The following email was received by Migration Alliance last night from the Director of the Office of the MARA:
From 22 March 2021 a holder of an ALPC who has never been issued a MARN (not previously registered with the OMARA), and wishes to commence providing immigration assistance should go to the Home Affairs website page ‘who-can-help-with-your-application’ and select the new tab ‘Using a legal practitioner’. From this page the holder of an ALPC who has not been issued with a MARN will need to download and complete the new Australian Legal Practitioner Number (LPN) form. The LPN form will ask for a MARN. Holders of an ALPC who have not been issued a MARN should leave this question (number 13) blank. This completed form should be emailed with a copy of the ALPC holder’s practising certificate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. mailbox will respond with a 7 digit identification number starting with a prefix of 55. This number will allow the ALPC holder who has not previously been issued a MARN to open an ImmiAccount. This 7 digit number will be used as a temporary lawyer ID number until such time as a new unique identifier number is provided by the Department of Home Affairs. This is expected to be in place in the latter half of 2021. The changes to the Home Affairs website and the new LPN form will be available from 22 March 2021.
On 22 March 2021, form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person will be available on the Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) website to allow the holder of an ALPC to advise the Department of Home Affairs or ABF that they have been appointed by a client (e.g. a visa applicant) to provide immigration assistance under the Migration Act 1958 and, if applicable, to receive documents on their behalf.