DIY vs Matilda
Avoid the workload, stress and uncertainty of applying for a visa on your own by applying with Matilda.
Find peace of mind with your visa application
You don’t have to hope for the best when you work with the best. Apply for your visa with Matilda, and remove the risk from your visa application process.
Instead of going it alone, you’ll work with our migration experts and enjoy the sense of certainty that comes with having your application prepared and submitted by a team with a 99% success rate.
What you get with Matilda
Invest in the right migration support for a low-risk, stress-free experience.
Your application done for you
All we need you to do is answer some questions and provide us with a few essential documents.
We’ll identify the right visa type for you, prepare your submission and review it every step of the way to ensure it’s of the highest quality.
Clear, practical guidance
Our team creates personalised plans for you that are simple to follow. They’ll tell you everything you need to do, and when to do it.
Plus, we include helpful extra features like task effort estimates and real examples of successful visa applications.
Expert support at every step
Throughout your application process, book a consult with one of our highly qualified migration agents anytime at no extra cost.
After submission, our team also provides you ongoing support with post-lodgement tasks like medical exams and Medicare applications.
How does Matilda compare to preparing your own visa application?
Let’s break down the the key differences.
  | DIY | |
|---|---|---|
Peace of mind
Peace of mind |  |  |
| Success rate | 99% | ? |
Applicant workload We’ll lighten your workload by taking on some of your most time-consuming tasks, including:
Applicant workload | 15-30 hours | 100-200 hours |
Clear instructions
Clear instructions | | |
| Unlimited support from a migration expert | | |
Price Matilda has affordable, flat fees with no hidden costs. We transparently share our prices on our website. Price | $4000 AUD (launch special) | $0 AUD |
| Successful visa applications | 1000+ | 0 |
Post-lodgement support We’ll still be here to help you after lodgement. Expect assistance with tasks including:
Post-lodgement support | | |
| Your application done for you | | |
| Guidance from a former Visa Processing Officer | | |
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Life changing success stories
“The Matilda team did an incredible job of guiding us through the process”
Frequently asked questions
Applying for a visa can be incredibly stressful, complex and costly. Working with a migration agent can give applicants peace of mind and a sense of certainty, bringing clarity to a notoriously ambiguous application process.
In practical terms, a migration agent can:
- Provide certainty that you’re applying for the right visa
- Ensure you submit a high-quality application
- Clarify which supporting documents are and aren’t relevant to your application
- Reduce your workload by 75% (or even more)
However, not all agents are created equal. It’s important to find a good migration agent that offers unlimited support, a strong success rate, and a money-back guarantee on their fees if your visa isn’t approved. Learn more about how to spot the best migration agents.
Yes, you can prepare your visa application without a migration agent. However, preparing a DIY application can take up to 100 hours for partner visas (compared to just 15-30 hours with Matilda).
The application guidelines provided by the Department of Home Affairs tend to be vague and generic, and getting a straight answer about what level of detail you need to provide is almost impossible.
By preparing your own application, you’ll need to do the heavy lifting of formatting documents, writing supporting statements and collating supporting material. Without clear instructions, ongoing support or expert guidance from a migration agent, there’s no guarantee that your application will be successful.
Many visa applicants choose to work with a migration agent to reduce the stress, uncertainty and work involved in preparing a visa application.
A migration agent can also be helpful for more complex visa applications (such as when you don’t meet the typical eligibility criteria), guiding you through the best pathway to securing a visa based on your unique circumstances.
Working with a good migration agent with a proven track record of success in the specific visa category you’re applying for can remove the hassle and risk from your visa application process.
In some cases, you can request for priority visa processing. However, this is only an option for certain visa types, and you’ll need to demonstrate that there are “compelling and compassionate circumstances” to warrant this.
Working with a migration agent isn’t a way to fast track your visa application. However, working with an agent can give you peace of mind knowing you’re applying for the right visa category and ensure you’re kept up-to-date throughout the process—even after your application has been submitted.
Visit the Home Affairs website to check the current visa processing times for your visa subclass. Keep in mind these figures are only an average and can change over time depending on a range of factors.