How to Check if a Gulf Job Agent is Real (Using BEOE)
Before you pay anyone or hand over your passport, check their licence on the government's own BEOE website. Here is exactly how — it takes five minutes and can save your life savings.
Before you pay a single rupee, check the agent's licence on BEOE — the government's own website. A real overseas recruiter in Pakistan must hold a valid licence from the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE). You can look up that licence yourself, free, in about five minutes. If an agent is not listed, walk away.
This one habit — verify first, pay later — stops most Gulf job scams before they start.
Why this matters
Every year, thousands of Pakistanis lose money to fake agents promising jobs in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The offer looks real. The office looks real. The "visa fee" is not. Once you pay, the agent disappears.
The government keeps a public list of every licensed recruiter. Scammers are not on it. So the list is your shield — if you use it before you commit.
Step 1: Get the agent's licence number
A real licensed agent (called an OEP — Overseas Employment Promoter) has a licence number and will show it without hesitation. Ask for it directly:
"What is your BEOE OEP licence number?"
If they refuse, dodge, or say "we work through a partner", treat that as a red flag and stop.
Step 2: Look it up on beoe.gov.pk
- Go to beoe.gov.pk on your phone or computer.
- Open the list of licensed OEPs (Overseas Employment Promoters).
- Search for the agency by name or licence number.
- Check that the licence is active — not expired, suspended, or blacklisted.
If the agency is not there, or the licence is not active, the job is not safe. No exceptions.
Step 3: Ask for the demand letter and check it too
A real job comes with an official Job Demand Letter — a document, verified through the Pakistani embassy in the host country, that proves the foreign company really asked for workers and agreed to the pay and conditions.
Ask the agent for the demand's registration details and confirm the job is recorded with BEOE. A genuine offer has nothing to hide. A "confidential" or "urgent" offer with no paperwork is the classic shape of a scam.
What a real offer looks like
| Real, licensed channel | Scam / fake visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront fees | No large "visa" or "selection" fees charged to you | Demands cash now for "visa allocation" |
| Licence | Listed and active on BEOE | Won't give a number, or it's expired |
| Demand letter | Registered, verifiable | "Confidential", no paperwork |
| Costs | Visa, medical, ticket paid by the employer | You pay for everything |
Under the rules, the foreign company — not you — pays for visa processing, embassy medical, security clearance, and your first flight. If someone asks you for those, something is wrong.
What to do next
- Ask for the agent's BEOE OEP licence number.
- Check it on beoe.gov.pk — active or not.
- Ask for the job demand registration and confirm it with BEOE.
- Never pay large upfront "visa" fees — those are the employer's cost.
- If it fails any check, stop, and report the agent (see our guide on what to do if you've been scammed).
FAQ
Is it free to check an agent on BEOE?
Yes. Looking up a licence on beoe.gov.pk costs nothing. Anyone can do it.
The agent has a nice office. Doesn't that mean they're real?
No. Scammers rent good offices on purpose, to look trustworthy. An office proves nothing. A live, active BEOE licence does.
The agent says the job is "confidential" and can't share details. Is that normal?
No. A real job is registered with BEOE and comes with a verifiable demand letter. "Confidential" with no paperwork is a common scam line.
Should I pay a fee to "reserve" my slot?
No. Legitimate recruiters do not charge large upfront visa or selection fees. The employer abroad pays those costs.
What if the agent is not on the BEOE list?
Do not pay and do not hand over your passport. An unlicensed agent operating overseas recruitment is breaking the law.