Australia is a nation of migrants. For Australians, migrants are skilled workers, beloved family members, industrious students, wide-eyed tourists and refugees in dire need.
Our members work closely with the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to support and assist migrants with a range of visas.
Registered Migration Agents who are a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) have the experience and guidance to handle the following visa applications:
- Holiday or vacation visa
Student visa
Work visa
Business, innovation and investment visa
Permanent resident visa
Resident return visa
Partner visa
Refugee and humanitarian visa
Parent, child or other family member visa
Bridging visa
Search for an MIA Member Migration Agent
The Institute encourages potential migrants to use a Registered Migration Agent to obtain migration advice to thoroughly understand their options and to prepare and submit visa applications.
LOOKING TO ENGAGE AN RMA’S SERVICE?
SEARCH FOR AN MIA MEMBER HERE
MoneySmart
MoneySmart is an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) developed resource centre for humanitarian entrants, featuring information sheets, video tutorials and “life event” kits in 26 languages.
General Information
While each visa application is different, many have overlapping requirements. People seeking entry in Australia may be required to submit to health and police checks in order to proceed with their visa applications.
Additional requirements may include health insurance, English language testing, evidence of funds and assessment of skills and trade qualifications. Migrants should also take into account the need to open an Australia bank account and registering for government services.
Much more information can be found on the DIBP website.
Pro bono Migration Advice
The following organisations are authorised to provide pro bono migration agents with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for their work and have thus had their professional services meet the burden of proof of the professional’s regulator:
ACT
NSW
- Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC)
- Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force NSW (GLITF NSW)
- Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)
- St George Migrant Resource Centre (SGMRC)
- St Vincent de Paul Society NSW
- Sydney Multicultural Community Service
- The Salvation Army NSW
- Anti-Slavery Australia, University of Technology, Sydney
NT
- Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia (MCSCA)
- Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory (MCNT)
QLD
- Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre (MRCLC)
- Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS)
- Townsville Community Legal Service (TCLS)
SA
VIC
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
- Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District
- Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre
- Geelong Ethnic Communities Council (GECC)
- Victorian AIDS Council – HIV/AIDS Legal Centre
- Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre (RILC)
- Springvale Monash Legal Service (SMLS)
- Tibetan Community of Australia (Victoria)
WA
- Centre for Advocacy, Support and Education for Refugees (CASE for Refugees)
- Centrecare Catholic Migrant Services
- Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC)
Legal Aid NSW
Visa Cancellation Kit
Designed for prospective migrants who have received a visa cancellation letter from the DIAC, this kit covers the basics and provides clients some instructions and examples of how to proceed and is available here.
Discrimination toolkit
This 200 page joint publication of Legal Aid NSW, Kingsford Legal Centre and Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre is a comprehensive and helpful guide to making discrimination complaints, and is available here.
New Arrival Kits
Legal Aid NSW has developed a suite of videos comprising its New Arrivals Kits. These helpful induction tools for arrivals also include activity sheets and teacher answer sheets focused on the following topic areas:
- The legal system
- Driving rules
- Car accidents
- Buying a car
- Police
- Tenancy
- Centrelink
- Child protection
- Family law
- Family violence
Renting or Leasing a Property
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has partnered with DIBP to translate its Consumer Fact Sheet – Renting a Property – Tenant for 10 community languages – Arabic, Hazaragi, Farsi , Mandarin, Karen, Hakha-Chin, Tamil, Kurdish, Nepali, Dinka – to help its real estate agent members with non-English speaking prospective renters. Click to access these Fact Sheets below:
- To view translation in Arabic, click here.
- To view translation in Chin Hakha, click here.
- To view translation in Dari, click here.
- To view translation in Dinka, click here.
- To view translation in Karen, click here.
- To view translation in Kurdish, click here.
- To view translation in Mandarin, click here.
- To view translation in Nepali, click here.
- To view translation in Persian, click here.
- To view translation in Tamil, click here.
My Language
With information accessible in 65 languages, the web portal My Language is a State and Territory Libraries project to promote access for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities to news, search engines, Government websites and dictionaries, with a focus on equitable access to health, education, housing and the justice services.
Australian Tax Office (ATO)
The ATO video Your business and tax on its dedicated YouTube channel is available in English, Arabic, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese as part of its outreach to migrant communities.
