Why two quotes for the same visa differ by thousands

Two quotes for the same visa can differ by thousands because they are often not pricing the same work. One quote may cover only preparation and lodgement, while another includes strategy, follow-up, health and police check coordination, Department requests and a decision stage. A low number can also be a starting price, not a full price.

The useful comparison is not just the total fee. It is what is included, who is doing the work, what extra costs sit outside the quote and whether the price can rise later.

The same visa label does not mean the same scope#

A visa subclass is only the visa label. The work behind it can be very different from one file to the next, and from one provider to another.

One quote may cover a basic service: opening the matter, checking identity documents, uploading client documents and lodging the application. Another may include a longer service list: eligibility assessment, advice on criteria, a document plan, preparing statutory declarations, drafting submission letters, liaising with employers or family members, answering Department requests and helping until a final decision.

That difference in scope is often where the price gap starts. A quote for a partner visa, student visa, employer sponsored visa or skills matter can look cheaper simply because parts of the job have been carved out and charged later as extras.

A written service agreement should set out what services will be provided and on what terms. For registered migration agents, this sits within the Code of Conduct requirements around written agreements and fee structure, see s42 and s46 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2021. If the scope is not clearly written down, two totals are not really comparable.

When comparing quotes, look for itemised stages. For example:

• initial assessment
• document checklist and review
• preparation of forms
• drafting submissions or statements
• lodgement
• monitoring after lodgement
• responding to requests for more information
• attendance at interview, if one is requested
• assistance until decision
• further work if there is a complication

If one provider has listed these steps and another has not, ask for the same level of detail before comparing the numbers.

Seniority changes the price#

Professional fees reflect who is responsible for the work, how complex the matter is and how much senior time is involved. A principal migration agent or legal practitioner with many years of practice will often charge more than a junior staff member working under supervision.

That does not automatically mean a higher quote is too expensive or a lower quote is poor value. It means the service model may be different. Some practices are partner-led or principal-led, where the senior practitioner reviews key documents and signs off on strategy. Others use a team model, where administrative staff collect documents, a junior case manager prepares the file and the registered migration agent reviews it before lodgement.

The quote should make clear who will do the substantive work and who will supervise it. Registered migration agents must show their MARN in advertising under s25 of the Code. If a business says it provides migration help, it is reasonable to ask for the name and MARN of the registered migration agent handling the matter, or the name of the Australian legal practitioner. You can also use VisaBid’s operator check page to verify who is offering the service.

There is another legal reason to check this carefully. Giving immigration assistance in Australia without being a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can breach s280 of the Migration Act 1958. Charging for that unregistered assistance can also breach s281. The provider’s identity is not a side issue, it is part of what the quote is actually worth.

Disbursements can make a cheap quote look cheap#

A professional fee is not the whole cost of getting an application ready and lodged. Many matters involve out-of-pocket expenses, often called disbursements, and they may or may not be included in the quote.

Common examples include:

• translating documents
• overseas police certificates
• local police checks
• medical examinations
• skills assessment fees
• English test fees
• courier costs
• barrister fees, if external legal counsel is briefed
• company or registry search fees
• notary or certification costs

Department charges are also separate from the professional fee, but those government charges change over time and are best checked on the relevant visa page or cost page. VisaBid’s cost estimator can help with the broad structure of costs.

A quote that says "professional fee only" can still be perfectly legitimate. The issue is whether the exclusions are clear. Under s46 of the Code, the fee structure should be explained in a way the client can understand. If disbursements are extra, the quote should say so.

The practical problem is simple. Quote A might be lower because it excludes translation, health and police check coordination and post-lodgement work. Quote B might include those things. Without the exclusions list, the cheaper figure can be misleading.

A "from" price may be a floor, not a fixed fee#

Some providers advertise a "from" price. That can be a useful starting point for a very simple matter, but it is not the same as a fixed quote.

A "from" price usually means the final professional fee will depend on complexity. Complexity can include previous visa history, family composition, identity issues, work history, health issues, character issues, missing records, employer structures, financial evidence or the need for detailed submissions. The problem is not that complexity exists. The problem is when the quote does not explain how later increases will be calculated.

A comparable quote says one of three things clearly:

• fixed fee for defined work
• staged fees for defined milestones
• hourly rates, with an estimate and the circumstances that can change it

That is the kind of fee structure contemplated by s46 of the Code. If money is taken, there should also be a proper written agreement first under s42, and registered migration agents must not take payment before the agreement is in place, see s51. Invoices and receipts also matter, see s49.

A very low "from" price can be real for a straightforward file, but it can also be a floor with no clear ceiling. That is why the wording under the price matters as much as the number itself.

The four questions that make two quotes comparable#

If two numbers are far apart, ask the same four questions to both providers. That usually turns a confusing comparison into a useful one.

1. What exact work is included in this fee?#

Ask for an itemised scope. The answer should say whether the fee covers assessment, document review, form preparation, submissions, lodgement and post-lodgement work such as responding to Department requests.

2. What is excluded and what might be charged later?#

Ask for a list of exclusions and possible extras. This should cover disbursements, external third-party costs and any extra professional fees if the matter becomes more complex than first expected.

3. Who will do the work and who is legally responsible?#

Ask for the name and MARN of the registered migration agent, or the name of the Australian legal practitioner, and ask who will be the day-to-day contact. If support staff are involved, ask what the supervising practitioner will personally review.

4. Is this a fixed fee, a staged fee or a starting price?#

Ask how the price can change after engagement. If it is a "from" price, ask what events trigger an increase and whether there is any cap, estimate or approval process before extra work is billed.

These four questions do not require legal knowledge. They simply make sure two quotes are talking about the same service.

If a provider is unwilling to answer them in writing, it becomes harder to compare value. If you want side-by-side responses from registered migration agents and lawyers, VisaBid lets you describe the matter and receive quotes.

Price is only one part of value#

A higher fee is not automatically better value, and a lower fee is not automatically worse value. The useful measure is the combination of scope, experience, communication and cost certainty.

There are also baseline consumer protections to look for. A registered migration agent must give a copy of the consumer guide before starting services, see s38 of the Code. There should be a written agreement under s42, clear fee information under s46, proper invoices and receipts under s49, and client money handled correctly where a client account is used, see s50. Documents must be returned promptly when required, see s54, and records must be retained for seven years, see s56.

One more point matters when comparing providers. No registered migration agent can guarantee a visa outcome, see s26 of the Code. If one quote sounds expensive but careful, and another sounds cheap but includes promises about approval, the problem is not only the price. It is the representation being made.

For a broader overview of migration process topics, the VisaBid guide library and the consumer guide page are useful starting points.

Common questions#

### why is one migration agent much cheaper than another for the same visa#

Often the cheaper quote covers less work. It may exclude document review, submissions, post-lodgement responses or third-party costs such as translations and police checks. It may also be a starting price rather than a fixed fee.

### what should be included in a migration agent quote#

A useful quote sets out the service scope, the fee structure, exclusions, likely disbursements and who will do the work. For registered migration agents, the written agreement and fee structure are important parts of the Code, especially s42 and s46.

### can a migration agent increase the fee after I sign up#

That depends on the agreement and how the fee is structured. Some matters are fixed fee for defined work, while others have staged fees or hourly billing for extra work. The key point is whether the agreement explains when extra charges can arise and how they will be approved.

### how do I check if the person quoting is a real migration agent#

Ask for the person’s full name and MARN, then verify the details using VisaBid’s operator check page. Registered migration agents must show their MARN in advertising under s25 of the Code. If the person giving immigration assistance in Australia is not a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner, the conduct can raise issues under s280 of the Migration Act 1958.

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About this guide. This is general information about how a process works in Australia. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Government charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and check any agent on the OMARA register.