How do I check if a recruitment agency for work abroad is licensed?
Check the agency on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) website: it must have a valid license, and the job you were offered should be in an approved job order. A recruiter working from a personal Facebook or Telegram account, with no office you can visit, is a sign of illegal recruitment.
Illegal recruiters promise fast deployment, no exam, no experience needed, and collect "processing", "medical" or "visa" fees by GCash. Victims lose money and sometimes end up trafficked. A real agency has an office, a license and a contract you can read before paying anything.
How to check
- Search the agency name on the DMW website's list of licensed agencies.
- Ask for the job order number and check that the position and country match.
- Visit the office. Compare the address with the DMW record.
- Search the agency and the recruiter's name with "illegal recruitment" and "scam".
- Do not pay fees to a personal GCash account, and get an official receipt for any legitimate fee.
Frequently asked questions
- The agency is licensed but the recruiter wants me to pay them directly. Is that okay?
- No. Pay only the agency, at the office, with an official receipt. A licensed agency's name is sometimes used by people who do not work there.
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