How to Check CRICOS Registration and Migration Agent Registration Before You Enrol

CRICOS registration and the law

The Department of Education runs the official Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). An institution can enrol and deliver education services in Australia to students on a student visa only if it is registered.

Registered providers must meet the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.

Use the correct search surface

Use the Department's official CRICOS portal. Institution Search identifies institutions; Course Search identifies courses. They are separate; neither replaces the other.

The Institution Search form supports:

• State: select a state or territory and list its registered institutions.
• Institution Name: return institutions matching a name term.
• CRICOS Institution Code: use the six-digit code field, entering 00120C to display an institution's details.

Match the identifiers on the offer

Compare the offer's CRICOS institution code with the exact Institution Search record. Compare its course code and details with the separate Course Search record. Use the register, not the offer or a name alone, for both identifiers. Resolve mismatches before enrolment.

Check a migration agent on OMARA

Migration agents are recorded on a statutory register separate from CRICOS. Search through the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). The form accepts MARN, given and family names, business name and business location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why combine State and Institution Name?

Select New South Wales and enter UNIVERSITY to list institutions in that state with that term in their names. Both filters apply.

Who decides a CRICOS registration application?

The ESOS agency decides the registration application and monitors compliance. The provider's education sector and jurisdiction determine which agency is relevant.

Which fields does Course Search provide?

The form provides State, Course Name and Type of Course. They concern courses, not the institution record.

Which location terms can be entered on OMARA?

Business location accepts country, state, suburb or postcode. Use the matching location field.

Does one official search cover both education and migration parties?

No: CRICOS concerns the institution and course, while OMARA concerns the migration agent. Check each in its own register.