A definitive guide to the best migration agents for Partner Visas in Australia

Applying for a partner visa in Australia can be an incredibly stressful experience. With so many forms, visa categories and supporting documents to navigate, it’s no wonder you’re considering working with a registered migration agent (RMA) to do the heavy lifting.

But simply engaging a partner visa agent isn’t a guaranteed pathway to permanent residency. A recent report on Australia’s migration agent system (produced by the Australian National Audit Office) has found that poor oversight of ‘dodgy migration agents’ is concerningly common.

The latest stats reveal that 33% of current RMAs have been the subject of official complaints to the Department of Home Affairs. Plus, with over 50% of RMAs being sole traders, it’s not hard to see how poor tech literacy, lack of time, and limited sources lead to a poor experience for many visa applicants. 

This definitive list reveals Australia’s best-known partner visa migration agencies and agents, along with side-by-side comparisons to help you make an informed decision.

In this guide, we'll cover:

• Whether you need a migration agent for your partner visa application
• 8 of the most well-known migration agents for Australian partner visa applicationssome text
  • Hansen 
  • Migration Angels
  • Freedom Migration
  • Gold Migration
  • Skylark
  • Immigate
  • Bravo
  • Matilda Migration
• Australian migration agent FAQs: partner visa edition

Do you need a migration agent for a partner visa application?

If you’re wondering, ‘Are visa agents worth it?’ you’re not alone.

It’s not compulsory to use a migration agent to prepare or submit your partner visa application, but many people choose to engage a visa agent.

Between 1 July 2022 and 31 December 2022, 43% of family visa applications were lodged using a registered migration agent. [Source]

A partner visa agent can’t fast-track your processing time or guarantee your visa will be approved. However, they can offer a range of benefits, including:

• Peace of mind: Many of the applicants we’ve spoken to shared that submitting a DIY partner visa application was the “most stressed I’ve ever been”. By working with a registered migration agent (RMA), you’ll have someone in your corner to support and guide you through the process with confidence.
  
• Expert insights: From assessing your eligibility to explaining application timelines, an RMA can take the guesswork out of the visa process. Plus, a migration agent can provide clarity about the types of partner visas available to you, whether that’s an onshore partner visa (subclass 820 or subclass 801), an offshore partner visa (subclass 309 or subclass 100) or even a prospective marriage visa (subclass 300).
  
• Save time and stress: Figuring out which documents you need to gather to secure your Australian visa can be complex and confusing. But with a migration agent, you can reduce the hassle of preparing your application and streamline the partner visa application process with personalised advice. While preparing a DIY application can take upwards of 70-100 hours, working with a traditional migration reduces this to 30-70 hours. And with Matilda, you’ll only need to invest 100+ hours. 

Working with a migration agent can help you avoid the common pitfalls that hold applicants back from securing a partner visa. In the meantime, dive into our ultimate guide to applying for a partner visa and discover our top 10 tips for preparing your partner visa application like a pro. 

Want to weigh up your options? Explore the different ways you can prepare your partner visa application, such as taking a DIY approach vs working with Matilda Visas. Plus, see how Matilda stacks up against traditional migration agents. 

8 of the most well-known migration agents for Australian partner visa applications

Hansen Migration (Geelong, VIC)

• Primary Agent: Nick Hansen
• MARN: 1679147
• Success rate: 99.5%
• Google Review Rating: 4.9 stars (82 reviews)

Since October 2017, Nick and the Hansen Migration team have been supporting applicants in successfully securing partner visas. To date, the team has helped over 300 applicants gain approval for a range of onshore and offshore partner visas.

In 2021, Hansen Migration even helped their first client to successfully navigate the pathway from a permanent partner visa to becoming an Australian citizen.

As specialists in family and partner visas (including the Prospective Marriage Visa, New Zealand Relationship Visa and Same-Sex Partner Visas), the team’s registered migration agents are well-placed to support applicants on the pathway to permanent residency.

Migration Angels (Gold Coast, QLD)

• Primary Agent: Kristy Duncan
• MARN: 0850693

• Google Review Rating: 5 stars (22 reviews)

Since 2008, Migration Angels have been supporting applicants to navigate Australia’s immigration process. Led by registered migration agent Kristy Duncan (bringing 12+ years of experience as an RMA), this migration agency supports a range of visa categories, including partner visas.

With a digital-first approach, Migration Angles offers two packages to choose from:

• VisaKit: a cost-effective DIY platform to guide you through the partner visa application process for AUD$349 +GST.
• Guided application: working with a migration agent backed by 10+ years of experience to boost the accuracy of your partner visa application.

With a proven track record of success with even the most complex applications, Migration Angels follows industry best practices and the relevant Codes of Conduct to offer professional partner visa application services.

Gold Migration Lawyers (Melbourne and Sydney)

• Primary Agents: Ramtin Diznab (Principal Lawyer) and Oliver Christensen (Immigration Lawyer)
• MARN: 1683569
• Google Review Rating: 4.5 stars (2 reviews)

Gold Migration Lawyers specialise in partner and protection visas, with a team of immigration lawyers based in both Melbourne and Sydney. 

With a 99.9% success rate in success rate for partner visa applications in the past 24 months, the team have assisted couples from across the globe to secure permanent residency in Australia.

Keep in mind that the major of the Gold Migration team are immigration lawyers, meaning you can expect to pay a premium for their services. While their website claims that they offer a ‘fixed fee’ service, there is no mention publicly of their fees making it important to secure a quote. 

Skylark Migration Specialists (AUS-wide)

• Primary Agent: Tony Truong
• MARN: 1576409
• Success rate: 100%
• Google Review Rating: 4.9 stars (134 reviews)

The team from Skylark Migration Specialists bring over 57+ years of combined experience in the partner visa process.

Not only are the team specialists in partner visas (subclass 820 visa, subclass 801 visa, subclass 309 visa, subclass 100 visa and subclass 300 visa), but the team are able to help applicants located across all corners of Australia and beyond.

Unlike most migration agents, Skylark Migration’s primary visa agent, Tony Truong, is a former Immigration Officer from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, offering unique insights and expertise into what to include to ensure the best application possible.

Immigate (Sydney, NSW)

• Primary Agent: Diana Faraj
• MARN: 0854566

• Google Review Rating: 4.9 stars (34 reviews)

The team from Immigate bring over 15 years of industry experience to help applicants navigate Australia’s visa process.

With over 3,000 processed cases and a 98% visa success rate, this Sydney-based team offer a range of visa services, including partner visa applications.

The Immigate team brings together both registered migration agents and immigration lawyers. From prospective marriage visas to helping spouses and de facto partners become an Australian permanent resident, this team of RMAs take the confusion and complexity out of the partner visa application process.

Bravo Migration (Lavender Bay, NSW)

• Primary Agent: Erica Carneiro
• MARN: 0532487

• Google Review Rating: 4.4 stars (169 reviews)

Since launching in 2008, Bravo Migration has been supporting applicants across a range of Australian visa categories, including partner visas.

With access to a team of experienced registered migration agents, Bravo Migration uses a rigorous assessment service to assess your eligibility and visa category options.

From there, the team supports you with end-to-end application services, from preparing your documents to liaising with the Department of Immigration on your behalf. To date, the team have helped over 7,500 people successfully migrate to Australia across a range of visa subclasses.

Matilda Migration (Australia-wide and beyond)

• Paula McGeown
• MARN: 0848168
• Success rate: 99%

At Matilda Migration, we’re a modern migration agency on a mission to make migration exciting, not stressful. By combining world-class migration practitioners with cutting-edge technology, we simplify what has previously been an incredibly complex process.

We believe you should only pay for a migration agent if your visa is approved. That’s why we offer a “no-visa-no-fee” refund to ensure we only work with migrants we know we can help.

Here’s a snapshot of how we help applicants navigate the partner visa process with confidence:

• Personalised task list: We use your unique circumstances to build a custom task list that minimises the number of documents you need to collate. We’ll even recommend the order you complete each task with a timeline of key dates to keep your application on track.
• Hands-on guidance: We don’t just share a generic checklist with you. Instead, we work collaboratively with you to handle the heavy lifting for your application, including drafting relationship statements and building detailed timelines of your relationship too.
• Reformatting documents: The Australian government has strict formatting requirements regarding file format, size, and number of supporting documents you can submit. With Matilda, simply share your documents (in any format) with us, and we’ll handle the rest.
• Post-submission support: Even once we’ve submitted your application, we’ll be by your side to organise medical examinations, help you apply for Medicare and keep you up-to-date with the status of your application.

👀 Keep Reading: Dive into our guide to what to look for in the best partner visa agents in Australia, complete with a practical checklist to help you weigh up your options.

Australian migration agent FAQs: partner visa edition

How much does a migration agent charge for a partner visa?

The fees charged by migration agents in Australia vary greatly and depend on a range of factors (such as whether you use a full-service package or what visa category you’re applying for).

According to the latest data from FY 2022/2023, here’s a snapshot of the average migration agent fees for partner visa applications:

• Short-term partner visas (subclasses 820, 309 and 300): from $2,800 to $$7,260
• Permanent partner visas (subclasses 801 and 100): from $1,500 to $7,260

Keep in mind that these fees need to be paid in addition to the cost of submitting your partner visa application with the Department of Home Affairs (starting from AUD$9,095.00 as of 1 July 2024).

What’s the difference between a migration agent and a partner visa lawyer?

The main difference between a registered migration agent and a migration lawyer is qualifications and level of expertise. RMAs only need to complete a Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice (12 months full-time) to be able to register with OMARA.

On the flip side, a migration lawyer needs to complete an undergraduate degree in law, complete their practical legal training (PLT) and be admitted to legal practice before they can lawfully provide migration law services. It’s a process that can take upwards of 5+ years to complete.

As an applicant, it can be more cost-effective to engage a migration agent (rather than a migration lawyer) to support you with your application.

What documents do I need to provide to a partner visa agent for my application?

The documents you need to provide to support your partner visa application depend on what visa subclass you’re applying for. The best migration agents will go beyond simply sharing a checklist of documents you need to provide.

For example, at Matilda, we build a bespoke task list tailored to the circumstances of your unique relationship. We suggest that you complete each task in order to streamline your application. We also share guidelines on how to complete each task so you’re never in the dark.

Plus, we put your application through several rounds of legal reviews from our migration law experts to guarantee that you’re putting your best foot forward to the Australian government.