Online registered migration agent

Students, skilled workers, partners and families applying for visas, plus small employers who want to sponsor overseas staff.

Fixed fees per application or stage, or hourly fees for consultations and complex cases. Repeat work comes from referrals and from clients moving to their next visa.

• Careful, detailed paperwork
• Clear writing and explaining
• Patience and empathy with stressed clients
• Willingness to keep up with changing rules

• Giving immigration assistance generally requires registration with OMARA, so check before you advertise or take any fee
• Professional indemnity insurance and ongoing professional development requirements, check the current rules
• Clients' expectations: you cannot guarantee a visa outcome, and rules and fees change often
• Client money and record-keeping rules, check what applies to your registration
• Check council rules on running a home-based business

Startup costs are typically around $6,000 to $20,000, depending on registration, insurance, software and home office setup. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your client numbers and the type of visa work you take on.

Giving immigration assistance generally requires registration with OMARA, so check before you advertise or take any fee. Also check professional indemnity insurance, ongoing professional development requirements, and client money and record-keeping rules that apply to your registration.

Estimates suggest at least around 10 hours a week, depending on client load. You'll need careful paperwork, clear explanations, patience with stressed clients and willingness to keep up with changing rules. You cannot guarantee a visa outcome.