Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F1998B00030 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998

Statutory Rules No. 34, 1998

made under the

Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997

Compilation No. 12

Compilation date: 15 October 2020

Includes amendments up to: F2020L00999

Registered: 22 October 2020

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 15 October 2020 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name of regulations

3 Interpretation

Part 2—General charge and noncommercial application charge

4 Amount of general charge

5 Amount of noncommercial application charge

Part 2A—Charge on basis of status of migration agent

6 Working out amount of charge

Part 3—Transitional and application provisions

7 Amendments made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017

8 Amendments made by the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Part 1—Preliminary

 

1  Name of regulations

  These regulations are the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998.

3  Interpretation

  In these Regulations:

Act means the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997.

repeat registration has the same meaning as in the Migration Agents Regulations 1988.

Part 2—General charge and non‑commercial application charge

 

4  Amount of general charge

 (1) This regulation applies to an individual making a registration application unless regulation 5 applies to the individual.

 (2) For the purposes of section 6 of the Act, the amount of general charge payable is as follows:

 (a) the amount of general charge payable on the making of an application for registration, other than repeat registration, is $1 760;

 (b) the amount of general charge payable on the making of an application for repeat registration is $1 595.

5  Amount of non‑commercial application charge

 (1) This regulation applies to an individual who intends to provide immigration assistance on a noncommercial basis.

 (2) For the purposes of section 6 of the Act, the amount of noncommercial application charge payable is as follows:

 (a) the amount of noncommercial application charge payable on the making of an application for registration, other than repeat registration, is $160;

 (b) the amount of noncommercial application charge payable on the making of an application for repeat registration is $105.

Part 2ACharge on basis of status of migration agent

 

6  Working out amount of charge

  For the purposes of the definition of begins in section 3 of the Act, and paragraph (a) of the definition of remaining period in subsection 12(1) of the Act, the first day in the current period of a registered migration agent’s registration on which the agent begins to give immigration assistance otherwise than on a noncommercial basis is the earliest of the following days:

 (a) the first day in the period on which the agent gives a client an estimate of fees before starting work on behalf of the client;

 (b) the first day in the period on which the agent charges a client a fee for services provided;

 (c) the first day in the period on which the agent is (or becomes) a person associated with, or a member of, an organisation that gives immigration assistance on a commercial, or forprofit, basis;

 (d) the first day in the period on which the agent is not (or is no longer) a member of, or a person associated with, an organisation that operates in Australia solely:

 (i) on a noncommercial or nonprofit basis; and

 (ii) as a charity, or for the benefit of the Australian community.

Note: Charity has the meaning given by Part 2 of the Charities Act 2013 (see section 2B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).

Part 3—Transitional and application provisions

 

7  Amendments made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017

  The amendments of these Regulations made by Schedule 7 to the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017 apply in relation to a registration application made on or after 1 July 2017.

Note: Schedule 7 to the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017 commences on 1 July 2017.

8  Amendments made by the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020

  The amendments of these Regulations made by Schedule 1 to the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020 apply in relation to:

 (a) an amount of general charge or noncommercial application charge in respect of a registration application made on or after the commencement of this regulation; and

 (b) an amount of charge imposed under section 10 of the Act (on the basis of the status of a migration agent) in respect of a registered migration agent’s current period of registration resulting from a registration application made on or after the commencement of this regulation.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

/subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Number and year

FRLI registration or gazettal

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

34, 1998

20 Mar 1998

21 Mar 1998 (r 2)

 

282, 1998

1 Sept 1998

1 Sept 1998 (r 2)

89, 1999

4 June 1999

1 July 1999 (r 2)

65, 2000

4 May 2000

1 July 2000 (r 2)

144, 2001

20 June 2001

1 July 2001 (r 2)

93, 2003

22 May 2003

1 July 2003 (r 2)

130, 2004

18 June 2004

1 July 2004 (r 2)

192, 2004

1 July 2004

Sch 3: 1 July 2004 (r 2)

247, 2004

12 Aug 2004

1 July 2004 (r 2)

132, 2005

20 June 2005 (F2005L01498)

1 July 2005 (r 2)

r 4

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017

29 June 2017 (F2017L00816)

Sch 7 and Sch 12 (item 2): 1 July 2017 (s 2(1) item 1)

Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020

7 Aug 2020 (F2020L00999)

Sch 1: 15 Oct 2020 (s 2(1) item 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Part 1

 

Part 1 heading.............

ad F2017L00816

r 2.....................

rep LA s 48D

r 3.....................

am No 282, 1998; No 89, 1999

 

rs No 65, 2000

 

am F2020L00999

Part 2

 

Part 2 heading.............

ad F2017L00816

 

rs F2020L00999

r 4.....................

ad No 65, 2000

 

am No 144, 2001; No 93, 2003; No 192, 2004; No 247, 2004; No 132, 2005; F2017L00816; F2020L00999

r 5.....................

ad No 65, 2000

 

am No 144, 2001; No 93, 2003; No 192, 2004; No 247, 2004; F2017L00816; F2020L00999

Part 2A

 

Part 2A heading............

ad F2020L00999

r 6.....................

ad No 130, 2004

 

am No 132, 2005

 

rs F2020L00999

Part 3

 

Part 3...................

ad F2017L00816

r 7.....................

ad F2017L00816

r 8.....................

ad F2020L00999

 

Overview

The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998 were enacted under the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a regulatory framework governing the fees associated with the registration of migration agents in Australia. The primary objective of the Act was to establish a system of charges for the application and registration of migration agents, ensuring that the processes are properly funded and regulated. The Regulations detail the specific charges applicable to different categories of applicants, such as general charges and non-commercial application charges, and outline the calculation of fees based on the status of migration agents. The enacting body responsible for these Regulations is the Australian Parliament, which has established a structured approach to managing the costs associated with the oversight and regulation of migration agents within the country.

Scope and Application

The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998 applies to individuals who are making a registration application for migration agent registration under the Migration Agents Registration Act 2000. The Act requires individuals to pay a registration application charge to register as a migration agent or re-register as a migration agent. The regulations specify the amounts of the general charge and non-commercial application charge that must be paid. The geographic reach of the Act is national as it applies throughout Australia. The Act does not apply to individuals who are providing immigration assistance on a non-commercial basis. The Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments such as amendments made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017 and the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020. These amendments apply in relation to registration applications made on or after the commencement of the respective regulations.

Key Provisions

The Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998 set out the charges associated with applications for migration agent registration under the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997. Regulation 4 specifies the general charge payable on making an application for registration, with a charge of $1,760 for non-repeat registrations and $1,595 for repeat registrations. Regulation 5 outlines the non-commercial application charge, which is $160 for non-repeat registrations and $105 for repeat registrations, applicable to individuals who intend to provide immigration assistance on a non-commercial basis. Regulation 6 details how the charge amount is determined for registered migration agents based on their status and the day they start providing immigration assistance on a commercial basis. These Regulations impose several obligations on applicants for migration agent registration. They must pay the applicable charge as specified in regulations 4 and 5, depending on whether their application is for a first-time registration or a repeat registration and whether they intend to provide services on a non-commercial basis. Further, if an amendment made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2017 or the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020 applies, applicants must adhere to the new charge amounts set out in those regulations. Failure to comply with the requirements of these Regulations may result in civil or criminal penalties as outlined under the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997. The specific penalties for breaches are not detailed within the Regulations themselves but would be determined by the Act and any related legislation. Applicants must ensure they meet all the specified requirements to avoid any potential legal consequences.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Immigration & Refugee Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.