In short
An employment agency licence in the Maldives is required to recruit and place foreign workers. It is registered and renewed through oneGov with the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology. DBS Maldives checks your eligibility, prepares the application and keeps track of renewal.
What is an employment agency licence in the Maldives?
An employment agency licence in the Maldives is the licence a business needs to recruit and place foreign workers for other employers. New agencies register, and existing agencies renew, through the Employment Agency License service on the oneGov portal. The responsible authority is the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology.
Agencies work closely with the government's labour systems. Employers hire foreign workers against an approved quota and need a work permit for each employee through Xpat Online, and employers may appoint an authorised representative to act for them in that system.
Because the licence is renewed rather than issued once, an agency needs to keep its records, registration and conduct in good order for as long as it operates.
Who needs an employment agency licence?
- Businesses that plan to recruit foreign workers and place them with employers in the Maldives.
- Existing agencies whose licence is due for renewal.
- Businesses that want to manage the foreign-worker process for employers on a commercial basis.
An employer hiring staff for its own business does not become an agency by doing so. If that is your situation, our recruitment and work permit applications services are the better fit.
The licence is held by a registered business, so registration comes first. We start with company registration if it is not yet in place, and make sure the registered activities include employment agency work.
How to get an employment agency licence
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Eligibility review
We look at your ownership, registration and plans, and confirm the current conditions the Ministry applies to agencies.
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Put the business in order
We make sure the business is registered, its activities cover employment agency work and its obligations are up to date.
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Prepare the application
We gather the documents and complete the Employment Agency License application on oneGov, checking every detail first.
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Submit and follow up
The application is submitted through oneGov. We answer queries from the Ministry and keep you informed.
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Renewal and ongoing compliance
We record the renewal date and help keep the records the agency will need when it applies to renew.
What do I need to apply?
- A registered business, such as a company
- Registered business activities that cover employment agency work
- Details of all owners, partners and directors
- eFaas login for the person submitting on oneGov
- Office address and contact details for the agency
- Confirmation that the business's obligations to government are up to date
- Any further documents the Ministry asks for, as we confirm for your case
Common mistakes to avoid
- Recruiting before the licence is granted. Placing foreign workers without a valid licence puts the business and its clients at risk.
- Registered activities that do not match. If the registry record does not cover employment agency work, the application can be held up.
- Not checking eligibility first. Confirm the current conditions for agencies before you set up the business or sign a lease.
- Letting the licence lapse. The licence must be renewed. Diary the date and prepare early.
- Relying on old guidance. Older guides may name a different ministry or outdated forms. Confirm the current rules before applying.
If you are planning to open an agency, send us a short enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a recruitment agency licence in the Maldives?
Register the business first, with activities that cover employment agency work. Then apply through the Employment Agency License service on oneGov, which is run by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology. We check your eligibility and prepare the application for you.
Which ministry issues employment agency licences?
The Employment Agency License service on oneGov is run by the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology. Older guides may name a different office, so we confirm the current position each time we prepare an application or a renewal, and handle the submission for you.
Does an employment agency licence need to be renewed?
Yes. The oneGov service covers both registering a new employment agency and renewing an existing one, so the licence does not last indefinitely. We record your renewal date and help you prepare well before it falls due, so the agency can keep operating without a gap.
Do I need an agency licence to hire foreign staff for my own business?
No. The licence is for businesses that recruit and place foreign workers for others. An employer hiring for itself needs a quota and a work permit for each employee through Xpat Online. We help employers with those applications directly.
Can a foreigner open an employment agency in the Maldives?
Eligibility for an employment agency licence depends on the current conditions for agencies, and foreign investment has its own approval process. Both can change, so we confirm the current position for your ownership structure before any business is set up or application is prepared.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026. Requirements change; we confirm the current rules with you before any application.