Here are the 3 easy ways to verify if the POEA accredited agency has a valid and legit license. All you have to do is follow the steps (with pictures) given in this post. You can do them in less than 5 minutes online and in the comfort of your home.
When there is no government-to-government agreement between the Philippines and certain country when comes to hiring Filipino workers. The fastest way for an OFW to find work abroad is through a POEA accredited agency.
Now, there are recruitment agencies that are POEA accredited. Their main objective is to find work abroad for their clients. Unfortunately, there are also a handful of fake manpower agencies. Their aim is to take the money of their unsuspecting applicants. After that, the personnel of the fake agencies will no longer communicate with the poor applicant. The sad truth is, these incidents happen every day.
There are ways to avoid it from happening to you, your friends, and family members. This is by verifying first the status of the manpower agency through the POEA website. You should do it before you start the application process.
If you are currently looking for jobs abroad bound for Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and other countries offered by certain “POEA accredited agencies.” It would be safer to verify first if the agency is legit and legally allowed to operate in the Philippines. Legal in a way that it has proper documentation and complies with the rules and regulations of POEA. In this way, you will never fall victim to fake recruiters who will just take your documents and hard-earned placement fees.
There are 3 easy ways to verify the license and status of a POEA-accredited agency. It is by searching the agency name on the POEA website, checking its available job orders, and calling the POEA helpdesk to do manual verification.
Read also: How to Find Work Abroad in the Philippines [3 Legit Ways]
Table of Contents
1. Verify by Status of Licensed Agency by Searching it on POEA website
What you need to do is go to the POEA website. On the upper right side of the page, there is a search box. Type in the names of the agencies that you want to verify. The result will be opened in a new window. From there you can determine if that specific manpower agency is accredited/licensed by POEA to operate in the Philippines.
The new window will show details of the agency in this format:
Status of Recruitment Agencies as of (current date and time)
Search Result: 1 Agency/ies found with names having the word “name of the agency”
- Full name of the agency (type of agency)
- Full address of the agency
- Telephone numbers / mobile contact details
- Email address (if available)
- Website address (if there is any)
- Name of the official representative
- Status of license (Valid or expired license)
- License validity (from month / day / year to month / day / year)
In the picture screen-grabbed from poea website at www.poea.gov.ph. You can see that the manpower agency – Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc is a manning agency. Its office is located at San Antonio Village in Makati. The telephone numbers and trunkline are also shown. There is an available email address but the website is not available. The official representative of PTC is Mr. Gerardo A. Borromeo. According to the status, the agency has valid license with license validity from April 11, 2011 to October 16, 2023.
The question next is, is PTC a POEA accredited agency? Based on the details from POEA website. It seems that Philippine Transmarine Carriers Incorporated (PTC) is a licensed agency that is allowed to operate in the Philippines. They have a valid license from April 11, 2011 until October 16, 2023. Based on this, the latter is legal/legit/safe to aspiring Filipino skilled workers applicant who wants to work overseas.
Read: New Zealand is a NO PLACEMENT FEE Country
2. Verify by Searching the Available POEA Job Orders by Agency
The second alternative for checking the legitimacy of a poea agency is by going to the bottom middle portion of POEA website. It is under the Online Services Section that says “Verification of Agency’s Job Orders.”
It will point you to a new window. From there, you will have three options to verify the agency’s status. This is by Search Available Job Orders by Position; Search Available Job Orders by Country; Search Available Job Orders by Agency.
Choose the third one “Search Available Job Orders by Agency.” Again it will be opened in a new window.

You can point your cursor on the drop-down menu or you may type in the name of the agency. If the name of the agency appears, then there is a big chance that it is a POEA accredited agency. After that, choose submit.

The new window will reflect the list of job orders by the agency in this format:
– Approved Job Orders by Agency as of (current date and time)
– Full name of the agency
– Country / Position / Date Approved / JO or job order balance

Based on the picture, the first line shows that the particular manpower agency has job openings in Saudi Arabia (country). The agency needs 2 (JO Balance) Doctor General (position) and the job order (date approved) was approved sometime in December 2015. Since the agency has job openings with an approved job order. You can conclude that the manpower agency is legally allowed to operate in the Philippines.
Note: POEA advised the aspiring applicants to verify if the list of job orders is still active or not. Because they cannot guarantee if the job orders are still active as the agency might have filled the position.
3. Manual Verification, Call POEA hotline numbers
You can do this by calling poea helpdesk. The contact numbers are 722.11.44 / 722.11.55 or send email poea eservices at info@poea.gov.ph to verify the names of the agencies.
You can also go to POEA main branch located in Mandaluyong City. Their complete office address is Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA Mandaluyong City. Probably, you can go directly to the customer service representative inside the building and inquire about the status of the agency. This option of visiting the place however, can cost you some money for transportation and food, you will be stuck in traffic, waste some time, so better choose option 1 and 2.
Watch the Actual Sample Verification Video:
No Placement Fee Manpower Agencies
There are manpower agencies that offer no placement fee, no salary deduction, no processing fee, no recruitment fees, sometimes FREE IELTS, sometimes free foreign language training, and there are also manpower agencies that charge placement fees. However, to determine which one is such. Applicants should inquire directly with the agency. The latter usually state it in their job openings.
If it is not stated, applicants should not be shy or afraid to ask about it. Simply because you deserve to know. After all, you will be the one to produce the needed cash for the placement fee. It will also save you time because you can back out immediately if you think the fees they are asking are unreasonable.
Again there are manpower agencies that do not charge fees, so choose them over the one that charges fees. You just have to spend time searching for it. Looking at the POEA manpower agency list and checking each website or Facebook page of the agency.
Read: POEA Job fair Schedule and Venue
Examples of POEA Accredited Agency List
How do you know if the agency can legally operate in the Philippines to send skilled workers abroad? If it has a VALID LICENSE remark next to the ‘STATUS OF LICENSE’.
I previously shared with you some manpower agencies with red remarks from POEA. In this part, I will share some list of manpower agencies with VALID LICENSE. Meaning they are allowed to operate as a recruitment agency because they have legal documents and they complied with the rules and regulations of POEA. See it below:

BAGUIO BENGUET INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY INC Private Employment Agency
- Address: U205, 207,209, 211& 212 MINDANAO NOVA REALTY NOVALICHES PROPER, QUEZON CITY
- Contact Details : (02) 3527054 / 09298201072 / 09274667601
- Email Address: baguiobenguetmain28@yahoo.com
- Website: Not Available
- Official Representative:
- Status: Valid License
- License Validity: March 15, 2024
GLOBAL HOSPITALITY PLACEMENT AGENCY PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Private Employment Agency
- Address: 2/F, 7443 SANTILLAN ST COR FERNANDO ST PIO DEL PILAR, MAKATI
- Tel No/s: 886-3132
- Email Address: glapa.ph@gnoul.com
- Website: www.ghpa.com.ph
- Official Representative:
- Status: Valid License
- License Validity: January 30, 2027
GOLDEN HORIZON PLACEMENT AGENCY, INC. Private Employment Agency
- Address: 1081 QUIRINO H-WAY KALIGAYAHAN NOVALICHES QUEZON CITY, QUEZON CITY
- Contact Details: 7030341 to 42
- Email Address: recruit.goldenhorizon@gmail.com
- Website: www.goldenhorizon.com.ph
- Official Representative:
- Status: Valid License
- License Validity: July 29, 2026
ABC GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT & MANPOWER SERVICES INC (FORMERLY SMITH BELL MANPOWER Landbased Agency
- Address: UNIT 1801, OMM-CITRA BLDG, 39 SAN MIGUEL AVENUE, O PASIG CITY
- Contact Details: 6367092 / 5719448 / 5718178
- Email Address: info@abcgemsph.com
- Website: www.abcglobalemployment.com
- Official Representative :
- Status: Valid License
- License Validity: July 1, 2023
WEST CEBU PEOPLE SOLUTIONS INC Private Employment Agency
- Address: 3F TSUNEISHI GRP ADM BLDG WCIP-SEZ BUANOY BALAMBAN CEBU CITY, CEBU
- Contact Details: 032-2312299 / 032-2308403
- Email Address: ingle.rafols@yahoo.com
- Website: Not Available
- Official Representative:
- Status: Valid License
- License Validity: August 29, 2024
Examples of POEA Agencies with Delisted, Ceased Operations, Cancelled, Denied Renewal, Suspended, Forever Banned, and Inactive Remarks
You can determine if the agency cannot operate anymore if it has remarks such as DELISTED, CANCELLED, DENIED RENEWAL, SUSPENDED, CEASED OPERATIONS, INACTIVE, and FOREVER BANNED next to its ‘STATUS OF LICENSE’. It is written in red characters so it can be seen easily. When you see these red remarks, stay away from them for your own safety.
I have included below some manpower agencies that have red remarks from POEA. This means that they are not allowed to operate as a recruitment agency anymore because they were not able to comply with POEA’s requirements.

1022 MARITIME SERVICES CORPORATION Manning Agency
- Address: R602 DONA F SYJUCO BLG 1872 REMEDIOS COR TAFT AVE MALATE, MANILA
- Contact Details : 5362997 / 5360831
- Email Address : CARGOFLEET@MARC-SHIPS.COM
- Website : Not Available
- Official Representative : Not Available
- Status : Ceased Operations
- License Validity : November 4 2011 to November 3 2015
168 YE LU FA INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER AND PROMOTION SERVICES Private Employment Agency
- Address: 2FLR 118 J DEL ROSARIO ST., DONA PETRA SUBD TUMANA MARIKINA
- Contact Details: 516-8893
- Email Address : 168yelufa_hr@yahoo.com
- Website : Not Available
- Official Representative :
- Status : Delisted
- License Validity : January 28, 2008 to January 28, 2012
3D MANPOWER & PLACEMENT SERVICES CORP. Private Employment Agency
- Address: 50 K8 ST EAST KAMIAS CUBAO, QUEZON CITY
- Contact Details: 920-3043
- Email Address : Not Available
- Website : Not Available
- Official Representative :
- Status : Cancelled
- License Validity : September 26, 2005 to March 26, 2006
A & E NEPOMUCENO PROMOTIONS Private Employment Agency
- Address: 2F & 3F 590-592 QUIRINO AVE TAMBO PARAÑAQUE
- Contact Details: 8532029 / 8532090
- Email Address: Not Available
- Website: Not Available
- Official Representative:
- Status : Denied Renewal
- License Validity : September 25, 2001 to September 24, 2003
A L INTERNATIONAL SERVICES INC Private Employment Agency
- Address: SPACE 25-26 MLA MIDTOWN ARCADE M.ADRIATICO ST ERMITA, MANILA
- Contact Details: 587763 / 573911
- Email Address:
- Website:
- Official Representative:
- Status : Forever Banned
- License Validity : July 7, 1987 to July 7, 1989
ACME DEVELOPMENT Construction Contractor
- Address: 2ND FLR AGORA COMM`L COMPLEX N DOMINGO SAN JUAN
- Contact Details: Not Available
- Email Address : Not Available
- Website: Not Available
- Official Representative:
- Status : Inactive
- License Validity: to
AELA INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES Private Employment Agency
- Address: 2F SAIL CTR COMM COMPLEX NORTH RECLAMATION AREA CEBU CITY, CEBU
- Contact Details: (032) 2382137
- Email Address: Not Available
- Website: Not Available
- Official Representative:
- Status : Suspended
- License Validity : August 14, 2008 to August 13, 2012
POEA List of Manpower Agencies with Cancelled Permits
POEA administrator and Vice- Chairman Hans Leo J. Cacdac has released in February 28,2014 the list of recruitment agencies that have canceled permit for 2013 through his Facebook and twitter account.
Please find below the 63 agencies which have canceled the permit and that you should be avoiding if you are planning to apply for a job abroad:
- 1. NANHAYA INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT, INC.
- 2. JMP POLARIS NAVIGATION, INC. AND INVESTORS ASSURANCES CORPORATION
- 3. REAJENT MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 4. GREENBACK INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER
- 5. DIAMOND ROSE HUMAN RESOURCES AND SERVICES CORPORATION
- 6. GEMS 22 MANPOWER COMPANY
- 7. FMJ INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER AND ALLIED SERVICES, INC.
- 8. LIFELINE INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC.
- 9. ALL-PRO STAFFING & CONSULTING SERVICES
- 10. OFW RECRUITMENT AGENCY
- 11. N.A.R. TRAINING CENTER & MANAGEMENT SERVICES
- 12. MEDRP INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINE, INC.
- 13. THE JOB CONNECTION INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 14. TMJ INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES
- 15. SMART INTERNATIONAL MARINE SERVICES CORP.
- 16. ASAHI INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER CORPORATION
- 17. HANJAN INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
- 18. GOLDEN LIME INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES
- 19. THE JOBHUNTER , INC.
- 20. MHHR MANPOWER RECRUITMENT & PLACEMENT AGENCY CORPORATION
- 21. AL MUSTAQBAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- 22. W.M.G. INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY
- 23. HERBERT’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- 24. BOOM INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY
- 25. WHITE WING’S MANPOWER EXPONENT
- 26. ASEAN MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.
- 27. SILVER HORIZON INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES
- 28. CROSSWIND INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SEVRICES
- 29. AL-ABEER MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 30. ABC MANILA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- 31. ALLSKILLS MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 32. PEAK MANPOWER RESOURCES
- 33. YES HUMAN RESOURCES, INC.
- 34. GOLDEN MILES PLACEMENT PROMOTION AND MANNING AGENCY COMPANY
- 35. MBC HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
- 36. MORLAND OVERSEAS MANPOWER
- 37. ST. BERNARD INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER AGENCY
- 38. JARDY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION AGENCY
- 39. MAJNAL RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT, INC
- 40. AL TAKA MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 41. AISIS INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER, INC.
- 42. P & R MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 43. ALTIMA MANPOWER AGENCY, INC.
- 44. HELAL MANPOWER AGENCY
- 45. EFFICIENT INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES, INC.
- 46. MCLAINE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY GROUP, INC.
- 47. WELLCOME EMPLOYMENT CENTRE, INC.
- 48. SKY RESOURCES EXCHANGE CORPORATION
- 49. BRIGHT INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES
- 50. KONNEXION INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER AGENCY
- 51. SAVEWAY INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES
- 52. JEMSTONE GLOBAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY COMPANY, INC.
- 53. STAFFLINE, INC
- 54. MSS TALENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
- 55. STOCKHAUS INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES CORPORATION
- 56. FUTURISTIC INTERNATIONAL ARTIST (FIA) PROMOTION CORPORATION
- 57. PHILTRADE INTERNATIONAL MANPOWER SERVICES
- 58. C.A.A. MANPOWER AGENCY
- 59. PHILEMPLOY SERVICES & RESOURCES, INC.
- 60. BIG DIPPER MARITIME SERVICES CORPORATION
- 61. GLOBAL JOBSEARCH SERVICES, INC.
- 62. NORTHWEST PLACEMENT, INC.
- 63. MARHABA INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMPANY
Be a responsible job seeker. Verify first the license status of the manpower agency that you are applying in before submitting to them your important documents.
Here is my Reference:
PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION 2013 LIST OF CANCELLED AGENCIES 1. NANHAYA INTERNATIONAL (cont) http://t.co/7wjG4ZjWZb
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) February 28, 2014
If the agency that you are applying with is not on the list, there are several ways to verify if it has a valid license as I stated above.
POEA Elements of Fake Jobs Offered Online
POEA has shared on December 2015 on its official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mypoea/) the elements of fake job openings offered online. In February 2017, they also released an advisory to disregard emails about supposed employment to certain countries that applicants they never applied for. Please read the details below:

Source: http://poea.gov.ph/news/2017/PR_February2017_email%20scam.pdf
POEA 7 Signs of a JOB SCAM (basahin po ninyo ito)

POEA has released so many warnings in Tagalog and in English about unscrupulous emails, unverifiable job hiring, and fly by night manpower agencies. As an aspiring applicant, it is your responsibility to read, and your responsibility to know.
*I got the idea while browsing the poea website. If you don’t know how the three verification process works, it would still be best if you call the poea helpdesk to verify the name of agency by yourself. Just follow any of the given instruction to determine whether the agency that you are applying in has licensed from POEA.
*Photos credits to Philippine Overseas Employment Agency