The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has renewed its warning to Filipinos seeking work abroad, reminding the public that immigration and visa consultancy firms are not authorized to conduct recruitment or placement for overseas employment.
In an August 20 public advisory posted by its Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program, the agency said any recruitment activity carried out without a license or authority from the DMW — including offering, advertising, referring, or promising jobs abroad — is considered illegal recruitment. The advisory directed job seekers to verify agencies against the DMW’s official list of licensed recruitment agencies before parting with any money or documents.
The reminder is the latest in a string of warnings the agency has issued this year as consultancy firms continue to surface as fronts for unauthorized recruitment. Malaya Business Insight reported that the DMW has repeatedly flagged visa and immigration consultancies advertising jobs in destinations such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Malta, urging those approached to file complaints so operators and their agents can be held liable.
Under Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, only DMW-licensed agencies may canvass, enlist, transport, hire, or offer overseas jobs in exchange for payment. Illegal recruitment carried out by three or more persons conspiring together is classified as a syndicated offense.
The advisory follows a sustained enforcement campaign. SunStar reported that the DMW had padlocked 12 firms for alleged illegal recruitment in the first five months of 2026, among them State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy in Pasig City, which authorities said referred applicants to caregiving jobs in the United States on tourist visas while charging as much as P150,000 in processing fees. In July, the agency ordered its first closure in the Bicol region, shutting down Cander Visa Consultancy Services, Inc. after surveillance and entrapment operations, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
The DMW has told applicants that the presence of an office, a social media page, or foreign nationals in a recruitment operation does not make it legitimate. Aspiring overseas workers were advised to report suspicious offers to the nearest DMW office and to file complaints against unauthorized consultancies so the agency can pursue charges against them.
