Who we are and what we do
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is an office of the Department of Home Affairs (the Department). We are based in Sydney and operate nationwide.
Our functions are set out in Section 316 of the Migration Act 1958. As the industry regulator for Australian migration agent services we administer a comprehensive regulatory framework, including relevant provisions of the Act.
Our main objectives are to ensure that:
- clients needing migration services understand their rights
- registered migration agents understand their obligations
- only suitable people are registered as agents and that unsuitable people are refused registration or re-registration
- agents maintain the knowledge and skills needed to provide accurate and timely advice to their clients
- agents are monitored for integrity of conduct and quality of immigration assistance
- clients of registered or formerly registered agents have an effective way to complain
- we handle complaints efficiently.