1000 (Design date 04/21) - Page 2 © COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2021
What is immigration assistance?
A person gives immigration assistance if he or she uses, or
purports to use, his or her knowledge or experience in migration
procedure to assist a person with matters related under the
Migration Act 1958.
The most common times assistance is provided is during visa
application processes, visa cancellation processes or sponsorship
processes (including monitoring or sanctions).
Note: Immigration assistance does not include simply filling in
an application form, translating or interpreting or passing on
information about an application without comment or
explanation.
Registered migration agents
A registered migration agent is a person who is registered with
the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
(OMARA) to provide immigration assistance.
If operating in Australia, migration agents must be registered with
the OMARA.
Information on registered migration agents, including how to
find one, is available on the OMARA website www.mara.gov.au
Legal practitioners
A legal practitioner is a lawyer who holds an Australian legal
practising certificate (whether restricted or unrestricted) granted
under a law of an Australian state or territory.
Legal practitioners can provide immigration assistance in
connection with legal practice.
Information on legal practitioners, including how to find one, is
available on the Law Council of Australia website.
Information on legal practitioners can also be sought from the
relevant state or territory legal professional bodies.
Exempt persons
The following people do not have to be a registered migration
agent or legal practitioner in order to provide immigration
assistance:
• a close family member (spouse, child, adopted child, parent,
brother or sister of a visa applicant)
• a sponsor or nominator for a visa applicant
• a member of parliament or their staff
• a member of a diplomatic mission, consular post or
international organisation.
An exempt person must not charge a fee for their assistance.
In Australia, if they do charge a fee they are committing an
offence and penalties of up to 10 years jail can apply.
Appointing a registered migration agent/legal practitioner/exempt
person
To appoint a registered migration agent/legal practitioner/exempt
person you should complete Question 49 Options for receiving
written communications.
Your
registered
migration agent/
legal practitioner/
exempt person
should complete form 956 Appointment of a registered
migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Form 956 is available from the Department’s website
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/allforms/
Options for receiving written communications
If you do not appoint a migration agent/legal practitioner/exempt
person you may still authorise another person, in writing, to
receive written communications on your behalf. This person is
called the authorised recipient.
Authorised recipient information
All written communication about your application will be sent to
your authorised recipient, unless you indicate that you wish to
have health and/or character information sent directly to you.
The Department will communicate with the most recently
appointed authorised recipient as you may only appoint one
authorised recipient at any time for a particular application.
You will be taken to have received any documents sent to that
person as if they had been sent to you.
To appoint an authorised recipient you should complete:
• Question 49 Options for receiving written communications;
and
• form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised
recipient.
Note: Migration agents/legal practitioners/exempt persons do
not need to complete form 956A.
Form 956A is available from the Department’s website
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/allforms/
Consent to communicate electronically
The Department may use a range of means to communicate with
you. However, electronic means such as email will only be used if
you indicate your agreement to receiving communication in this
way.
To process your application the Department may need to
communicate with you about sensitive information, for example,
health, police checks, financial viability and personal
relationships. Electronic communications, unless adequately
encrypted, are not secure and may be viewed by others or
interfered with.
If you agree to the Department communicating with you by
electronic means, the details you provide will only be used by the
Department for the purpose for which you have provided them,
unless there is a legal obligation or necessity to use them for
another purpose, or you have consented to use for another
purpose. They will not be added to any mailing list.
The Australian Government accepts no responsibility for the
security or integrity of any information sent to the Department
over the internet or by other electronic means.
If you authorise another person to receive documents on your
behalf and they wish to be contacted electronically, their
signature is required on form 956 or 956A to indicate their
consent to this form of communication.
Note: Electronic communication is the fastest means of
communication available and the Department prefers to
communicate electronically because this results in faster
processing.
Further information
For more information on Global Talent you may consult the
Department’s website www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Home page
www.homeaffairs.gov.au
General
enquiry line
Telephone 131 881 during business hours
in Australia to speak to an operator (recorded
information available outside these hours).
If you are outside Australia, please contact
your nearest Australian mission.
Please keep these information pages for your reference