Information on OMARA for Migration Agents

Confirmed cases of breaches of the APS Code of Conduct in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) 2011 to 2012

In Australia, the Office of the MARA is a discrete section of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).  The OMARA is not an independent body and shares an ABN with DIAC.  Officers of the MARA are DIAC delegates with position numbers.  OMARA regulates registered migration agents.

The Office of the MARA cannot advise on visa requirements, help an applicant lodge a visa application or deal with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on an applicant’s behalf for a fee.   Registered migration agents can do this.  A register of excellent migration agents is available on this website.  Migration Alliance Member migration agents are all Certified Migration Agents.

If an Australian visa applicant chooses to seek migration advice it is important that a registered migration agent is used. It is illegal in Australia to give advice about migration to Australia without being registered with the Office of the MARA. There are heavy penalties for giving immigration assistance without being registered.

The video Using a registered migration agent* contains important information on how to find a registered migration agent and what to expect from them.

Unregistered persons may try to take advantage of your situation and provide incorrect information and false hopes, such as guaranteeing you a visa.

Complaints about OMARA

Migration Alliance receives inquiries from Registered Migration Agents regarding how to complain about OMARA and it's officers. Migration Alliance is not an OMARA complaints handling service, however details have been provided on this page to assist migration agents and the public should they wish to complain about OMARA. If you are not satisfied with the service provided by your OMARA officer, you can complain in the following ways:

Annonymously via Migration Alliance: If you have a problem with a delegate within the Office of the MARA and you are unable to resolve this with them, you can lodge a complaint through Migration Alliance, either annonymously or including your problem to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Christopher Levingston, Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent has agreed to handle these complaints and provide migration agents with first-hand assistance.  Christopher Levingston is able to defend migration agents in relation to complaints they might receive from the Office of the MARA and assist them to protect their rights.

DIAC Global Feedback Unit (Complaints): Client Feedback and Standards Section Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and Manager of the Global Feedback Unit, Ian Cheung This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   or fax (02) 62644135

Commonwealth Ombudsman (online complaints form):
Complete this form https://forms.australia.gov.au/forms/ombudsman/ombudsman-complaint-form and send it to fax + 61 (0) 2 6276 0123 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Complaints about DIAC / OMARA case officers about any breaches of the Public Service Code of Conduct or DIAC Client Service Charter such as providing misleading advice, not providing current contact details, not providing a statement of services, not declaring a conflict of interest, not putting requests in writing, improper notification, rude telephone manners, unreasonable service delays, not advising if no-longer dealing with a file, deliberately bypassing appointed representative (eg your migration agent), failure to properly identify themselves (first and last name and position number), failure to provide their daytime contact details, lack of sound knowledge of the legislation, lies, not acting with dignity and courtesy, not able to communicate effectively, failing to properly respond, failure to adequately supervise staff, deceit, and not acting in a timely manner.

If you are unhappy with a service the department provides or funds, then make a free complaint. Your compliments and complaints provide the department with information to help improve their quality of their services.

The compliments and complaints policy at DIAC ensures the department processes all compliments, complaints and suggestions in a consistent way and address them appropriately.

As part of the department’s commitment to service improvement, it has established a centralised system for recording, tracking and resolving client feedback.

If you think the department has made a mistake that has caused you a financial loss or some other detriment, you may be able to make a claim for compensation from the department.

Types of compensation

There are three bases upon which monetary compensation can be obtained for loss suffered as a result of:

• legal liability
• defective administration
  or
• special circumstance arising out of Commonwealth administration (Act of Grace).

Compensation for legal liability

The department may assess your claim and pay compensation in accordance with the Attorney General's Legal Services Directions, where there is a risk that the department could be found to be liable to pay compensation if the matter went to court.
Examples: Negligence, actions in contract, personal injury and property damage.

Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA)

The CDDA Scheme allows the department to compensate you if you have been adversely affected by the department's defective administration and where no legal liability exists. Payments made under the CDDA scheme are discretionary and may be made where it is considered that there is a moral obligation, rather than a legal liability.

Compensation is not payable for grief, anxiety, hurt, humiliation, embarrassment, or disappointment that is unrelated to personal injury, no matter how intense the emotion may be.

In order for your claim to be successful under the CDDA scheme, the decision maker must be satisfied that:

• there was defective administration by the department
• the loss or detriment you suffered was a direct result of the department's defective administration
  and
• the type of detriment suffered by you must have been reasonably foreseeable by the department.

Defective administration is defined as:

• a specific and unreasonable lapse in complying with existing administrative procedures
  or
• an unreasonable failure to institute appropriate administrative procedures
  or
• an unreasonable failure to give to (or for) an applicant, the proper advice that was within the official's power and knowledge to give (or reasonably capable of being obtained by the official to give)
  or
• giving advice to (or for) an applicant that was, in all the circumstances, incorrect or ambiguous.

The overarching principle of the CDDA scheme is to restore you to the position you would have been in had the defective administration not occurred.

Act of Grace payment

The Act of Grace Scheme is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance). If the Finance Minister or delegate considers it appropriate to do so because of special circumstances, he or she may authorise making an Act of Grace payment. Act of Grace claims are considered on their individual merits. Act of Grace payments are discretionary and may be made where there is a moral, rather than legal liability and there is no other redress available; including where:

• the direct role of an agent/agency of the department has caused an unintended and inequitable result for the individual or entity concerned
  or
• the application of the department's legislation has produced a result that is unintended, anomalous, inequitable or otherwise unacceptable in a particular case (including in cases where the department has acted correctly in administrating the legislation involved)
  or
• the matter is not covered by legislation or specific policy, but the department intends to introduce such legislation or policy, and it is considered desirable in a particular case to apply the benefits of the relevant provisions prospectively.

What can I complain about?

The Australian Human Rights Commission can investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying based on a person’s:

• sex, including pregnancy, marital status, breastfeeding, family responsibilities and sexual harassment
• disability, including temporary and permanent disabilities; physical, intellectual, sensory, psychiatric disabilities, diseases or illnesses; medical conditions; work related injuries; past, present and future disabilities; and association with a person with a disability
• race, including colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, immigrant status and racial hatred
• age, covering young people and older people
• sexual preference, criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion or social origin (in employment only)

It is against the law to be discriminated against in many areas of public life, including employment, education, the provision of goods, services and facilities, accommodation, sport and the administration of Commonwealth laws and services.

The Commission can also investigate and resolve complaints about alleged breaches of human rights against the Commonwealth and its agencies.