Meridian Migration

How to check a recruiting agent

Under the Emigration Act, 1983, only recruiting agents registered with India’s Ministry of External Affairs may recruit people in India for jobs abroad. Checking an agent takes a minute on the government’s eMigrate portal. Here is how.

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How to check a recruiting agent on eMigrate

It takes a minute, and it works for any agent.

  1. Go to emigrate.gov.in, the Government of India’s emigration portal.
  2. Open the list of active recruiting agents.
  3. Search for the agent’s registration certificate number or name.
  4. Check that the name, address and validity match what the agent showed you, and that the registration is still valid.

The Ministry of External Affairs advises checking any agent this way before you deal with them, and warns against agents who show no registration number or full address.

What a genuine agent shows you

  • Its MEA registration certificate number, on its website and on every advert.
  • Its full office address, phone number and email.
  • The employer’s name and the job, pay and contract terms in writing, before you pay anything.
  • A receipt for every payment, made by bank transfer, UPI or bank draft. Never cash.

Something looks wrong? See how to spot a fake job offer, or call the Government of India helpline for emigrants on 1800 11 3090 (toll-free, 24x7).

What registration means, and what it does not

  • It means the Ministry of External Affairs has registered the agent to recruit in India for jobs abroad, under its rules.
  • It does not mean the government approves any employer or job. The MEA registers agents, not employers or vacancies.
  • It does not mean anyone can promise you a visa. Visas and permits are decided by the destination country.

Questions

How do I check if a recruiting agent is genuine?

Ask for the agent’s MEA registration certificate number and look for it in the list of active recruiting agents on emigrate.gov.in. A genuine agent shows the number, its full address, phone and email on its adverts.

mea.gov.inchecked 24 Oct 2026eoivilnius.gov.inchecked 24 Oct 2026

Is the eMigrate list the same as a government approval of jobs?

No. It lists registered agents. Each job still needs a real employer, and each visa is decided by the destination country.

Sources

  1. 1.MEA, Guidelines for Registration as Recruiting Agents mea.gov.in, checked 24 Oct 2026
  2. 2.MEA, Recruiting Agents page mea.gov.in, checked 24 Oct 2026
  3. 3.MEA, Overseas Employment FAQ mea.gov.in, checked 24 Oct 2026
  4. 4.MEA advisory on overcharging and illegal agents, Dec 2023 (via Embassy of India, Vilnius) eoivilnius.gov.in, checked 24 Oct 2026
  5. 5.Emigration Act, 1983 (Rest The Case) (secondary) restthecase.com, checked 24 Oct 2026

Something does not match? Tell us or the authorities.