How much can a recruitment agent charge for an overseas job from India?

Government of India advisories issued in December 2023 state that, under the Emigration Act, 1983, a recruiting agent may not collect more than ₹30,000 plus 18% GST from an emigrant, and must issue a receipt. An older Ministry of External Affairs page lists ₹20,000. Confirm the current limit on eMigrate before you pay, and report anyone asking for more.

What is the maximum service charge a registered Indian recruiting agent can collect for an overseas job?

The limit, and why two figures appear

Advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad (December 2023) say that no recruiting agent may collect more than ₹30,000 plus GST at 18% for the services provided to an emigrant, and that the agent must issue a receipt for the amount collected.

An older page on the Ministry's website about complaints against recruiting agents states the cap as ₹20,000 per emigrant. Because the two sources differ, treat the most recent advisory as the working figure and check emigrate.gov.in or call the OWRC (1800 11 3090) for the current rule before paying.

What a legitimate payment looks like

The agent is on the eMigrate list of registered recruiting agents.
You are given a written receipt for every rupee paid.
The total service charge is within the legal limit, with GST shown separately.
The job offer from the foreign employer is in writing and names the employer, role, salary and contract length.
Government and visa fees, medicals and travel are separate items. Ask for each to be itemised.

If you are asked to pay more

The Ministry has warned that unregistered agents overcharge job seekers heavily. If an agent asks for more than the legal limit, refuse, keep any messages as evidence, and complain to the Protector General of Emigrants, the Indian mission abroad, the MADAD portal, or the OWRC helpline. First check that the agent is registered, and see the warning signs of scams. Our Trust Center explains our own fee policy.

Official sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Information only, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Does the fee limit include GST?

The December 2023 advisories describe the limit as ₹30,000 plus GST at 18%, so GST is charged on top of the service charge and should be shown separately on the receipt.

Are visa, medical and ticket costs part of the agent's service charge?

They are separate costs. Ask for every fee to be itemised in writing, and keep receipts, so you can see exactly what the service charge covers.

Who do I complain to about overcharging?

The Protector General of Emigrants (through eMigrate), the Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad, the MADAD portal, or the OWRC on 1800 11 3090.