Australia is cracking down on migration misconduct as three agents have had their registrations suspended or canceled for allowing unqualified individuals to provide immigration services using their government IDs.

The Assistant Minister for Citizenship stressed that migrants must be assisted by qualified professionals, comparing front-agent practices to unqualified professionals impersonating doctors, lawyers, or financial planners.

Investigations uncovered hundreds of visa applications lodged via Omara accounts by undeclared assistants or unregistered agents, including a case where a non-registered son provided immigration help.

Earlier this year, the government introduced rules requiring migration agents to complete annual ethics training and ongoing refreshers to maintain registration.

Migration industry figures say thousands of agents exist but only a small number face sanctions each year, while public criticism can tarnish the entire profession; officials warn misconduct by a minority damages trust.

Allegations include clients receiving falsified departmental letters to create the impression their visa applications were lodged when they were not.

The actions are part of broader government reforms to migration agent regulation, following a 2024 audit that highlighted weak oversight, slow complaint handling, and cases of potential wrongdoing such as trafficking and cash-for-visa schemes.

A 2024 Australian National Audit Office report criticized Home Affairs’ regulation for inadequate monitoring and slow investigations, noting delayed probes into suspected trafficking and an automated renewal system that approved agents despite fraud concerns.

Cases include an agent allowing a non-registered person to assist through the business, another director lodging applications under a registered agent’s number until that person became registered, and front-agent arrangements across multiple businesses.

OMARA can caution, suspend, cancel, or bar agents and pursue disciplinary action for breaches; only registered agents, Australian legal practitioners, or exempt individuals may legally provide immigration advice in Australia.