Before you send documents or money to any agency that promises a job in Germany, check it with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The DMW keeps an official, searchable list of licensed recruitment agencies with each agency’s license status, and it warns Filipinos to apply only through licensed agencies with approved job orders.
Germany Unlocked does not recruit, place or screen anyone for jobs, and we do not take money from applicants. This page explains how you can check an agency yourself, using the DMW’s own information. Each point links to its source.
Step 1: Look the agency up on the DMW list
The DMW publishes a list of licensed recruitment agencies for overseas jobs. It shows each agency’s name, representative, address, contact numbers, license status, the date of that status and the expiry date. The list is refreshed every two hours.
Read the status carefully. The list also includes agencies that have closed down, been permanently banned, or had their license cancelled or suspended. Statuses you will see include:
- Valid license (or valid license, provisional): the agency currently holds a license.
- Expired: the license has run out, so do not deal with the agency until it shows a valid license again.
- Ceased operations, cancelled, suspended or banned: do not deal with the agency.
Check that the name, address and contact details on the list match the agency you are dealing with. A similar name is not enough.
Step 2: Verify the job offer and the foreign employer
In a February 2026 news release the DMW urges Filipinos to verify overseas job offers, recruitment agencies and foreign employers directly with the DMW before applying. It advises caution about job offers that arrive through social media and messaging apps, because these channels are often used for illegal recruitment that can lead to trafficking and abuse.
Step 3: Report anything suspicious
The DMW asks the public to report suspected illegal recruitment. Its hotlines are (02) 8722-11-44, (02) 8722-11-55 and (02) 8721-0619, and its email is airtipinfo@dmw.gov.ph. You can also contact its Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Program through its official Facebook page.
A German employer is not the same as an agency
You can also apply directly to a German employer, and several routes to Germany are built around a concrete job offer; see the guide to working in Germany. Whichever way you find the job, you still need your Overseas Employment Certificate before you leave; see the guide to Philippine requirements.
Recruitment agencies on Find Services
Find Services lists agencies and other organizations you can contact directly. A listing is not a recommendation and not a guarantee of any job. Always run the checks above yourself before you share documents or pay anything.
Want to know which route fits you before you talk to any agency? Answer a few questions and get a free roadmap of your options and next steps.
Official sources
- DMW: licensed recruitment agencies and license status
- DMW news release: verify overseas job offers and beware of illegal recruitment (5 February 2026)
Last checked: September 20, 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice. The DMW’s pages and contact details can change, so confirm them on its official website.