Immigration advice is regulated in most major destinations, which means you can — and should — check that anyone charging you for it is officially registered. Verifying a licence number takes five minutes and is one of the strongest protections against fraud. Here is how to do it by country in 2026.
Australia — MARA / OMARA
Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Each holds a Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN), a seven-digit number. Search the public register on the official MARA website (mara.gov.au) by name or MARN and confirm the agent is currently registered and not suspended or cancelled.
Note: an education agent who only helps with course applications is not the same as a migration agent, and providing immigration assistance for a fee without MARA registration is an offence. If you are getting visa advice, insist on a MARN.
Canada — CICC (RCIC)
In Canada, only three groups can legally charge for immigration advice: Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), lawyers and paralegals in good standing with a provincial law society, and Quebec notaries. Anyone else charging for immigration services is operating illegally.
To verify an RCIC, search the free CICC public register at register.college-ic.ca by name, College ID, or company. An RCIC number is an "R" followed by six digits. Confirm the status shows Active and in good standing. A CICC compensation fund exists for clients who suffer loss through a licensed consultant's dishonesty.
United Kingdom — IAA (formerly OISC)
The UK regulator was renamed in January 2025: the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is now the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). Existing registrations remain valid. Immigration advisers must be registered with the IAA (at Levels 1–3) unless they are regulated by another approved body, such as solicitors regulated by the SRA. Check the adviser on the official IAA register before paying for advice.
New Zealand — Immigration Advisers Authority
New Zealand requires most people giving immigration advice to be Licensed Immigration Advisers (LIAs), regulated by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA). Verify a licence on the official IAA register (iaa.govt.nz). Lawyers with a current practising certificate are exempt from licensing.
Cross-check against sanctions
Registration is necessary but not sufficient — agents can be registered yet have a disciplinary history. Cross-check names and registration numbers against our barred and sanctioned agents watchlist, which is built only from official regulator sources.
Education consultants are different
Most education consultancies (who help with course selection and admissions, not visas) are not covered by these immigration registers. For education agents, look instead for recognised quality markers — ICEF accreditation, PIER/QEAC qualification for Australia, or British Council / AIRC / AAERI recognition — and, above all, verified student reviews. Read education consultant vs migration agent to understand which one you need.
Related guides
See how to choose a registered migration agent in Australia, our how to choose a consultant hub, and compare advisers with verified reviews on ConsultancyCheck.
*Regulator names, registers, and rules change. Always confirm current details on the official OMARA, CICC, IAA (UK), and Immigration Advisers Authority (NZ) websites before relying on them.*
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a Canadian immigration consultant is licensed?
Search the free CICC public register at register.college-ic.ca by name, College ID, or company. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) has an R followed by six digits; confirm the status shows Active and in good standing.
Is OISC still the UK immigration adviser regulator?
The OISC was renamed the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) in January 2025. Existing registrations remain valid. Immigration advisers must be registered with the IAA unless regulated by another approved body such as the SRA for solicitors.
What is a MARN in Australia?
A Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN) is the seven-digit number held by a Registered Migration Agent regulated by OMARA. Verify it on the official MARA register before paying for immigration advice.
Does registration mean an agent is safe?
Registration is essential but not a guarantee. Registered agents can still have disciplinary histories, so also cross-check names and numbers against official sanction records, such as our barred-agents watchlist.
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