What Are MARA and QEAC? (2026 Update)
MARA stands for Migration Agents Registration Authority, an office within Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. Under the Migration Act 1958, MARA is the national regulator responsible for licensing and monitoring migration agents. Every registered migration agent receives a unique MARN (Migration Agents Registration Number). According to Home Affairs official sources (access date: 15 March 2026), there are 7,845 active MARA-registered agents globally.
QEAC stands for Qualified Education Agent Counsellor. This certification is issued by PIER (Professional International Education Resources) and endorsed by the International Education Association of Australia. A QEAC credential demonstrates that a counsellor has completed rigorous training in Australian education pathways, ethical advising, visa-aware course selection, and student welfare obligations. As of 2026, approximately 5,200 education counsellors hold a valid QEAC certification worldwide.
The essential distinction: MARA covers immigration law and visa advice; QEAC focuses on education and course advising. A fully licensed education agent in Australia either holds a QEAC themselves, operates within an agency that employs a MARN-holding migration agent, or – ideally – is dual-qualified with both credentials.
The Real Difference: Licensed vs. Unlicensed Education Agents
Unlicensed agents continue to cause harm despite tightened education agent regulation. The gap between a licensed education agent and an unlicensed operator is not just about registration – it determines whether you are legally protected. The operational and legal contrasts as of 2026 are stark.
A licensed agent holding MARA or QEAC credentials possesses a government-recognised qualification and legal standing. They can provide visa advice directly if they hold a MARN, or operate under the supervision of a registered migration agent. Their education counselling is bound by QEAC professional standards and ESOS compliance, ensuring quality assurance rather than commission-driven advice. Consumers are protected by the MARA Code of Conduct and professional indemnity insurance, with transparent invoicing and fee agreements required by law. These agents are authorised to use the Agent Gateway and ImmiAccount systems, and according to 2025 DHA data, the visa refusal rate for applications handled by registered agents who follow the Code is approximately 4%.
In contrast, an unlicensed agent has no government-recognised qualification. It is illegal for them to charge for immigration assistance. Their advice carries no quality assurance and is often commission-driven, leaving students with no statutory consumer protection or access to an ombudsman. They have no access to DHA systems, and applications they lodge may contain fabricated details. Transactions often involve cash payments, no receipts, and hidden mark-ups. The 2025 DHA data indicates that 22% of all student visa refusals involved advice from an unlicensed agent.
Anonymised Student Case
In February 2025, a Vietnamese national (anonymised student case) paid A$12,000 to an unlicensed agent in Springvale, Melbourne, who promised a packaged VET-to-university pathway leading to permanent residency. The agent had no MARN, no QEAC credential, and operated from a shared desk in a grocery store office. They lodged a Student visa (subclass 500) application containing a fake Confirmation of Enrolment purchased from an illegal provider. The Department of Home Affairs refused the visa and imposed a three-year exclusion bar under PIC 4020. The student lost her funds, her enrolment, and her right to study in Australia. The unlicensed agent disappeared. UNILINK’s licensed counsellor view is unequivocal: if this student had verified the agent’s credentials on the MARA register before paying, the loss would have been prevented.
Why Licensing Matters in 2026: New Regulations and Cross-Border Enforcement
Education agent regulation has been substantially strengthened in the 2025–2026 period. Key developments include:
- Mandatory QEAC: From 1 January 2026, any education agent counselling students for Australian institutions must hold a current QEAC. Institutions risk losing CRICOS registration if they engage non-QEAC agents.
- Data sharing with UCAS and USCIS: The Department of Home Affairs now shares agent misconduct data with UCAS (UK) and USCIS (US) to flag agents with a history of fraud. A red flag in one country can now block an agent from recruiting in multiple jurisdictions.
- Steep penalties: Under the amended Migration Act, unlicensed agents face fines of up to A$13,200 for individuals and A$66,600 for corporations per breach. The Australian Federal Police have been involved in three major operations against agent networks since January 2026.
- ESOS Amendment Code 2026: Under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework, every recruitment agent must have a formal agreement with an institution and retain a licensed migration agent to oversee visa-related queries.
These changes make Australia’s agent ecosystem significantly tighter, but students must remain alert. Unlicensed agents now target social channels, encrypted messengers, and community groups to avoid detection.
How to Verify a MARN and QEAC Credential: Step-by-Step
Verifying a licensed education agent takes under five minutes and protects you from a 22% refusal risk. Follow this checklist, noting your access date each time you search.
- MARN verification: Visit the MARA online register at https://portal.mara.gov.au/search-mara-register. Enter the agent’s full name or MARN number. Confirm the status is “Registered” with no conditions or suspensions.
- QEAC verification: Go to the PIER website (www.pieronline.org) and use the Counsellor Verification tool. Enter the QEAC ID. Confirm the expiry date is in the future, as the credential must be renewed every two years.
- DHA Agent Gateway check: Ask the agent for evidence of their ImmiAccount authorisation. All registered agencies that lodge visas hold a unique agent ID issued by Home Affairs.
- University authorised agent list: Nearly all Australian universities publish a list of approved agents on their websites. If an agent is not on that list, call the university’s international office before signing any form.
- Professional affiliations: Look for memberships in IEAA, ISANA, or state-based international education networks. While not a legal substitute for a MARN or QEAC credential, these affiliations often require proof of registration.
Use this process every time you engage a new education agent. Taking a screenshot with a visible access date adds an extra layer of evidence if something goes wrong.
The MARA–QEAC Overlap: Why Dual Credentials Are the Gold Standard
A migration agent with a MARN can legally provide education counselling if they have the relevant expertise. However, the 2026 ESOS Code strongly encourages—and many institutions require—that counsellors also hold a QEAC. The result is a growing group of dual-qualified professionals.
As of March 2026, approximately 40% of QEAC-certified counsellors also carry a current MARA registration. This overlap means students can receive bundled advice: a course pathway that is genuinely aligned with visa requirements and post-study work rights. If you are planning a long-term study-to-migration strategy, a dual-credentialed professional (holding both a MARN and QEAC credential) is the safest bet.
If you cannot find a dual-qualified counsellor, choose an agency where your counsellor holds a QEAC and all visa lodgement is handled by an in-house registered migration agent whose MARN you can independently verify. Never accept a scenario where an unlicensed agent forwards your documents to an unnamed “partner migration agent” without showing you the MARN.
Red Flags: How to Spot an Unlicensed Education Agent in 2026
Spotting an unlicensed agent before you lose money is your best defence. Watch for these warning signs:
- Refusal to provide a MARN or QEAC number: A genuine licensed education agent will share their registration numbers within the first conversation.
- Demand for cash payments: Licensed agents are required to issue invoices and comply with consumer law. Cash-only deals circumvent oversight.
- Guarantees of a “100% visa success”: No legitimate migration agent ever guarantees an outcome. Immigration decisions are made by case officers, not agents.
- Offering to create a fake CoE or bank statement: This is not just unlicensed behaviour—it is criminal fraud that leads to exclusion bars.
- No physical office or verified video call: While online consultation is normal, a licensed agent should have a traceable business address and be willing to show their face and credentials.
- Pressure tactics: “You must pay now to secure the last place” is a classic unlicensed agent script. Education providers do not work on this basis.
If you encounter any of these, stop the process and report the individual to DHA’s Border Watch service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a MARN and how do I use it?
A MARN is a unique seven-digit number issued by MARA to registered migration agents. You use it to verify an agent on the MARA register at the official portal. Always ask for a MARN before receiving visa advice. As of 2026, it is a criminal offence for an unregistered person to charge a fee for immigration assistance; a MARN confirms legal status.
Q: Is QEAC mandatory for all education agents?
Under the 2026 ESOS Amendment Code, QEAC certification is mandatory for any counsellor recruiting students for Australian CRICOS-registered providers. Institutions that fail to enforce this face sanctions by the Department of Education. By 2027, it will be a blanket requirement across the entire Australian international education sector.
Q: Can an unlicensed agent still help me apply for a course?
Anyone can give free information about courses, but if they help you complete application forms, prepare a Genuine Student statement for a visa decision, or charge a fee, they must be registered. Using an unlicensed agent for any part of the visa process puts you at direct risk of refusal and a possible fraud flag in the DHA systems.
Q: What should I do if I’ve already paid an unlicensed agent?
Stop further payments immediately. Report the agent to the Department of Home Affairs’ Border Watch service (www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/your-feedback/border-watch). Contact a MARA-registered migration agent for urgent advice about your visa options. You may also attempt to recover funds through your state’s consumer affairs body, but this is difficult without a formal contract.
References and Official Sources
- MARA – Register of Migration Agents: https://portal.mara.gov.au/search-mara-register (Accessed 15 March 2026). The authoritative government portal for verifying a migration agent’s MARN, registration status, and conditions.
- PIER – QEAC Counsellor Verification: https://www.pieronline.org/qeac (Accessed 15 March 2026). Official database for checking current Qualified Education Agent Counsellor credentials.
- Department of Home Affairs – Education Agents: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/stud/educ/education-agents (Accessed 15 March 2026). Describes the legal requirements for education agents operating in Australia and how to lodge a complaint.
- Migration Act 1958 – Part 3: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00123 (Accessed 12 March 2026). The primary legislation defining the registration framework for migration agents and penalties for unlicensed practice.
More FAQ
Q：How do I check if my education agent is MARA registered in 2026?
You can verify an agent’s MARA registration by searching the public Register of Migration Agents on the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) website. As of March 2026, there are 7,845 active MARN holders globally. Simply enter the agent’s name or MARN (e.g., MARN 1234567) to confirm their status, any conditions, and disciplinary history. A licensed agent must display their MARN on all correspondence. If they refuse to provide it or the search returns no result, they are likely unlicensed. For QEAC verification, use PIER’s online checker. Always insist on seeing both credentials before engaging an agent.