Best Immigration Lawyers in Australia

Compare immigration lawyers in 11 Australian cities, ranked on migration law experience, fee model, their public client review record and regulatory standing. An immigration lawyer prepares and lodges visa applications, responds to Department of Home Affairs requests, and represents clients in visa refusals, cancellations and citizenship matters under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), the Migration Regulations 1994 and the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth).

The first step is to identify the visa subclass or decision involved and any deadline on the Home Affairs letter. A visa refusal usually carries a 28-day window to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), and that time limit cannot be extended. See our editor's picks and the ranked lists below; our method is set out in how we rank law firms.

Editor's picks

Chosen by our editors from verified facts and always labelled. Shown separately from the data-ranked list. How we rank law firms

Editor's pick #1Migration law firm

Australian Migration Lawyers

★★★★★ 5.0 (480 Google reviews, Melbourne (Level 45, 600 Bourke St))

Australian Migration Lawyers is an incorporated legal practice that describes itself as Australia's largest independent migration law firm, with offices in nine Australian cities.

• Offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast, Darwin and Hobart.
• Services cover partner, parent and family visas, skilled and employer-sponsored visas, protection and bridging visas, citizenship, visa refusals and cancellations, ART/AAT appeals, judicial review and ministerial intervention.
• Consultations in person, by phone or by video call.

Melbourne VICSydney NSWBrisbane QLDPerth WAAdelaide SACanberra ACTGold Coast QLDDarwin NTHobart TAS

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Editor's pick #2Visa advisers registered with OMARA (not a law firm)

Australian Migration Agents

★★★★★ 4.9 (56 Google reviews, Melbourne (216 City Rd, Southbank))

Australian Migration Agents is a visa and citizenship advice business registered with OMARA (no. 2217744), with offices across Australian capital cities.

• Registered with OMARA, registration number 2217744.
• Offices listed in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
• Assists with partner, parent, family, protection, work and skilled visas, medical treatment visas (subclass 602), citizenship and appeals.

Melbourne VICSydney NSWBrisbane QLDGold Coast QLDPerth WAAdelaide SACanberra ACTDarwin NTHobart TAS

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Editor's pick #3Visa advisers registered with OMARA (not a law firm)

Latifa & Associates

★★★★★ 4.7 (40 Google reviews, Melbourne CBD (140 William St))

Latifa & Associates is a Melbourne visa advice practice led by principal Latifa (OMARA no. 1175724), with offices in the Melbourne CBD and Essendon.

• Principal Latifa is registered with OMARA, registration number 1175724.
• Offices at Level 40, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 and Suite 7, 323-325 Pascoe Vale Road, Essendon VIC 3040.
• Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday by appointment.

Melbourne VICEssendon VIC

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Editor's pick #4Immigration and commercial law firm

Fairfields Lawyers

East Melbourne VIC

Fairfields Lawyers is an East Melbourne law firm acting in Australian immigration matters across the full migration pathway, alongside corporate and commercial work.

• Office at 404 Albert Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002.
• Acts on general skilled, employer-sponsored and family migration, business and investment visas, skills assessments and state or territory nominations.
• Handles visa refusals and appeals, and citizenship applications.

East Melbourne VIC

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Top-rated immigration lawyers by city

Sydney

Full ranking →

1. 1Kris Ahn Immigration Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (586)
2. 2The Immigration Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (338)
3. 3Albert Arthur Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (264)

Brisbane

Full ranking →

1. 1Condor Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (345)
2. 2Freedom Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (246)
3. 3Newpoint Migration and Education★★★★★ 5.0 (201)

Melbourne

Full ranking →

1. 1FourSquare Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (496)
2. 2Australian Migration Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (480)
3. 3HTHannan Tew Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (381)

Perth

Full ranking →

1. 1ASAXYN Solutions★★★★★ 5.0 (538)
2. 2Oceanian Migration and Education Services★★★★★ 5.0 (304)
3. 3Ultimate Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (224)

Adelaide

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1. 1Mindu, The Migration Agent Adelaide★★★★★ 5.0 (436)
2. 2Oceanic Legal and Migration Services Pty Ltd★★★★★ 5.0 (282)
3. 3V Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (279)

Canberra

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1. 1AusDream Migration & Education★★★★★ 5.0 (353)
2. 2Aussizz Migration Agents & Education Consultants - Canberra★★★★★ 5.0 (351)
3. 3NBC LAW PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (172)

Hobart

Full ranking →

1. 1思塔留学移民-AESC TASMANIA Education and Migration-塔州本地持牌移民代理-Tasmania Local MARA Registered Agent 190/491★★★★★ 5.0 (492)
2. 2NewStars Education and Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (141)
3. 3AMC Migration and Education-SID visa-ENS visa-TAS Nomination 190/491-MARA migration agent-QEAC education agent★★★★★ 4.9 (730)

Darwin

Full ranking →

1. 1ACET Migration Services★★★★★ 5.0 (343)
2. 2Allskills Recruitment & Migration Services★★★★★ 4.9 (169)
3. 3Education Embassy Darwin- Migration Agents Darwin★★★★★ 4.9 (59)

Gold Coast

Full ranking →

1. 1Yulia Moiseeva & Associates★★★★★ 5.0 (662)
2. 2This is Australia Migration Agency★★★★★ 5.0 (521)
3. 3Polaris Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (209)

What does an immigration lawyer do?

An immigration lawyer gives "immigration assistance", which section 276 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) defines as helping with visa applications, advising on visa matters and representing people in review or court proceedings. The tasks are:

1. Assess eligibility for a visa subclass and the risk of refusal.
2. Prepare and lodge visa, sponsorship and nomination applications.
3. Respond to Home Affairs requests for information and natural justice letters.
4. Advise on visa conditions, cancellation notices and section 48 bars on further onshore applications.
5. Apply to the ART for merits review of a refused or cancelled visa.
6. Represent clients at ART hearings.
7. Appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for judicial review.
8. Request ministerial intervention after an unsuccessful review.
9. Prepare citizenship applications and challenge citizenship refusals.

Visa lawyer

"Visa lawyer" is another name for an immigration lawyer. The work is the same: advice and representation on visa applications, refusals and cancellations.

Migration lawyer

"Migration lawyer" also means the same thing. The Migration Act itself uses the term "Australian legal practitioner": a lawyer who holds a restricted or unrestricted practising certificate granted under state or territory law. Some lawyers go further and become accredited specialists; the Law Society of NSW accredits specialists in Immigration Law, and applicants need at least 5 years of full-time legal practice.

Which visas do immigration lawyers handle?

Immigration lawyers handle 6 main streams. The subclass names below are those used by Home Affairs.

For citizenship by conferral, section 22 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) sets the general residence requirement: 4 years' presence in Australia immediately before applying, including 12 months as a permanent resident, with no time as an unlawful non-citizen.

When do you need an immigration lawyer?

Most people use an immigration lawyer when a matter goes beyond a routine application. The law does not require one: Home Affairs states that you do not have to use a legal practitioner to apply for a visa.

When a visa is refused or cancelled

A refusal or cancellation has strict deadlines. Under section 347 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), an application for ART review must be made within 28 days after notification, or 14 days if the person is in immigration detention. The Visa Refused? How to Appeal to the ART guide explains each step.

When the matter may go to court

Judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) must be sought within 35 days of the ART decision under section 477 of the Migration Act. Court work is legal practice, so only a lawyer, often with a barrister, can run judicial review proceedings for a client.

When there is a character or criminal issue

Character refusals and cancellations under section 501 run on shorter timeframes. When the decision is made while the person is in Australia, the ART review is expedited and must be sought within 9 days of notification. A criminal charge can affect both a visa and a citizenship application. A lawyer can coordinate the criminal and migration sides.

How much does an immigration lawyer cost?

An immigration lawyer in Australia typically charges between $250 and $600 per hour plus GST, and most firms quote fixed professional fees for visa applications. The partner visa range was updated on 9 October 2026; the other ranges below are indicative as at September 2026. They vary with the visa, the complexity of the case and the lawyer's seniority, and they are not quotes.

Government charges are separate. Home Affairs sets visa application charges for each subclass, and the ART application fee for most migration decisions is $3,727 as at September 2026, reduced by 50% for financial hardship. Lawyers must also disclose their costs in writing under state legal profession laws. The How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Australia? guide explains costs agreements.

Can you get free immigration help?

Free help is limited. The ART notes that people seeking review of a protection visa decision may be able to get free legal help from a refugee and immigration legal assistance provider. Community Legal Centres in Australia and Legal Aid in Australia explain who else may assist.

How to choose an immigration lawyer

Choose an immigration lawyer by checking these points before paying any fee:

1. Practising certificate. A lawyer needs a current Australian practising certificate to give immigration assistance. Check it on the public register of the law society or legal regulator in the lawyer's state.
2. Accredited specialist status. Ask whether the lawyer is an accredited specialist in immigration law. Accreditation is voluntary; see What Is an Accredited Specialist Lawyer?.
3. Written fee terms. Get the costs disclosure before work starts, with government charges listed separately.
4. Review and court experience. For a refusal, ask how many ART reviews the lawyer has run and whether they handle judicial review.

A note on unregistered agents. Section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) makes it illegal for an unregistered agent to give immigration assistance. Such agents hold no professional indemnity insurance, so when their error causes a refused visa, wasted fees or a lost pathway, there is no insurer to recover the loss from. Every practising Australian lawyer is required to hold that insurance.

How to Choose a Lawyer in Australia lists general checks.

Immigration Lawyers by location

NSW

• Immigration Lawyers in Sydney
• Immigration Lawyers in Parramatta

QLD

• Immigration Lawyers in Brisbane
• Immigration Lawyers in Gold Coast

VIC

• Immigration Lawyers in Melbourne
• Immigration Lawyers in Dandenong

WA

• Immigration Lawyers in Perth

SA

• Immigration Lawyers in Adelaide

ACT

• Immigration Lawyers in Canberra

TAS

• Immigration Lawyers in Hobart

NT

• Immigration Lawyers in Darwin

Immigration law guides

These guides explain the matters immigration lawyers handle most often:

• Visa Refused? How to Appeal to the ART: time limits, the $3,727 fee, hearings, judicial review and ministerial intervention.

The largest markets are Immigration Lawyers in Sydney, Immigration Lawyers in Melbourne and Immigration Lawyers in Brisbane. Partner visa matters that follow a separation often involve Family Lawyers in Australia, and character matters involving charges involve Criminal Lawyers in Australia.