DMW Agency Check: How to Verify a Recruitment Agency
Quick answer
Search the agency's name on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) list of licensed recruitment agencies, then read its license status and expiry date. Then check that your job is on the DMW list of approved job orders. Both searches are free and need no account. Only an agency with a valid license may recruit you, and only for an approved job order. Do both checks before you pay anything or sign any paper.
Our agency search shows only what the DMW list says, in a fixed sentence. For an agency with a valid license, it reads:
According to the DMW list, this agency's license status is: Valid License. Always verify on the official DMW website before paying or signing anything.
The DMW website is always the final word.
What are the requirements?
- The exact name of the agency, as written on its office sign, receipt or job ad.
- The office address the agency gave you. Job ads must show the agency's name, address and license number, so copy them from the ad.
- The job details: country, employer, position. You need them to check the job order.
- A phone or computer with internet.
How do you apply, step by step?
1. Open the DMW website yourself
Type dmw.gov.ph in your browser. Do not use a link sent by a recruiter in chat or on social media. Fake pages copy agency names and logos.
2. Open the list of licensed agencies
3. Search by name
Try the full name first. If nothing shows, try one distinctive word from the name. Many agencies have similar names.
4. Compare the details
The name and address on the DMW list must match what the agency showed you. A different address can mean someone is only using the agency's name.
5. Read the status and the expiry date
Look for "Valid License" and a date that has not passed. Any other status means the agency cannot recruit you now. The table below explains each status.
6. Check the job order
Open dmw.gov.ph/inquiry/approved-job-orders and look for your agency, country and position. The list shows open job orders of licensed agencies. It cannot promise that a slot is still free, so ask the agency too.
7. Save proof
Take a screenshot of both results. Keep it with your papers.
8. If something does not match, ask DMW before you pay
Call the 24/7 DMW-OWWA hotline 1348 or email the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph.
Tip: the old POEA website is no longer online. POEA is now part of DMW, so an agency's records are on the DMW website only. A receipt or ad that still says "POEA license" is checked on the same DMW list.
What each license status means
The DMW list shows one status for each agency. It also keeps agencies that closed or lost their license, so finding a name on the list is not enough: read the status.
| Status on DMW list | What it means | Can the agency recruit you now? |
|---|---|---|
| Valid License | The license is in force | Yes, if the expiry date has not passed and your job order is approved |
| Valid License - Provisional | A first license given to a new agency, before it can move up to a regular license | Yes, with the same checks |
| Valid License - Full | Shown on the DMW list for some licensed agencies; check the details with DMW | Yes, with the same checks |
| Expired | The license reached its end date and was not renewed | No |
| Denied Renewal | DMW refused to renew the license | No |
| Cancelled | DMW ended the license | No |
| Delisted | The agency was removed from the roll of licensed agencies | No |
| Forever Banned | The agency may never recruit again | No |
| Ceased Operations | The agency closed its business | No |
| Inactive | The agency is not operating under this license | No |
| Not on the list | No record under the name you typed | Do not pay; ask DMW |
On the DMW list we synced on 25 October 2026, we counted 1,105 agencies with "Valid License", 40 with "Valid License - Provisional" and 19 with "Valid License - Full".
When our search finds no match, it says "Not found in the DMW list." That tells you nothing about the person who contacted you. It only means the name you typed is not on the list. Check the spelling, try another word from the name, then ask DMW.
Signs of illegal recruitment
Under Philippine rules, illegal recruitment is not only recruiting without a license. A licensed agency also commits it if it charges more than the allowed fees, gives false information, or keeps your travel papers without a lawful reason. Stop and check with DMW if you see any of these:
- You are asked to pay before you sign a contract. A placement fee may be paid only after you sign the DMW-approved contract.
- The fee is higher than one month's basic salary. That is the most an agency may charge. Domestic workers pay no placement fee at all, and neither do workers going to countries that do not allow such fees.
- No receipt. For every payment, the agency must give a BIR-registered receipt with the date and the exact amount.
- You are told to pay into a personal account or a personal e-wallet.
- The "office" is only a chat account, a coffee shop or a house. DMW asks applicants to deal with an agency only at its registered business address.
- You are told to leave as a tourist and work once you arrive.
- The name or address does not match the DMW list.
- The ad has no agency name, address or license number. Licensed agencies must print all three on job ads.
- Your passport or other papers are kept "until you pay".
- You are rushed. "Only 2 slots left, pay today."
One sign alone does not prove anything. Several signs together are a reason to stop and report.
Where to report
Reporting is free. Keep screenshots, receipts, chat messages, names and phone numbers, and do not delete anything.
- DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB). This bureau handles illegal recruitment complaints and closes unlicensed offices with the police. Email mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, message the bureau's Facebook page facebook.com/dmwairtip, or call +63 2 8721-0619 for help in filing a case.
- DMW-OWWA hotline 1348. Open 24 hours, every day, for questions and urgent help. From abroad, dial +632 1348.
- In person. The DMW main office is at the BFO Building, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City. DMW also has regional offices.
- NBI and PNP. You can file a criminal complaint at an NBI office (nbi.gov.ph) or at any police station (pnp.gov.ph). The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group works with DMW on raids.
- If you are already abroad. Go to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO, formerly POLO) or the Philippine embassy or consulate. Find yours on our country pages.
Before you pay or sign
Go through this list every time, even with an agency you know.
- The agency is on the DMW list with "Valid License" and a future expiry date.
- The name and address match what the agency showed you.
- Your job order is on the DMW list of approved job orders and matches the job you were offered.
- You have read the whole contract and you have your own copy.
- The placement fee is at most one month's basic salary, or zero if you are a domestic worker or your destination does not allow fees.
- You pay at the agency's registered office and get a BIR-registered receipt.
- You keep your own passport.
- You attend the required pre-departure orientation. Your agency processes your first exit papers; later trips use the OFW Pass. See our OEC and OFW Pass guide.
If one item fails, do not pay. Ask DMW first.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Searching the DMW agency list | PHP 0 | No account needed |
| Searching the DMW job order list | PHP 0 | No account needed |
| Reporting to the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau | PHP 0 | By email, Facebook or phone |
| Placement fee, most land-based jobs | Up to 1 month's basic salary | Paid only after you sign the approved contract, with a BIR-registered receipt |
| Placement fee, domestic workers | PHP 0 | Also PHP 0 where the destination country does not allow such fees |
Where to go
- Online: DMW licensed agency list and DMW approved job orders.
- In person: DMW main office, BFO Building, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, or a DMW regional office.
- Abroad: the Migrant Workers Office or the Philippine embassy or consulate. See country pages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an agency is licensed by DMW?
Open dmw.gov.ph/inquiry/licensed-recruitment-agencies and search the agency's name. Read the status and the expiry date. Only "Valid License" (including the provisional and full kinds) with a future date means the agency may recruit. It is free.
Is POEA verification still valid?
POEA is now part of DMW, and the old POEA website is offline. Agencies that were licensed by POEA appear on the DMW list, so check there.
What if the agency is not on the DMW list?
Check the spelling and try another word from the name. If there is still no result, do not pay or sign. Call the DMW-OWWA hotline 1348 or email mwpb@dmw.gov.ph and ask.
Why does an agency with a "Cancelled" status still appear on the list?
The DMW list keeps the history of every agency, including those that closed or lost their license. Being on the list is not enough. Only a valid status allows recruitment.
Can a licensed agency still break the rules?
Yes. Charging more than the allowed fee, keeping your travel papers or changing your contract without approval counts as illegal recruitment even when the agency has a license. Report it to DMW.
How much can an agency charge me?
At most one month's basic salary, paid only after you sign the approved contract. Domestic workers pay no placement fee, and neither do workers going to countries that do not allow such fees.
How do I know my job is real?
Look for it on the DMW list of approved job orders. The agency, the country and the position should match what you were offered.
Does Listo Papeles rate agencies?
No. We only repeat the status shown on the DMW list. We do not rate, rank or review agencies, and we do not take reports about them.
Can I check an agency through social media?
No. A page or group can copy an agency's name and logo. Check only on the DMW website or through DMW's own contact channels.
What proof should I keep?
Keep screenshots of the DMW results, your contract, every receipt and all chat messages. You need them if something goes wrong.
Was this page helpful?