OMARA - Public - Find a Registered Migration Agent 

Apply (mara.gov.au) 

Before you apply

Make sure you understand the steps to register as a migration agent.

The steps to register explain the:

• information you need to include in your application form

• fees for the application process

We cannot refund your application fee.

How to apply online

If you are applying for the first time:

1. Click on the button below to fill out a web form to create an online profile. You will be asked to answer qualifying questions such as your age and citizenship status and to submit the form with your contact details. When you submit the form, you will receive an email invitation to continue the application.  The email will contain a link to the secure portal for agents where you will be able to set up your account username and password (check your junk or spam folder if you do not see our email in your inbox.)

2. When you complete your account set up you will be taken to the secure portal home page

3. Click on the link to continue your application.

If you are applying to re-register:

1. Log into our secure portal for agents.

2. Update your personal details

3. Check you have met the continuing professional development requirements to re-register

4. Fill in the form to apply to re-register.

You can only apply online. We do not accept paper applications.

Apply now

When you apply for registration

When you are registering for the first time

We must publish your details in a list of applicants for a period of at least 30 days from when we receive your application. We cannot assess your application until after the 30 days have passed.

The OMARA must publish your details to let people tell us if they think you should not be on the Register. If someone objects to you being registered, we will tell you and you can respond.

If you are re-registering

You must apply every year to stay on the Register.

If you apply and pay your fee before your registration expires (12 months after approval), you will automatically stay on the Register until we make a decision on your application. You may give migration advice while we are assessing your application.

You can apply to re-register up to 2 months before your registration ends.

If you apply after your registration expires (12 months after approval), you will no longer be on the Register. You cannot give migration advice while we are assessing your application, it is unlawful.

Make sure you follow our steps to register as a migration agent and include all the information and supporting documents we need to assess your application. You will not be able to submit an incomplete application.

Sections 280 and 300 of the Migration Act 1958 contains important information about re-registering. If you are applying after 5 years since you last provided a National Police Check – another National Police Check will be required.

How we use your information

We check the information you give us on your form to assess whether we can register you as a migration agent.

By applying, you give your consent for us to collect your personal information (including sensitive information).

We may publish certain information you give us in our list of applicants including your name and any former names, your citizenship, your address and the name and address of any business where you plan to give immigration assistance.

The rules around publication are covered at section 288A of the Migration Act 1958 and Regulation 4 of the Migration Agents Regulations 1998.

We may pass your personal details (such as your name, address and date of birth) to an information broker. The broker may check your details against the Australian Securities and Investment Commission's public registers.

We need to make sure the documents you give us are real. We may check your details with the organisation that issued your documents.

To protect your privacy, we follow the rules set out in the Privacy Act 1988 and our own privacy policy.

Resources

For guides and videos to register as a migration agent, see User guides.

Find an Immigration Consultant (college-ic.ca) 

Public Register

The College has an online Public Register of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs).

Anyone can use this Public Register to help verify a Canadian immigration consultant’s status as a licensee of the College.

Note: It is an offence punishable by law for someone to provide Canadian immigration advice for a fee or other consideration without being licensed by the College, a Canadian law society, or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. 

If your immigration consultant does not appear in our Public Register, you may also check the Government of Canada website to determine if they are authorized by another organization.

NOTE: The College regulates Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants. We do not provide immigration advice, process immigration applications, or influence any decision related to immigration.

Find an Immigration Consultant

Check the Entitled to Practise column on the Public Register to know who can provide immigration advice or services. Only RCICs and RISIAs marked as ‘Yes’ in that column can legally provide immigration advice or services. Any RCIC or RISIA marked as ‘No’ under the Entitled to Practise column CANNOT legally provide immigration advice or services. 

Law Society of Ontario Home | Law Society of Ontario (lso.ca) 

Paralegal Licensing Process | Law Society of Ontario (lso.ca) 

Paralegal Licensing Process

OVERVIEW

The focus of the Paralegal Licensing Process is to ensure that candidates have demonstrated they possess the required entry-level competencies, in order to provide services effectively and in the public interest.

Professional competence is achieved through a combination of knowledge, skills, abilities and judgment. Prior to applying, it is strongly recommended that candidates review the Paralegal Licensing Process Policies and the Licensing Examination Rules and Protocol to familiarize themselves with relevant information.

REQUIRED COMPONENTS

To qualify for admission to the Paralegal Licensing Process, an applicant must have graduated from a Law Society accredited Paralegal Education program.

Collapse all

• Paralegal Licensing Examination

• The Paralegal Licensing Examination is a self-study, open-book, multiple-choice examination.

• The licensing examination assesses entry-level competencies of a paralegal's knowledge of substantive and procedural law and ethical and professional responsibilities that have the most direct impact on the protection of the public and that influence the provision of effective and ethical legal services.

• Learn more about the Paralegal Licensing Examination

• Be of Good Character

• The Law Society Act requires that an applicant for admission as a licensee of the Law Society of Ontario be of good character. This is an ongoing requirement for applicants throughout their licensing term and up to the time of their licensure.

• Learn more about the Good Character Requirement.

• Become Licensed

• Application for a P1 Licence

• To be eligible to apply for your P1 (Paralegal) Licence, you must successfully meet all requirements of the Licensing Process (including the Licensing Examination), have no Good Character issues, have paid all required fees and submitted all required documents.

• Once you are eligible to be licensed, the complete details of what you are required to submit in order to obtain your licence will be emailed to your Law Society web account by the Licensing Process, Licensing and Accreditation Department. You will be sent a document entitled "P1 Licensing Documents and Information". This information will not be posted online and will only be sent to the web accounts of candidates who have satisfied all requirements for licensing.

• Learn more about becoming licensed

APPLICATION PROCESS

Prior to applying, applicants must read the following information which will provide them with a thorough understanding of the application process, how to submit the application for enrollment and the choices that need to be made:

1. COMPLETING THE LICENSING APPLICATION

2. LICENSING PROCESS POLICIES

3. LICENSING EXAM RULES AND PROTOCOL

4. APPLY NOW

5. LICENSING PROCESS WEBCAST

6. LICENSING PROCESS VIRTUAL INFORMATION SERIES

7. PARALEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

Contact us

Created by an act of the Legislative Assembly in 1797, the Law Society of Ontario regulates Ontario’s lawyers and paralegals in the public interest by ensuring that the people of Ontario are served by lawyers and paralegals who meet high standards of learning, competence and professional conduct.

The Law Society has a duty to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario, and to act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

Please use the search feature on our website to look for services offered by the LSO and learn how to access them. 

General inquiries

Toll-free: 1-800-668-7380
General line: 416-947-3300
TTY: 416-644-4886
Email: lawsociety@lso.ca

Licensee inquiries

Toll-free: 1-800-668-7380 ext. 3315
General line: 416-947-3315

Media inquiries

Email: communications@lso.ca

About RCICs and RISIAs 

The Role of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs)

If you want to study, work or live in Canada, an RCIC can help and support you. Once you are in Canada, an RCIC can also help you with citizenship applications, family sponsorship applications, visitor visas, detention reviews, or study permits. 

RCICs in Canada and around the world help by:  

• Explaining immigration and citizenship options

• Choosing the best program for you

• Filling out and submitting your immigration or citizenship application

• Communicating with the Government of Canada on your behalf

• Representing you in an immigration or citizenship application or hearing*

*An RCIC must have an RCIC-IRB class of licence to represent you before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

The Role of Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs)

A RISIA is an international student advisor (ISA) licensed by the College. RISIAs are employed in the Canadian education sector and can provide immigration advice to international students and their dependents about:

• Study permits

• Temporary resident visas

• Study permits related to other permits currently available in Canadian immigration programs

RISIAs are not authorized to represent you in an immigration or citizenship case or complete immigration forms for you. For these services, you will require an RCIC.

Standards for RCICs and RISIAs

All RCICs and RISIAs must meet the following standards to become licensees of the College and remain in good standing.

RCICs:

• Complete a graduate diploma program delivered by Queen’s University or the Université de Montréal or have completed the former Immigration Practitioner Program (IPP) by December 31, 2022

• Successfully pass the Entry-to-Practice Exam (RCIC EPE)

• Maintain a Professional Liability Insurance annually

• Complete mandatory Practice Management Education (PME) courses

• Complete 16 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year

• Participate in a competency-based assessment process to identify competence gaps in their practice

• Comply with the Code of Professional Conduct

RISIAs: 

 Complete the International Students and Immigration Education Program (ISIEP) delivered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE)

• Successfully pass the Entry-to-Practice Exam (RISIA EPE)

• Provide proof of Professional Liability Insurance annually

• Complete 6 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year

• Participate in a competency-based assessment process to identify competence gaps in their practice

• Comply with the Code of Professional Conduct

Register of licensed immigration advisers

This policy sets out the functions of the register of licensed immigration advisers (the register).

On this page

• Legislative purposes

•  Contents of the register

•  Related documents

Legislative purposes

Section 77 of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) requires the Registrar of Immigration Advisers (the Registrar) to keep and maintain a register of licensed immigration advisers

(external link)

The Registrar keeps and maintains the register on the Immigration Advisers Authority’s website. The register is also available in hard copy on request.

The register is a searchable database that, among other things, lists all licensed immigration advisers and their business contact details.

The purpose of the register is to enable consumers to know:

• how to contact a licensed immigration adviser

• whether or not a person is licensed as an immigration adviser

• whether or not a person’s licence has been cancelled or suspended, or whether a person’s application for a licence has been refused.

Contents of the register

The Act requires the register to include:

• the full name of every licensed immigration adviser

• their business address and service address

• details of their employer if applicable

• their license number

• the date of each registration of their license; for example, the yearly renewal

• the type of license that they have; whether it is a full, limited or provisional license

• any terms or conditions associated with the licence

• if applicable the date on which any cancellation, surrender or suspension of license took place

• the name and details of anyone who has been refused a license.

The register is updated every time a new immigration licence application is successful and if there is a change of details of an adviser; for example, the contact information, an upgrade of a licence or the expiry of a licence.

Related documents

• Form 101 Initial Licence Application - PDF, 415 KB

• Form 101A - Supervision Arrangement Application - PDF, 258 KB

• Form 201 - Upgrade Application - PDF, 427 KB

• Form 301A - Supervision Arrangement Application (Renewal) - PDF, 336 KB

• Form 401 Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Application - PDF, 614 KB

• Form 401A Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 Notice - PDF, 226 KB

• Form 501 - Not-For-Profit Recognition Application - PDF, 1.1 MB

• Model supervision agreement - May 2021 - DOC, 112 KB

• Template: Client file list - DOCX, 25 KB

• Guidance for developing a supervision agreement - PDF, 551 KB

• Professional development plan guidance - PDF, 544 KB

Register of licensed immigration advisers | IAA 

Become an Authorized Provider

Anyone wishing to provide the public with immigration services must be authorized by the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP). Visit the OLAP’s Recognition and Accreditation Program page to learn how an organization can apply for recognition and accreditation (R&A).

USCIS Role in Review

OLAP offers USCIS the opportunity to review applications for applicants' qualifications.

Each USCIS district office has a R&A team or point of contact who reviews the application.

In addition to reviewing the submitted materials, USCIS may:

• Consult records of disciplined practitioners;

• Conduct basic background checks and,

• Contact colleagues of the applicant for input.

At the completion of the review, USCIS will submit its findings to the OLAP and provide a copy to the applicant.

If you have questions about USCIS' role in the review process, please contact your local USCIS district office or email public.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.

Why Become Authorized?

DOJ-recognized organizations and accredited representatives provide essential support to USCIS and the public. They provide:

• Educational materials and

• Legal services to help immigrants navigate the immigration system.

Accredited representatives can assist clients in preparing forms and are also allowed to attend USCIS interviews with their clients.

To become an authorized provider of immigration services, you must receive recognition and accreditation from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP). Accredited representatives may assist noncitizens in immigration proceedings before the DOJ’s immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals, before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or both. Visit the DOJ’s Recognition and Accreditation Program page to learn how an organization can apply for recognition and accreditation for its practitioners.

The DOJ website offers the following:

• Form EOIR-31, used for requesting and renewing recognition

• Form EOIR-31A, used for requesting and renewing accreditation

• Current list of recognized organizations (PDF)

• Current list of accredited individuals (PDF)

When you submit your application package to the DOJ, you must also submit a copy of the package to your local USCIS district office.

Find Legal Services

While you can file USCIS forms yourself, many people prefer to have legal representation. If you are looking for legal representation, the following are guidelines to keep in mind. An authorized legal representative must be either:

• An attorney who is:

  • A member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state or territory, or the District of Columbia,

  • Not disbarred or otherwise restricted in the practice of law, and

  • Eligible to practice law in the United States.

or

• A representative accredited by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Access Programs and working for an organization on the DOJ’s List of Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives.

An authorized legal representative is allowed to:

• Advise you about which forms to file and when to file them;

• Give you advice about the correct documents and evidence to submit;

• Explain immigration options you may have;

• Help you fill out USCIS forms; and

• Communicate with USCIS about your case.

This list is not exhaustive. For additional information, please visit the DOJ’s website for a list of Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives.

To help you find an authorized legal representative, the American Bar Association provides information about finding an attorney in your state. The DOJ also provides a list of attorneys who provide immigration services either for free or for little cost. DOJ also provides a list of accredited representatives and recognized organizations. Your authorized legal representative must file Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, with the related application, petition, or appeal that you file. USCIS will send information about your case to you and your authorized legal representative if you have one.

When choosing an attorney you should:

• Make sure that the attorney is eligible to practice in – and is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of – any U.S. state, possession, territory or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

• Make sure that the attorney is not under any court order restricting their practice of law.

• Ask to see the attorney’s current licensing document, and verify through the state agency responsible for regulating attorneys that they are eligible to practice.

• Check the List of Currently Disciplined Practitioners. This is where the Executive Office for Immigration Review lists people who have been expelled, disbarred or suspended from practicing law before USCIS. Attorneys who are on the list and who have a “No” in the last column on the right are not eligible to give you legal advice. If the attorney has been disbarred, but claims they have been reinstated, ask to see a copy of the reinstatement order from the EOIR.

WARNING: “Notarios,” notary publics, immigration consultants, and businesses cannot give you immigration legal advice unless they are authorized legal service providers. In many other countries, the word “notario” means that the individual is an attorney, but that is not true in the United States. If you need help with immigration issues, be very careful before paying money to anyone who is neither an attorney nor an EOIR-accredited representative of an EOIR-recognized organization.  See more information on “notarios públicos” on our Common Scams webpage.