Australian authorities have intensified action against migration agents accused of submitting false or misleading visa applications, mishandling client money and lodging applications with little or no prospect of success.

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) sanctioned 17 migration agents and former agents during the six months to the end of June 2026, according to its latest half-yearly figures.

The regulatory action included the cancellation of six registrations, suspension of seven agents, cautions issued to three, and a five-year prohibition on re-registration for one former agent.

The figures highlight growing scrutiny of Australia's migration advice industry, which has more than 5,500 registered migration agents.

Among the misconduct identified were cases involving false or misleading information provided to the Department of Home Affairs and OMARA, failures to properly safeguard client funds and records, and immigration assistance being provided without appropriate disclosure.

Sydney migration agent banned for five years

One of the more recent cases involved Sydney migration agent Harsh Yadav, whose registration was cancelled for five years.

Yadav, who had been registered since September 2021 and operated Aus Tech Educations, trading as Bajwa Immigration Consultants Sydney, was found by OMARA to have provided unreported immigration assistance and facilitated non-genuine visa applications.

According to the regulator's findings, an investigation identified 45 visa applications potentially linked to him through multiple data sources despite no registered migration agent having notified the department that immigration assistance had been provided.

OMARA examined 11 applications in greater detail and found that Yadav knowingly provided false or misleading statements to the department in support of visa applications.

The regulator also found failures relating to responding to information requests and ensuring that immigration assistance through the business was provided only by registered migration agents.

Protection visa applications under scrutiny

The crackdown has also targeted the misuse of Australia's protection visa system.

In another case, an agent was found to have lodged protection visa applications despite knowing they had no reasonable prospect of success. OMARA concluded the applications were likely intended to prolong the clients' stay in Australia.

Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill warned that protection visas were intended for people genuinely requiring protection from persecution and should not be treated as an alternative pathway to remain in Australia.

Authorities have also identified financial misconduct.

One migration agent who received a two-year suspension was found to have accepted money from clients before entering into service agreements, failed to provide receipts and failed to deposit all client funds into the required client account. Other concerns included undisclosed financial interests and incomplete client records.

165 complaints dealt with

OMARA dealt with 165 complaints during the six-month reporting period.

Twenty complaints resulted in sanction decisions, while 15 resulted in suspected breach notices and another 31 matters were addressed directly with migration agents.

Migration agents continue to play a significant role in Australia's visa system. More than 60 per cent of employer-sponsored and business skills visa applications involved an agent during the reporting period. Agents were also involved in 52.1 per cent of general skilled applications and 21.7 per cent of student visa applications.

Migration Institute of Australia chief executive Peter van Vliet said the statistics demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of registered migration agents were complying with their professional obligations, but warned that unregistered or "fake" migration advisers remained a significant concern.

The latest enforcement activity sends a clear warning to both registered and unregistered operators that misleading applicants, mishandling client funds or attempting to manipulate Australia's visa system could result in serious regulatory consequences.

The Nepalese Voice | Australia

Source: OMARA reporting and The Age, 31 August 2026