Short answerEvery employment agency in Singapore that places job seekers with employers must hold a licence from MOM, and its staff must be registered. Check the agency's name or licence number, and the staff member's registration card, in MOM's EA Directory before you sign anything.
An employment agency (EA) helps employers and job seekers find each other. In Singapore, MOM licenses employment agencies and registers the people who work for them. This page explains what the licence covers, how to check an agency in a few minutes, and where to find licensed maid agencies.
Who needs an employment agency licence
MOM says an organisation or person must be licensed before doing any of these, whether the job is in Singapore or overseas:
- communicating with a job seeker to process an employment-related application;
- collecting a job seeker's biodata or resume to help them find an employer;
- submitting a work pass application for an employer or job seeker;
- helping place a job seeker with an employer.
A licence is not needed to recruit staff for your own business. Wholly web-based job portals, job bulletin boards that do no matching or placement, recognised universities and some public bodies are exempt.
Every key appointment holder and staff member doing agency work must also be registered with MOM. Each gets a registration number, appears in MOM's EA Directory and can be registered to only one agency at a time.
How to check an employment agency
- Find its licence number. Agencies must show their full name and licence number on their signboard, correspondence and written advertisements, including websites, name cards and pamphlets. In MOM's directory, almost every licence number is two digits, a letter and four digits, usually with the letter C.
- Search MOM's EA Directory by name or licence number. You can search for agencies that place foreign workers, foreign domestic workers or local workers.
- Check the person you deal with. Registered staff must show you their registration card, with their name, registration number and agency, and let you note its details. Compare it with the directory.
- Check the list to avoid. The directory has an "Under revocation / suspension / surveillance" tab.
MOM advises working only with licensed agencies and registered personnel, because they must meet its eligibility criteria and follow its rules. Operating an agency without a licence is an offence: offenders can be fined up to SGD 80,000, jailed for up to two years, or both, and anyone who abets an unlicensed agency can face the same penalties. You can report unlicensed agencies to MOM.
Hiring a helper, or looking for a job?
The same directory covers different kinds of agencies. If you are a family hiring a domestic helper, you need an agency licensed to place foreign domestic workers; that is the only kind we list. If you are looking for a job yourself, use the local workers search in MOM's EA Directory to find licensed agencies for your field.
Maid agencies in Singapore, in numbers
MOM's directory lists 2,418 licences in its foreign domestic worker view. From 11 Oct 2025 to 11 Oct 2026, 1,203 of them placed no helpers, 312 placed 100 or more and 33 placed 600 or more. Our agency directory lists the 485 licences that placed 55 or more, with licence numbers and placement counts. Placements show how active an agency is, not how good it is.
- All 485 active maid agencies, searchable by name or licence
- The most active agencies, by MOM placements
- Agencies by area
- Agencies on MOM's transfer list
Before you sign with a maid agency
Ask for a written service agreement and an itemised quote, and read how to choose a maid agency, agency fees and the fee cap and refunds. Our two-minute licence check walks through the directory step by step.
Sources, checked 15 Oct 2026: MOM, Who needs an employment agency licence; MOM, Register employment agency personnel; MOM FAQ, working with a licensed EA; MOM, EA Directory; MOM EA Alert, 18 March 2015 (licence number in written documents); MOM press release, 4 August 2022 (penalties); MOM Employment Agency Directory (FDW view), extracted 12 Oct 2026.
Common questions
How do I check if an employment agency in Singapore is licensed?
Search its name or licence number in MOM's EA Directory, check that the person you deal with shows a registration card that matches the directory, and look at the directory's revocation, suspension and surveillance tab.
How many maid agencies are there in Singapore?
MOM's directory lists 2,418 licences in its foreign domestic worker view. 485 of them placed 55 or more helpers from 11 Oct 2025 to 11 Oct 2026, and 1,203 placed none.
What must an employment agency show me?
Its full name and licence number on its signboard, correspondence and advertisements, and a registration card for any staff member who serves you, showing their name, registration number and agency.
What happens to an agency operating without a licence?
It is an offence. Offenders can be fined up to SGD 80,000, jailed for up to two years, or both, and people who abet an unlicensed agency can face the same penalties.
Do job portals need an employment agency licence?
Wholly web-based job portals, and job bulletin boards that do no matching or placement, are exempt. Anyone who places job seekers with employers needs a licence.
Is agencies.sg an employment agency?
No. agencies.sg is an independent directory of licensed maid agencies. We do not place helpers; licensed agencies do. We are not affiliated with MOM.