You must obtain 10 continuing professional development (CPD) points each year to stay registered as a migration agent.
CPD requirements do not apply to holders of restricted legal practising certificates (RLPC) who are also registered with OMARA. RLPC holders are subject to the CPD requirements of their relevant legal professional association.
We recommend you complete your CPD activities at least 8 weeks before your registration is due to expire. This is so you have enough points needed to lodge your re-registration application. You can submit your re-registration application up to 8 weeks before your registration expires. You must complete your CPD activities in the 12 months immediately before you submit your registration application.
Additional time to complete your CPD
For exceptional circumstances that are beyond your control, you may be provided with 3 months of extra time to complete your CPD.
You will need to make this request as part of your re-registration application and you must provide evidence to support your claim.
Reasons we generally do not consider an exceptional circumstance include:
- a heavy workload
- financial hardship
- overseas travel
- the unavailability of a preferred CPD activity
- technical issues with computer/internet.
Reasons that we may consider to be an exceptional circumstance include evidence of illness, hospitalisation or the rescheduling of CPD activities by the CPD Provider.
If you have not completed your CPD and do not have evidence of exceptional circumstances beyond your control, we may refuse your re-registration application.
Rules regarding CPD subjects
Your 10 CPD points must include both:
- Ethical standards for migration agents (mandatory subject worth 1 CPD point) and
- Code of Conduct (mandatory subject worth 1 CPD point)
You must complete at least 5 CPD points from Category A activities.
You can choose to obtain the remaining required CPD points from either Category A or B activities.
Points already counted for one application cannot be counted again for a future application.
- A maximum of 6 CPD points can be completed online within 24 hours.
- Private study with assessment must be completed within 12 months from the date of enrolment.
Transitional provisions for legislative changes
From 1 April 2026, Migration Agents (CPD Activities, Approval of CPD Providers and CPD Provider Standards) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/001) includes CPD requirements for registered migration agents (RMAs).
LIN 26/001 also outlines transitional provisions where RMAs can meet previous CPD requirements if these CPD activities have been:
- completed before 1 July 2026 and
- part of an RMA’s registration lodged on or before 31 March 2027.
If your CPD points are completed and lodged within this time period, RMAs can still claim:
- 10 CPD points completed online within 24 hours
- A CPD topic on either ethical standards topic or a Code of Conduct topic
- Private study enrolled prior to 1 July 2026 even if it is more than 12 months between the enrolment and completion date.
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