How dating agencies and matchmakers work in Australia

Australian law has a specific name for a dating agency: an introduction agent. An introduction agent is a business that, for a fee, introduces people who are looking for a relationship, usually from its own list of clients. In some states the name brings specific rules with it. The services themselves look much like UK agencies and matchmakers: a consultation, a membership fee, and introductions from the agency's own clients, sometimes with headhunting and coaching on top.

The rules at a glance, state by state

Only Queensland and Victoria have rules written specifically for introduction agents; everywhere else, the general Australian Consumer Law does the work. This table summarises what we found on 17 October 2026.

"Uninvited sales" means the 10-business-day right described below. The national consumer law website lists every state and territory office.

The rules that apply everywhere

The Australian Consumer Law applies in every state and territory, whatever the agency calls itself.

Consumer guarantees. Services must be provided with due care and skill, be fit for any purpose you made known or that the provider advertised, and be supplied within a reasonable time where no time was agreed. If an agency fails a guarantee, remedies can include cancellation and a refund.

Uninvited sales. If an agency phoned you, came to your door or approached you in public without being invited, and the agreement is worth $100 or more, it is an unsolicited consumer agreement. You have 10 business days to cancel, from the first business day after you sign or receive the agreement, and longer if the seller broke the rules. This doesn't apply if you contacted the agency first, which is how most people start.

Queensland: licensed introduction agents

Queensland has the most detailed rules, under the Introduction Agents Act 2001:

• Licence: introduction agents must hold a licence, and must show the licence number in their advertising and on their website. A person who has committed a disqualifying offence can't hold one, and inspectors can make random checks. You can check a licence on the Queensland Government website before you book a consultation.
• Disclosure first: before you sign, the agent must give you a disclosure statement covering who it is, its services and matching criteria, how introductions are made, its complaints procedure, the cost of each service level, when payments are due, its refund policy and early-termination charges.
• Written agreement: you must sign an introduction agreement before any service starts, and get a signed copy.
• Cooling-off: you can end the agreement before 5pm on the third clear business day after you receive your signed copy. The agent can keep no more than the lesser of $50 or 10% of the price, and must refund the rest within seven days.
• Upfront limit: an agent can take no more than 30% upfront if the agreement is $500 or more, or you have paid it $500 or more in the past 30 days or $2,500 or more in the past 12 months. Queensland's own example: on a $3,000, 12-month contract, no more than $900 upfront.
• Cancel without penalty if the agent didn't give you the disclosure statement, started before you signed, or demanded more money than allowed.

Community and non-profit groups and organisers of public events such as dances don't need a licence. Nor does a business that publishes a list of people seeking relationships, including on a website, if people contact each other directly and the fee is under $100 or one-off. That is why most dating sites fall outside the scheme.

Victoria: introduction agreements

Consumer Affairs Victoria sets these rules for introduction agreements:

• In writing, in English, signed by both of you, starting with "Important Notice" in bold.
• Must include your cancellation right, the price and payment method, the agreement period and the conditions for refunds.
• Upfront limit: no more than 30% of the price before the service is provided, unless the price is $1,000 or less (or your combined agreements with that agent fall below set limits).
• Cooling-off: three business days to withdraw by written notice. The agent must refund everything within seven days, less the lesser of $250 or 10% of the price.

Other states and territories

We found agency-specific rules only in Queensland and Victoria. Western Australia's list of fair trading regulations, for example, includes codes for fitness centres and funerals but none for introduction agencies. In New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the territories, the national rules above are what protect you. If you are unsure, ask your state or territory fair trading office before you sign; it costs nothing.

Before you sign: a checklist for Australia

These steps take an evening and can save you thousands.

1. Ask for the full price and payment schedule in writing, including what is due on the day.
2. In Queensland, ask for the licence number and check it online. Then ask for the disclosure statement, which the agent must give you before you sign.
3. In Victoria, look for the "Important Notice" at the top of the agreement and find the cancellation statement.
4. Ask how many active members fit your age range and area, and how many introductions you will get over what period.
5. Take the agreement home. Note the cooling-off deadline in your diary if you sign.
6. Pay by card rather than bank transfer where you can; your bank may be able to help if the service is never provided.

Our questions to ask before you pay has the full list, and warning signs explains what to walk away from.

What it costs

We only quote prices that agencies publish themselves, with the date we checked. Many Australian agencies and matchmakers don't publish fees, and we haven't yet completed our checks of those that do. Whatever the price, the 30% upfront limits in Queensland and Victoria mean you shouldn't be asked to pay a large membership in full on day one there. Our guide to contracts and refunds explains how to cancel, and is a matchmaker worth it? shows how to work out the cost per introduction.

If you change your mind

Cancel in writing, keep a copy and quote the date you signed. An example note, to adapt:

Example: "I signed an introduction agreement with you on [date]. I am cancelling it within the cooling-off period. Please confirm the cancellation in writing and tell me when the refund will be paid."

If the agency won't respond or refuses a refund you think you are owed, contact your state or territory's fair trading office. Our agency guide explains how to compare agencies city by city before you commit to one.

Romance scams

Scammers don't need an agency; they use dating sites, apps and social media too. Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you haven't met in person, however long you've been talking. Report scams to Scamwatch, or to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au if you've lost money or personal information, and contact your bank straight away if you've paid. If your identity documents or details have been misused, IDCARE, a not-for-profit support service, can help on 1300 432 273. Our safety guide has more.

Our own online service

DatingAgency.com is not an introduction agent. We run our own online dating service, separate from these guides, where you do the searching: joining, making a profile and browsing are free, and reading and replying to messages needs a paid membership. Profiles are shared with partner sites in the same network. How it works has the details.