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Check Employment Agency Licence in Singapore: MOM EA Directory Steps Before You Sign
Short answer: To check employment agency licence status in Singapore, search the agency by name or licence number in MOM’s EA Directory. Then search the individual consultant by name or registration number and compare it with the registration card they carry. Do not pay or sign anything until both checks pass.
Key facts at a glance
- An employment agency (EA) must hold an MOM licence before it places jobseekers, submits work pass applications for others or collates jobseekers’ resumes (Employment Agencies Act 1958, s 6(1); MOM, as at 7 November 2026).
- The EA Directory lists licensed EAs and the names and photos of registered EA personnel, and has a tab for agencies under revocation, suspension or surveillance (MOM, as at 7 November 2026).
- Every registered EA personnel carries a registration card showing name, registration number and the EA they work for; MOM says to check it against the directory.
- EA licences are valid for up to 3 years; the Select Licence covers only workers earning a monthly salary of more than S$4,500 (MOM, as at 7 November 2026).
- An agency with 12 or more demerit points is placed under surveillance for 12 months; at 24 points its licence is suspended or revoked (MOM demerit points system).
- Engaging an unlicensed person in connection with employment carries a fine of up to S$5,000 for each employee engaged (Employment Agencies Act 1958, s 30).
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. For matters needing legal advice, we work with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms.
Why should I check an employment agency’s MOM licence before signing?
Because the licence is what makes an agency answerable to MOM. Licensed agencies and registered personnel must follow the Employment Agencies Act, its Rules and the licence conditions. MOM warns that unlicensed agencies may charge exorbitant fees and may not deliver the promised jobs.
The risk is not limited to jobseekers. Employers who use an unlicensed intermediary can themselves commit an offence under section 30 of the Employment Agencies Act 1958, which carries a fine of up to S$5,000 for each employee engaged through that person.
On 28 May 2026, MOM announced that an employment agency and its personnel had been charged under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 over alleged false declarations of occupation and salary in 14 work pass applications, together with an alleged kickback charge against a third party. These are charges, not findings of guilt. MOM’s statement makes one point that applies to every reader: employment agencies and employers must both make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes.
Who needs an employment agency licence in Singapore?
Anyone who does any of four things for jobseekers must be licensed first, whether the jobs are in Singapore or overseas. MOM lists them as: communicating with a jobseeker to process an employment-related application; collating a jobseeker’s biodata or resume to help form an employer-employee relationship; submitting a work pass application on behalf of an employer or jobseeker; and helping place a jobseeker with an employer.
A licence is not needed to recruit only for your own company, or to outsource your own staff to a customer’s premises. MOM also exempts wholly web-based job portals, job bulletin boards that do no matching or placement, recognised universities and educational institutions, and a short list of public bodies. A company that only keys in work pass applications and does no matching or placement is also exempt. The full list is in the MOM guidance on who needs a licence (as at 7 November 2026).
How do I check employment agency licence details in the EA Directory?
Open MOM’s Employment Agencies and Personnel Search (EA Directory), which is available online 24 hours, and search by agency name or licence number. MOM’s own user guide describes two tabs: one to search agencies and one to search agency personnel.
- Ask the agency for its full registered name and licence number.
- Open the EA Directory from the MOM eService page and choose the agency search. You can look for agencies placing foreign workers, foreign domestic workers or local workers.
- Enter the agency name or licence number. The input has an auto-complete function, so confirm that the name and number belong to the same entity.
- Check the tab for agencies under revocation, suspension or surveillance. MOM tells users this is where to find the agencies to avoid.
- Open the personnel tab and search for the consultant dealing with you, by name or registration number. Compare the name and photo with the person, and the registration number with their card.
- Confirm that the entity named in your service agreement, invoice and payment account is the licensed entity you found.
- Save a dated screenshot of the results.
What does each check tell me?
Each check answers a different question, so do all of them.
| Check | Where | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Agency appears with a licence number | EA Directory, agency search | The agency is licensed by MOM and listed as such. |
| Not under revocation, suspension or surveillance | EA Directory, dedicated tab | MOM has not flagged the agency for the most serious regulatory status. |
| Consultant is a registered EA personnel | EA Directory, personnel search | This person is authorised to do EA work for that agency. |
| Registration card matches the directory | Card in person, then directory | Name, registration number and employer on the card agree with MOM’s record. |
| Track record indicators | EA Directory scorecards | The directory shows retention rate, transfer rate, placement volume and the number of years the agency has held an active licence. For helper placements, MOM names the retention rate and the number of helpers placed in the previous year as indicators. |
| Licence type fits your hire | Ask the agency, then read MOM’s licence-type page | Whether the agency may place the type of worker you need. |
The registration card matters more than it looks. MOM requires every EA to issue a card in the format set by the Employment Agencies Rules 2011, and personnel must show it to clients and let them take down the details. Failure to issue the card in the prescribed format is an offence (MOM, register EA personnel, as at 7 November 2026).
Which licence type should the agency hold for my hire?
It depends on the worker. MOM issues four licence types, all valid for 3 years, and each limits the workers the agency may place (MOM, as at 7 November 2026).
| Licence type | Workers it covers |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Licence (All) | Any type of worker |
| Comprehensive Licence (Local) | Local workers |
| Comprehensive Licence (non-FDW) | Local workers or foreign workers, except foreign domestic workers |
| Select Licence | Workers earning a monthly salary of more than S$4,500 |
This helps in two ways. A Select Licence agency should not be placing a S$3,000 a month worker, and an agency with a local-only licence should not be placing foreign hires. Ask the agency which licence it holds; the MOM page on licence types explains what each one allows. If the licence type and the work on offer do not match, ask for an explanation before going further.
What do demerit points and surveillance mean for me?
Demerit points show that MOM has found breaches by the agency. An EA that breaches the Employment Agencies Act, the Employment Agencies Rules or the licence conditions may be issued demerit points, and an EA that commits severe infringements, such as illegal deployment of foreign workers or abuse of workers, may lose its licence.
| Demerit points | Consequence for the agency (MOM, as at 7 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| 4 | Minimum security deposit of S$40,000 |
| 8 | Minimum security deposit of S$60,000 |
| 12 | S$10,000 of the deposit forfeited; surveillance; online work pass accounts suspended; key appointment holders must retake the CEI exam |
| 18 | A further S$15,000 forfeited; surveillance continues |
| 24 | Licence suspended or revoked |
Below 12 points, each point stays live for 12 months. An agency at 12 or more points is placed under surveillance for 12 months, and its surveillance status is made known on the EA Directory. An agency under surveillance has its work pass and EP eService accounts suspended for a minimum of 3 months,. If it is under revocation or suspension, look elsewhere.
What red flags should I watch for even if the agency is licensed?
A valid licence does not guarantee good behaviour. Treat these as reasons to pause and, where appropriate, report.
- The name on the contract, invoice or payment account differs from the licensed entity in the directory.
- The consultant is not in the personnel search, or the card shows a different agency.
- You are asked for money as a condition of the job. Collecting a sum from a worker as a financial guarantee related to employment is the subject of the kickback offence in section 22A of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, which carries a fine of up to S$30,000, up to two years in jail, or both (MOM, press release of 28 May 2026).
- You are asked to sign work pass documents stating a salary or job title that is not true. A false declaration carries a fine of up to S$20,000, up to two years in jail, or both, and MOM may bar convicted entities and individuals from employing foreign workers.
- The agency charges more than the fee prescribed for its services. Section 33 of the Employment Agencies Act makes this an offence for both the licensee and the personnel.
Our checklist on employment agency fee rules before placement goes further on fees, and our guide to recruitment scams aimed at Singapore employers covers fake intermediaries. The 15 questions to ask a recruitment agency before signing make a useful follow-up. For helper cases, see how to authorise an employment agency for your helper’s work permit.
How do I report a licensing problem?
Use MOM’s Report an infringement eService, which has a dedicated form for infringements related to employment agencies. MOM asks you to report only if you are certain a violation has been committed, and says it keeps your identity confidential, although you will need to disclose it to MOM so officers can clarify the information. The EA Directory page also points to the same online feedback form. If a message or caller is pressing you to transfer money, MOM advises calling the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799.
Worked example: checking Little Big Employment Agency
Our own licence number, as quoted by Little Big Employment Agency, is 19C9790, and the agency is Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd. On 7 November 2026 we searched the agency tab of the EA Directory by name, and the directory returned one entry, “LITTLE BIG EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PTE. LTD. (19C9790)”, with its scorecard figures. That search did not show us the licence type, so ask us which licence we hold and compare the answer with the MOM licence-type page.
Do not rely on us saying so. Open the EA Directory, search for the agency by name or licence number, and confirm that the name and number match what we have told you. Then search the personnel tab for the name of the consultant you are speaking to and compare the registration number with the card we show you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EA Directory the only way to check an employment agency?
It is the official route. MOM’s FAQ points to the EA Directory for the list of licensed EAs and the names and photos of registered personnel, and for checking the registration card.
Does a licensed agency guarantee my work pass will be approved?
No. The licence shows the agency is authorised to do EA work. MOM decides each work pass application on its own criteria, and any agency promising an outcome is making a claim it cannot control.
Can an unlicensed individual submit a work pass application for my company?
If that person submits work pass applications on behalf of an employer or jobseeker, MOM treats it as EA activity that needs a licence. Exceptions exist for organisations that submit applications without matching or placing anyone, so ask which basis they rely on.
How long does a registered EA personnel stay on the directory?
Registration lasts until the person is de-registered, and each person can be registered to only one EA at a time (MOM, as at 7 November 2026). A consultant’s entry should therefore show the agency they work for now.
What if the agency is licensed but I think it overcharged me?
Keep your invoices, messages and payment records, and use the employment agency form in MOM’s Report an infringement eService. Charging more than the prescribed fee is an offence under the Employment Agencies Act, section 33.
Need help with pass, PR and citizenship applications handled by a licensed team? Contact Little Big Employment Agency. Email [email protected]. Call/SMS/WhatsApp +65 8501 7133.
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.
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