If you’re planning to migrate to Australia, you’ve likely come across both “immigration lawyers” and “registered migration agents.” Many people—understandably—assume they’re basically the same thing. After all, they both help with visas, right?

Not quite.

While both professionals assist with migration processes, their qualifications, scope of advice, legal authority, and professional protections are vastly different.

And those differences can significantly impact your migration outcome—especially if your situation involves more than just ticking boxes.

At SOLVi Migration, we are often contacted by people who’ve already received advice from agents, recruiters, or friends. They’re confused, sometimes misinformed, and unaware that they’ve taken unnecessary risks. That’s why it’s essential to understand the difference—so you can choose the right professional for your needs from the very start.

🎓 The Qualification Pathways Are Completely Different

To become a lawyer:

• You complete at least 3-4 of legal studies (Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor)

• You undergo practical legal training which entails completing a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, minimum of 75 days of internship and are admitted to practice in a state or territory Supreme Court

• You work under supervision for two years before becoming eligible for an unrestricted practising certificate

• If you want to practise independently or operate your own law firm, you must:

  • Already hold an unrestricted practising certificate, and

  • Successfully complete and pass the Principal Practising Certificate course, and

  • Apply for and be granted a Principal Practising Certificate by your local Law Society (e.g., Queensland Law Society).

To become a Registered Migration Agent (RMA)

• You complete a 1-year Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice

• You pass a Capstone Assessment

• You register with the office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA)

• Once registered, you are allowed to practise independently immediately— no supervised experience required.

🧠 Who Can Give Advice on Australian Law?

This is where the distinction really matters.

• Registered migration agents can only provide advice on migration matters.

• They are not legally allowed to advise on Australian law—only lawyers can.

A lawyer can provide qualified legal advice across all areas that may impact your migration, including:

✅ Employment contracts and workplace rights

✅ Registration processes for nurses and healthcare workers

✅ Family law and partner eligibility

✅ Criminal or character matters

✅ Housing and tenancy laws

✅ Social security and entitlements

✅ Interpretation of legal notices and immigration policy

When you’re migrating to a country like Australia with complex laws and regulations, having someone who can advise on the full legal picture is critical. At SOLVi, we do more than “file forms.” We build legal strategies designed to protect your migration outcome long-term.

🔐 Legal Privilege: Lawyers Offer More Protection

Another important distinction: only lawyers offer attorney-client privilege.

That means anything you discuss with your lawyer—documents, disclosures, emails, legal advice—is legally protected. It cannot be shared with any third party or government agency without your permission, even if subpoenaed.

Migration agents, while required to maintain confidentiality under their Code of Conduct, do not have legal privilege. If required by law to disclose your information, they must do so—they cannot claim legal confidentiality.

When your case involves sensitive information, health disclosures, family matters, or anything that might impact your future eligibility, that protection matters.

⚖️ Regulation and Oversight

Lawyers are governed by state and territory Law Societies—for example, SOLVi Migration is regulated by the Queensland Law Society. All practising lawyers must:

• Hold a valid practising certificate (restricted or unrestricted)

• Comply with stringent ethical and professional conduct rules

• Maintain appropriate insurance

• Be subject to legal disciplinary action if they breach professional duties

Registered migration agents are regulated by OMARA, which oversees the registration and conduct of RMAs in Australia. Their scope is focused specifically on migration-only matters.

Important note: person holding an unrestricted practising certificate as a lawyer cannot also register as a migration agent—this is prohibited to maintain the legal profession's integrity.

👩‍⚕️ Why This Matters for Nurses and Midwives

Most of our clients are internationally qualified registered nurses and midwives. For them, the migration journey is not just about applying for a visa. It often involves:

• Understanding and navigating AHPRA registration

• ANMAC skills assessment

• Planning for partner inclusion, dependants, and English requirements

• Understanding the differences between independent migration and employer sponsorship

• Complying with workplace laws and healthcare standards

• Developing a strategy that keeps your whole family together and secure

This is where having a lawyer-led team makes a huge difference. We can advise across all areas of law that may impact your success—not just the visa paperwork.

🤝 Are Registered Migration Agents Bad?

Absolutely not.

Many RMAs provide excellent service and play a valuable role in supporting visa applicants, especially for straightforward cases.

However, the difference in the depth and scope of legal expertise. Lawyers are qualified to advise on multiple laws, provide strategic planning, and offer protections that agents simply aren’t authorised to deliver.

This distinction matters most when the stakes are high: when you want to include your family, secure permanent residency, avoid refusal, and truly understand every stage of the process.

🎯 What Should You Do Next?

If you:

✔️ Want to migrate to Australia as a nurse or midwife

✔️ Don’t want to make costly mistakes

✔️ Are confused by changing registration and visa rules

✔️ Want to protect your family and your future

Then you deserve expert legal advice—not just form-filling.

At SOLVi Migration, we are Australia’s only healthcare-specialist immigration law firm, with legal professionals who’ve worked at the highest levels of government, including the Department of Health and the Department of Home Affairs.

We don’t give advice based on guesswork or internet rumours. We give you legally sound, strategic advice backed by 20+ years of Australian government policy expertise.

📌 Final Thought

Migration is more than a form—it’s a legal process. And when your future is at stake, you need the highest standard of advice.

✅ Book a paid legal consultation with SOLVi today

We’ll assess your situation and give you a clear legal strategy to migrate independently to Australia.

✅ Need help with AHPRA registration? Join our Nurse Registration Course.

Get cost-effective, expert guidance and access to a supportive community so you can secure your AHPRA registration and move forward with your migration plans.

👉 www.nurseregistration.com