If you're a registered migration agent (RMA) in Perth, your days are built around documents — payslips, bank statements, transcripts, visa eligibility matrices, submission letters, compliance checklists. The case work is skilled. The paperwork around it often isn't.
AI tools like Claude can handle a significant portion of that document burden. The question for RMAs isn't whether to use AI — OMARA's own March 2026 guidance confirms it's already happening — it's how to use it responsibly under your professional obligations.
This post gives you a practical starting point, grounded in OMARA's guidance.
In March 2026, OMARA released guidance confirming that RMAs remain fully responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of any AI-assisted advice. The guidance warns that unregistered persons using AI to provide immigration assistance may breach section 280 of the Migration Act. It also stresses client consent, confidentiality, and caution when entering client data into AI systems. The workflows below are designed with these obligations in mind.
What the OMARA guidance actually says
OMARA's March 2026 guidance on AI makes three things clear:
- RMAs remain fully responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of AI-assisted work — AI does not reduce your professional obligations
- Clients should be informed when AI is used in their matter — consent and transparency are expected
- Confidential client data must be handled with caution — entering identifying client information into public AI tools is a risk you need to manage
Importantly, OMARA doesn't prohibit AI use. It simply requires that RMAs exercise proper judgement and oversight. That's the same standard that applies to every other tool you use in your practice.
Where Claude saves the most time for migration agents
A 2026 article on AI tools for Australian migration agents found that agents were saving five or more hours per week just on document-related work using AI. Here's where that time is actually coming from:
| Task | How to use Claude | Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility pre-assessment | Describe a client's situation in general terms (no names, no file numbers) and ask Claude to identify which visa subclasses may be worth exploring and what the key eligibility criteria are | 🟢 Low | Use as a starting point only — verify against IMMI and current policy |
| Document checklist generation | "Generate a document checklist for a [visa subclass] application for a [occupation type] applicant with [general circumstances]" — de-identified, then customise for the client | 🟢 Low | No client data required — checklist is based on visa requirements |
| Submission letter drafting | Draft a submission letter framework using de-identified facts — "The applicant has worked in [occupation] for [X years] and meets criterion Y because..." — populate client details yourself after | 🟡 Medium | De-identify before entering — add client name and specifics manually |
| Client update emails | "Draft a plain English email to a client explaining that their [visa type] application has been lodged and what happens next" — professional, reassuring, no jargon | 🟢 Low | No client data needed — personalise the salutation yourself |
| Explaining visa conditions in plain English | "Explain the work conditions for a [visa subclass] holder in plain English" — use for client communication drafts | 🟢 Low | Always verify conditions against current IMMI — policy changes frequently |
| Statement of purpose drafting | Provide de-identified bullet points of the client's circumstances — ask Claude to draft a statement of purpose in a formal, coherent structure | 🟡 Medium | Remove names and identifying details before entering — review and edit carefully |
| CPD reflection notes | "I attended a session on [migration topic]. Help me draft a 200-word CPD reflection covering what I learned and how I'll apply it" | 🟢 Low | Quick admin win — no client data involved |
The non-negotiable rule: de-identify before you type
OMARA's guidance is explicit about confidentiality. Before you enter any information about a client into Claude, strip out everything that could identify them:
- Replace the client's name with "the applicant" or their role (e.g. "the primary applicant")
- Remove passport numbers, file numbers, and dates of birth
- Use general occupation descriptions rather than specific employer names
- Refer to countries by region where possible if the specific country isn't needed for the task
What Claude cannot do for Perth migration agents
Claude is a general-purpose AI tool. It has no access to live IMMI data, current processing times, or up-to-date policy changes. Migration law changes frequently — sometimes weekly. Always verify:
- Current visa criteria and conditions against IMMI and the Migration Regulations directly
- Processing times and queue positions — Claude has no live data
- Specific legislative changes — Claude's training data has a cutoff and may not reflect recent amendments
- Any submission Claude helps draft — you sign it, you own it
Time savings Perth RMAs can realistically expect
| Task | Traditional time | With Claude | Time saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document checklist for a new matter | 30–45 min | 5–10 min (review + customise) | ~30 min |
| Client update email | 15–20 min | 3–5 min | ~15 min |
| Statement of purpose first draft | 60–90 min | 15–20 min (review + edit) | ~60 min |
| Submission letter framework | 45–60 min | 10–15 min | ~40 min |
| Explaining visa conditions to a client | 20–30 min | 5 min | ~20 min |
Across a standard week handling 8–12 active matters, a solo Perth RMA could realistically recover 3–6 hours of document and communication work. That's time that goes back into client-facing work or into growing the practice.
A sample prompt Perth migration agents can use today
"You are a migration assistant. Generate a document checklist for a [visa subclass] application. The primary applicant is a [occupation category] who has been working in [industry] for approximately [X] years. They are applying from [onshore/offshore]. List all standard supporting documents required, grouped by category (identity, skills assessment, employment, financial, health and character). Note any documents that are commonly forgotten or frequently cause delays."
No client names, no file numbers. Once Claude generates the checklist, you review it against current IMMI requirements and customise it for the specific client. The framework is done in minutes rather than starting from scratch each time.
Frequently asked questions — Claude AI for Perth migration agents
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