Why You Should Verify an Agency’s MOM License Yourself
Singapore requires every employment agency placing domestic helpers to hold a valid MOM license. Working with an unlicensed agency carries real risk — MOM itself notes that unlicensed EAs may exploit vulnerable workers from developing countries by charging them exorbitant fees and may not give them the promised jobs in return. Verifying a license takes a few minutes and isn’t something you should skip, regardless of how professional an agency seems on the surface.
Where to Check
MOM maintains a public, official Employment Agencies Directory, accessible through their eServices portal. This tool lets you:
- Confirm whether a specific agency is currently licensed
- See the names and registration numbers of all registered EA personnel working under that agency
- Check the agency’s service quality and performance, including their track record
Only use the official .gov.sg link to access this directory. MOM specifically advises looking for government website indicators — a .gov.sg domain ending and a secure https:// connection — before entering or trusting any information online.
What to Actually Check For
1. The Agency’s License Status
Search for the agency by name and confirm their license is currently active, not expired or revoked. An agency operating without a valid license has no legal standing to place domestic helpers, regardless of how their website or marketing presents them.
2. The Personnel You’re Actually Dealing With
It’s not enough to check that the agency itself is licensed — the individual consultant you’re speaking with should also be a registered EA person under that agency. Registered personnel carry a registration card showing their name, registration number, and the agency they work for. You’re entitled to ask to see this card, and to verify those details against the directory yourself.
3. Track Record, Not Just License Status
The EA Directory goes further than a simple licensed-or-not check. It also surfaces performance indicators, including:
- Successful retention rate — how often placements made by this agency last, rather than ending early
- Total number of helpers placed in the previous year, giving you a sense of the agency’s actual scale and experience
This information is sourced directly from MOM, not self-reported by the agency, which makes it a meaningfully more reliable signal than testimonials or marketing claims on an agency’s own website.
What a License Check Doesn’t Tell You About Fit
A valid license confirms an agency is operating legally — it doesn’t automatically confirm they’re the right fit for your specific needs. Retention rate and placement volume are useful signals, but they’re not a substitute for asking direct questions about how an agency screens candidates, handles compliance paperwork, and supports you after a placement begins.
A license check answers “is this agency legitimate?” It doesn’t answer “is this the right agency for me?” — that still requires your own judgment.
Checklist: What to Verify Before Choosing an Agency
- Confirm the agency’s license is active on the official EA Directory
- Ask to see the registration card of whoever you’re dealing with directly
- Check the agency’s retention rate and placement volume on the directory
- Ask for a clear, written fee breakdown before signing anything
- Confirm what support is available after the placement begins, not just during the hiring process
Our License, for Reference
We’re a MOM-licensed employment agency: EA License 23C1900, UEN 202316873N. You’re welcome to verify this directly on MOM’s official EA Directory before working with us — we’d rather you check than simply take our word for it.
Have questions about our license or track record? Get in touch and we’ll point you to exactly where to verify it →
