What a licensed agency looks like
A registered recruiting agent (RA) has a registration certificate number from the Protector General of Emigrants. It looks like this:
B-0578/MUM/PER/1000+/5/9039/2013
The number must be displayed in the agency's office and printed on its adverts. If an advert has no licence number, or the agency will not tell you its number, treat it as a warning sign.
Check it on eMigrate — step by step
- Open the government's eMigrate portal: emigrate.gov.in.
- Find the link “List of active RA” (registered recruiting agents) and open it.
- Search by the agency's name or registration number.
- Check that the name, registration number and address match the advert and the office you are dealing with — fraudsters sometimes copy a real agency's name.
- Check the agency is not on the portal's list of illegal agents. As of April 2026, the Ministry had notified 3,505 illegal agents on eMigrate.
If you cannot find the agency, ask it for its registration certificate and search again. If it still does not appear, do not deal with it.
The legal fee limit
Under the Emigration Act, 1983, a registered recruiting agent may collect service charges of at most ₹30,000 plus 18% GST from a worker, and must issue a receipt for the amount collected. Many jobs are free recruitment, where you pay the agency nothing at all.
Red flags
- Asking for money before an interview or a written offer.
- A “registration fee”, “security deposit” or “visa processing fee” paid to a personal bank account or UPI ID.
- No office address, or an office that does not match the eMigrate record.
- A promise of a visa or job without an interview.
- Asking you to travel on a visit visa and “convert it” to a work visa later.
- Keeping your original passport without a written receipt.
Where to complain
| Who | How to reach them |
|---|---|
| Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (Government of India helpline, 24×7) | Toll-free 1800 11 3090 · from abroad 011-26885021 · WhatsApp +91 74283 21144 · helpline@mea.gov.in |
| Protector of Emigrants (PoE) | Offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Agartala |
| eMigrate portal | Complaints against recruiting agents can be raised through emigrate.gov.in |
| Police | For cheating or fraud by an unregistered agent, file a complaint at your local police station |
Figures and contacts are from the Ministry of External Affairs' overview of overseas employment (April 2026). Always confirm on the official website.
Questions people ask
How do I know if a recruitment agency is registered?
Search for it on the eMigrate portal (emigrate.gov.in) under "List of active RA", using the agency's name or registration number, and check that the address matches.
What is the maximum fee a recruitment agency can charge in India?
A registered recruiting agent may charge a worker at most ₹30,000 plus 18% GST as service charges, and must give a receipt.
Is it illegal to recruit for jobs abroad without a licence?
Yes. Recruiting for overseas employment without a registration certificate violates the Emigration Act, 1983, and the Ministry of External Affairs treats it as a punishable offence.
What should I do if I already paid a fake agent?
Keep every receipt, message and bank record. Call the 24x7 helpline 1800 11 3090, complain to the Protector of Emigrants office near you, and file a police complaint for cheating.