EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Migration Agents Regulations 1998
- This Notice is made under Regulation 5 of the Migration Agent Regulations 1998 (‘the Regulations’).
2. Regulation 5 of the Regulations states that for the purposes of Paragraph 289A(c) of the Migration Act 1958, a prescribed course is a course approved by the Authority and listed on the Authority’s website. Section 289A states that an applicant for registration as a migration agent who has never been registered, or who is applying to be registered more than 12 months after the end of his or her previous registration, must not be registered unless the Authority is satisfied that he or she has completed a prescribed course within the prescribed period and has passed a prescribed exam within the prescribed period, OR holds the prescribed qualifications.
3. The purpose of this instrument is to identify courses that have been approved by the Authority. It is the first time the Authority has identified courses that have been approved pursuant to clause 5 of the Regulations.
4. The Authority has approved the Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice at a number of tertiary institutions. The Authority has also approved self directed study in migration law and procedure completed before 15 July 2006. The recognition of self directed study in migration law and procedure completed before 15 July 2006 enables the Authority to continue to consider applicants for registration who have participated or participate in self directed study completed before 15 July 2006. This ensures that applicants for registration are not disadvantaged if they complete any self directed study before 15 July 2006 and meet all of the other registration requirements.
5. The Instrument is effective as of 1 July 2006.