How do I verify a recruitment agent before I pay anything?

Before you pay any agent, ask for three things in writing: a job offer, a signed contract from the employer, and proof that the agency is on your government's official licensed list. Then check who pays the recruitment costs. Fair recruitment means the employer pays, and a legitimate employer does not ask a nurse for a fee to be hired. Ask for an official receipt for every payment, and pay only through official channels, never to a personal account, a mobile wallet or cash without a receipt. Watch for red flags: promises of a pass, a licence, a visa or a job; pressure to decide today; contact only through WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook; and any request to hold your passport. Our fake-agent check lists the warning signs and the fee rules by country. If even one sign applies, do not pay until it has been cleared in writing.