, and codes of ethics in its members. Before you can register with the authority, and gain your qualification as a migration agents in Australia, you will need to meet their standards. The MARA tests and screens for specific criteria, and all standards must be meet. These your knowledge of the English language, your ability to follow an ethical framework, and your knowledge and understanding of the profession. Because migration agents deal with matters that are both emotionally and politically sensitive, the MARA holds candidates up to strong ethical standards. As it is a legal profession, prospective candidates must adhere to strict guidelines, and to abide by the MARA's code of conduct, including "not make[ing] statements, or encourage the making of statements, that you know, or believe, are misleading or deceptive" and "not intimidate or coerce your client". In addition to this, candidates are governed by legislation for migration agents under the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Agent Regulations 1998.
You cannot quality as a migration agent in Australia if you have previously been expelled from the profession, or if you have a current suspension in the field. You also need to complete, and pass, a police check.
Don't let these steps or road blocks prevent you from becoming a migration agent in Australia. It is a lucrative and growing profession that you can achieve success in, if you follow the above steps.