Should I pay agency placement fees before I receive a licence or work visa?

Please do not pay placement fees before you have a written job offer and a signed contract from the employer. Confirm that the agency is on your government's official licensed list, and ask whether the employer, not you, pays the recruitment costs. Fair recruitment means the employer pays, so a fee of this size needs a clear legal basis that the agency can show you in writing. Ask for an itemised receipt for every payment, and pay only through official channels. A licence or work visa is issued by the authority, and no agency can guarantee one, so a fee that promises a licence or a visa is a warning sign. Keep your original certificates and give copies only. If the agency refuses to put the fees in writing, or it asks you to decide today, treat that as a warning sign. The fake-agent check lists the fee rules by country. Asking for these details in writing is a normal step, and a legitimate agency will answer it.