International Migration Service Agreement

What a good one includes

• A highly detailed breakdown of the exact visa categories, relocation support, or recruitment milestones your agency will manage.
• A clear clause stating that ultimate visa approvals, processing times, and policy changes are controlled solely by government entities, not your agency.
• A transparent schedule detailing upfront retainer fees, success-based milestones, third-party government fees, and non-refundable deposit terms.
• A strict requirement for the client to provide accurate, truthful, and timely documentation, with clear consequences for delays or omissions.
• A specific clause establishing which country's or state's laws govern the agreement and where any legal disputes must be resolved.
• Robust provisions ensuring compliance with international data protection laws, like GDPR, given the sensitive personal and financial data being handled.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Promising or implying guaranteed visa approvals or specific government processing times, which exposes your agency to massive liability.
• Failing to explicitly state what is not included in your services, leading to scope creep where clients expect free tax, housing, or legal advice.
• Neglecting to define exactly when a client is entitled to a refund, especially if a visa is denied due to the client's own history or a change in immigration law.
• Using a generic local service template that fails to address the unique cross-border legal realities of both the home and destination countries.

Frequently asked questions