Few things impact international student mobility more dramatically than visa and immigration policies. As an education agent, your ability to keep up to date on these constantly shifting regulations can make or break your students’ dreams—and your reputation as a trusted adviser. Here we highlight the ways agents can ensure they’re updated on visa and immigration changes in their core geographical locations.

Stay connected to official sources

Firstly, make sure you have direct lines to authoritative information by subscribing to email alerts from immigration departments and foreign affairs ministries in your key destination countries. Many governments now offer dedicated channels for education providers. Don’t rely on secondhand information when primary sources are available. Set calendar reminders to regularly check official websites for updates that may have slipped through your notification system.

Build your professional network

The collective intelligence of the agent community is invaluable during policy shifts. Join industry organisations like ICEF that provide members with timely updates and analysis of regulatory changes. Participate in embassy and consulate webinars, which often preview upcoming changes before they’re widely publicised. You might also want to cultivate relationships with immigration officials when possible—a friendly contact can clarify ambiguous points in new policies.

Develop systematic tracking tools

Create country-specific visa requirement cheat sheets that you can quickly update when changes occur, making sure your team always has reference to the current information. Consider implementing a centralised knowledge base accessible to all staff members for this purpose. It’s also useful to colour-code recent changes to draw attention to modifications that might affect pending applications.

Staying constantly informed of the latest developments in visa and immigration is one of the key ways agents build reliability and trust with clients. Want to receive the latest news and updates from the international education world? Subscribe to the Schools and Agents monthly agent newsletter!

Written by Stephanie Clark