Immigration & Visas Lawyers and Solicitors in Sydney

Immigration law governs who may enter, stay and work in Australia. It is mostly federal, set by the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and the Migration Regulations 1994, and administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Work includes partner and family visas, skilled and employer-sponsored visas, student and visitor visas, citizenship, protection visas for refugees, visa cancellation including character grounds, and employer obligations for sponsoring overseas workers.

Review and court options

Many refused or cancelled visas can be reviewed by the Migration and Refugee Division of the Administrative Review Tribunal, which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in October 2024. Time limits for lodging a review are short and depend on the type of decision. A person who believes a decision was legally flawed can seek judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), and further appeals can go to the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court. These courts review the lawfulness of a decision, not whether it was the right outcome.

Who can give immigration assistance

Giving immigration assistance in Australia is regulated. Registered migration agents appear on the register kept by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), and an Australian lawyer's practising certificate can be confirmed on the Law Society of NSW register. Barristers are listed by the NSW Bar Association. Credentials and the scope of a service can be confirmed before a fee is paid.

Legal aid and free services

Legal Aid NSW offers limited immigration help, mainly in protection and detention matters. The Immigration Advice and Rights Centre and the Refugee Advice and Casework Service, both based in Sydney, provide free services to eligible people.

What to bring to a first meeting

• Passports and current visa grant notices
• Any refusal, cancellation or notice of intention to consider cancellation
• Evidence of relationship, employment, study or sponsorship, depending on the visa
• Police certificates, health examination results and English test results
• Correspondence with Home Affairs, with dates

Immigration practitioners on this page assist clients in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta and Western Sydney, the North Shore, the Eastern Suburbs, the Inner West, the South West, Sutherland, the Hills District and the Northern Beaches, and many work with clients overseas.

The listings below are alphabetical and are not ranked.

Common questions

What does the Administrative Review Tribunal do in visa matters?

The Administrative Review Tribunal, which began on 14 October 2024, reviews many migration decisions on their merits, meaning it can substitute its own decision. Its Migration and Refugee Division handles visa refusals and cancellations. Eligibility to apply and the deadline depend on the type of decision and where the applicant is located.

Can a visa be cancelled on character grounds?

Yes. Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 allows a visa to be refused or cancelled if a person does not pass the character test, for example because of a substantial criminal record. A person is typically invited to respond before a decision is made, and some decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

What is the difference between a migration agent and a lawyer?

A migration agent is registered with OMARA to give immigration assistance and is bound by a code of conduct. A lawyer holds a practising certificate under state or territory law and can also advise on court proceedings and related matters such as criminal charges or family law. Some practitioners hold both.

Immigration & Visas lawyers by suburb

Eastern Suburbs

Bellevue Hill, Ben Buckler, Bondi, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Bondi Junction Plaza, Bronte, Centennial Park, Charing Cross, Clovelly, Clovelly West, Coogee, Daceyville, Darling Point, Diamond Bay, Double Bay, Dover Heights, Edgecliff, Hmas Rushcutters, Hmas Watson, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra, Maroubra South, Moore Park, North Bondi, Paddington, Pagewood, Point Piper, Queens Park, Randwick, Rose Bay, Rose Bay North, South Coogee, St Pauls, Tamarama, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay, Waverley, Woollahra

Inner West

Annandale, Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Drummoyne, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Rozelle, Stanmore, Westgate

North Shore

Artarmon, Cammeray, Castlecrag, Cremorne, Cremorne Junction, Cremorne Point, Crows Nest, Gore Hill, Greenwich, Hmas Platypus, Hmas Waterhen, Kirribilli, Kurraba Point, Lane Cove, Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Lavender Bay, Linley Point, Longueville, McMahons Point, Middle Cove, Milsons Point, Mosman, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, Neutral Bay Junction, North Sydney Shoppingworld, North Willoughby, Northbridge, Northwood, Osborne Park, Riverview, Royal North Shore Hospital, Spit Junction, St Leonards, Waverton, Willoughby, Willoughby East, Willoughby North, Wollstonecraft

Northern Beaches

Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights, Clontarf, Curl Curl, Fairlight, Freshwater, Harbord, Manly, Manly East, Manly Vale, North Balgowlah, Queenscliff, Seaforth

Sydney CBD and Inner South

Alexandria, Barangaroo, Beaconsfield, Broadway, Camperdown, Chippendale, Darling Harbour, Darling Island, Darlinghurst, Darlington, Dawes Point, Eastlakes, Elizabeth Bay, Enmore, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Golden Grove, Haymarket, Hmas Kuttabul, Kings Cross, Millers Point, Missenden Road, Newtown, Parliament House, Potts Point, Pyrmont, Redfern, Rosebery, Rushcutters Bay, Surry Hills, Sydney, Sydney South, Taylor Square, The Rocks, The University Of Sydney, Ultimo, Waterloo, Woolloomooloo, Zetland