The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Specified Courses and Exams for Registration as a Migration Agent) Instrument 2026. This instrument, officially registered as F2026L00245, was made by Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, on 11 March 2026. The new framework commences on 1 April 2026 and repeals the previous 2018 instrument. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the updated prescribed courses, examinations, minimum scores, and transitional rules for aspiring migration agents.
Specified Prescribed Courses
To be eligible for registration, applicants must successfully complete a prescribed course in Australian Migration Law and Practice. The instrument specifies the following current courses:
Current Prescribed Courses
- •The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Murdoch University.
- •The Graduate Diploma in Migration Law offered by Victoria University.
- •The Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Griffith University.
- •The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law offered by Western Sydney University.
- •The Graduate Diploma in Migration Law and Practice offered by the University of Technology Sydney.
- •The Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by the Australian Catholic University.
- •The Master of Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by the Australian Catholic University.
Historic Courses (Completed Before 1 January 2018)
- •The Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by the Australian National University.
- •The Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Griffith University.
- •The Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Murdoch University.
- •The Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Victoria University.
Specified Prescribed Examinations
Aspiring migration agents must pass specific examinations to qualify for registration. For most applicants, the prescribed examination is a combination of two components:
- •The Migration Agents Capstone Assessment, which is offered by Legal Training Australia Pty Ltd.
- •An approved examination in English language proficiency.
Exemptions for the English Proficiency Exam
Certain applicants are only required to complete the Capstone Assessment and are exempt from the English language exam if they meet strict educational backgrounds. This exemption applies to a person who falls into one of two categories:
Category One
- •The person must have successfully completed secondary school studies to the equivalent of the Australian Year 12 level.
- •This secondary education must involve a minimum of 4 years of study.
- •The person must have also successfully completed a Bachelor degree, or a higher degree requiring a minimum of 3 years of equivalent full time study.
- •Both the secondary and higher education must have been completed at an education institution located in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.
- •The person must have been living in that specified country while completing the education.
- •The education must have been conducted in English as the primary language of instruction.
Category Two
- •The person must have successfully completed the equivalent of secondary school studies to the Australian Year 10 or Year 12 level.
- •The person must have successfully completed at least 10 years of primary and secondary schooling at an education institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.
- •The person must have been living in that specified country during their schooling.
- •The person must provide evidence that this education was conducted in English as the primary language of instruction.
Accepted English Language Proficiency Exams and Minimum Scores
If an applicant does not qualify for the exemption, they must take one of the specified English language proficiency exams. The accepted tests and their required minimum scores are as follows:
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Overall |
|---|
| C1 Advanced | 169 | 168 | 180 | 187 | 178 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 62 | 65 | 71 | 76 | 73 |
| MET | 59 | 59 | 64 | 53 | 62 |
| PTE Academic | 53 | 54 | 60 | 66 | 63 |
| TOEFL iBT | 19 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 91 |
Applicants must achieve the required minimum scores in a single sitting. The only exceptions to this single sitting rule are for the IELTS Academic test and the MET.
Timeframes for Examination Completion
The instrument strictly defines the valid lifespan of examination results:
- •Capstone Assessment: Must be completed within a 12 month period starting from the day the person achieves the required score.
- •English Proficiency Exams: The required scores must be achieved within the 3 year period that ends immediately before the day the person makes their registration application.
Application and Transitional Provisions
These new regulations apply to any registration application made on or after 1 April 2026. However, there are two specific transitional provisions to accommodate certain applicants:
Griffith University Master Degree
The Master of Australian Migration Law and Practice offered by Griffith University will be accepted as a prescribed course if it commenced prior to the 1 April 2026 commencement date. Furthermore, the course must have been completed either before the commencement date or within a 12 month period following the commencement date.
TOEFL iBT Special Provision
There is a special exception for applicants using the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet Based Test. This applies if an application was made before the commencement date but remains undecided, or if the application is made on or after the commencement date. The applicant must provide evidence they attempted the test before the commencement date or within 3 months following it.
In this specific scenario, the alternative minimum scores required are 20 in listening, 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 20 in speaking, and an overall score of 94. These scores must have been achieved within the 2 year period immediately before the registration application is made.
Official Reference Summary
- Instrument Name: Migration (Specified Courses and Exams for Registration as a Migration Agent) Instrument 2026
- Registration ID: F2026L00245
- Commencement Date: 1 April 2026
- Authority: Migration Act 1958
- Repealed Instrument: Migration (Specified Courses and Exams for Registration as a Migration Agent) Instrument 2018
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalised guidance on migration agent registration requirements, please contact our team.