Stay safe from visa scams
STAY INFORMED. YOUR VISA, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
Protect yourself from visa scams and false promises.
Beware of scams that guarantee a visa in exchange for money. You are at risk of losing money, having your identity stolen, and being lured into unsafe work conditions and exploited.
There is only one official Australian Government provider of visas – the Department of Home Affairs.
Thinking of applying for an Australian visa? Read this first.
Every year, thousands of hopeful Indians are tricked by false promises and fake agents claiming to offer “easy” ways into Australia. Some are told that there’s a simple way to change visa once in Australia.
The information here is to protect you and your family, and help you understand your real, legal visa options.
Not all visas allow you to work in Australia
To work legally in Australia, you must have a visa with work rights and understand the work conditions that apply to you. Some visas, such as student visas, have restrictions on the number of hours you’re allowed to work.
Scammers often claim you can enter Australia for work on a visitor visa or transit visa – this is illegal and you will be refused entry and returned to the country you came from.
Beware of scam agents
Scam agents often pretend to be legitimate migration professionals and encourage people to work in Australia illegally.
If someone guarantees you an Australian visa, be cautious. Scam agents frequently charge high fees and submit applications with false information and documents, which can lead to large fines, visa cancellation, detention and removal from Australia for the visa applicant.
If someone promises you a visa or permanent residency in Australia, or demands a large upfront payment to "fast-track" your application, it’s a guaranteed scam. Make an anonymous report to Australia’s Border Watch Online Report.
You can also phone the Australian Department of Home Affairs Global Call Centre. Interpreter services are available.
Your Australian visa is your responsibility
Never allow someone to apply for a visa on your behalf without making sure all the information in the application is true and accurate. This includes information about:
- your identity (name, date of birth)
- citizenship, passport number)
- relationship status
- travel history
- criminal history.
If you are involved in a visa scam (even if you didn’t realise it) this may exclude you from future Australian visas and for visas to other countries.
Learn more about who can legally provide immigration assistance in Australia.
Top 10 ways to spot a scam
- They contact you via social media or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
- They guarantee you an Australian visa.
- They ask for large upfront payments or pressure you to act quickly.
- They ask you to hand over your passport or other identity documents.
- They tell you to lie in your visa application.
- They charge a lot more for the visa than the cost listed on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
- They falsely claim you can work on a Visitor visa, or switch from a Visitor visa to a Student visa once you get to Australia.
- They guarantee you a job once you arrive.
- They refuse to share your visa application with you in ImmiAccount – the Australian Department of Home Affairs immigration portal and the only official website to use when applying for an Australian visa.
- They claim to be registered in Australia but do not have a Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN) or are not listed on the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) website.
Learn more about how to spot a scam at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visascams.
False information will risk your future
There is a lot of false visa information online, especially on social media, including scams and fake success stories. Bad advice from false sources can lead to removal from Australia at your cost and being refused future visas.
If someone suggests you take an indirect or unusual route to Australia, such as flights via another country or by taking a boat to avoid checkpoints, you are being scammed. This travel is illegal under Australian law. Trying to enter Australia by boat without a valid visa will result in you being removed and permanently banned from entering Australia.
Do you know the facts about Protection visas?
Some scam agents are telling people to apply for a Protection visa once they arrive in Australia so they can stay and work. This is not the purpose of a Protection visa.
Protection visas are for people who are seeking asylum in Australia because they face a real risk of significant harm or persecution in their home country. Protection visas are not a way to stay and work in Australia. Fake Protection visa claims are now processed fast and quickly refused. If you are refused a Protection visa:
- You and your family may find it harder to visit Australia in the future.
- Your refusal will stay on your immigration record for life.
- It can impact future visa applications to other countries.
- You may face large fines and jail time if your application included false or misleading information and documents.
Don't take the risk. Learn more about Protection visa eligibility.
The number 1 rule for any Australian visa
Only use official government sources when looking at what visa to apply for.
These are:
- The Australian High Commission in India
- The Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Registered migration agents listed on the OMARA website
Not all official Australian Government websites are available in languages other than English. You might want to use translation tools to review information but consider that the translation might not be completely accurate.
