19/09/2025
Make sure you making use of a MARA registered agents.
We’re cracking down on scam migration agents who have ripped off vulnerable visa applications by giving unlawful migration advice.
Field operations officers from the Department of Home Affairs, along with partner agencies, have located and removed four major scam agents operating onshore illegally in Victoria and Queensland and who had no right to be here — and located and detained a further three who are pending removal.
These seven are known to have facilitated more than 470 Protection visa applications between them, charging clients more than $1.4 million despite not being allowed to provide migration advice, and knowing they were not asylum seekers and would be refused a Protection visa.
Our focus is on scam agents providing unlawful migration advice about applying for a Protection (subclass 866) visa, charging high fees and encouraging applicants to make false claims. A Protection visa is for asylum seekers, not for people who just want to stay longer in Australia to work.
If you’re a visa applicant, scam agents may tell you to provide false or misleading information and false documents when applying for a Protection visa. But this activity is illegal and could result in you facing large fines and possible jail time for up to 10 years.
Anyone with information about potential immigration offences or suspicious activity is encouraged to make a report online to
Border Watch: https://www.abf.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/borderwatch
