An HR manager in Abu Dhabi was two days from wiring a AED 6,000 deposit to a recruitment agency that had promised five warehouse hires within a week. When she searched for the company on MOHRE's own portal, nothing came up under the name on the invoice. The agency had a slick website and a confident sales rep, but no traceable licence.
That gap between how professional an agency looks and whether it is actually authorised is exactly what MOHRE Permit 64 exists to close. This guide explains what the licence actually confirms, the two licence types it covers, and the exact steps to verify one before any money changes hands. For a recruitment partner whose licence is never in question, see ReapHR's recruitment services for employers.
We will also cover what a valid Permit 64 does not guarantee, the red flags that show up even on licensed agencies, and what happens legally if you proceed without checking at all.
|
Quick Answer MOHRE Permit 64 is the licence the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issues to recruitment and manpower supply intermediaries. A holder has passed MOHRE's approval process, posted the required bank guarantee, and sits under MOHRE's ongoing regulatory oversight. You can verify any agency's Permit 64 status directly through MOHRE's official enquiry portal in a few minutes. |
What MOHRE Permit 64 Actually Confirms
Permit 64 sits underneath a company's main trade licence, issued by the relevant economic development authority, and it is the specific authorisation MOHRE grants for recruitment and manpower supply activity. Holding a general trade licence that mentions recruitment is not the same as holding Permit 64 itself.
The permit confirms three concrete things: the company has been vetted by MOHRE for this specific activity, it has posted the required bank guarantee as financial security for workers and clients, and it operates under MOHRE's inspection and complaint-handling authority if something goes wrong.
Many companies conflate a general trade licence with Permit 64 because both documents use similar language and hang in the same reception area. A trade licence confirms the company can legally operate in the UAE; Permit 64 confirms it can legally place candidates or supply manpower. A company can hold one without the other.
That last point matters more than it sounds. If a licensed agency mishandles a placement or a worker's salary, MOHRE has direct jurisdiction to investigate and, where warranted, claim against the bank guarantee. An unlicensed operator sits entirely outside that protection.
Permit 64 is also not permanent. Licences must be renewed periodically, and an agency that held a valid permit last year is not automatically compliant today. Checking the issue date and expiry date on the certificate is part of a proper verification -- confirm directly through MOHRE's official portal, since an expired permit carries the same practical risk as never having one.
Brokerage vs Manpower Supply: Two Licence Types Under One Permit
Permit 64 is not one single licence type. It covers two distinct models, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes employers make when reviewing an agency's paperwork.
A brokerage or placement licence means the agency finds and places the candidate, then the employer sponsors that worker directly once hired. A manpower supply licence means the agency itself sponsors the worker and deploys them to the client under an ongoing service contract, keeping the employment relationship with the agency.
|
Licence Type |
Who Sponsors the Worker |
Typical Bank Guarantee |
|
Brokerage or placement |
Employer, after hire |
AED 100,000 |
|
Manpower supply |
Agency, throughout the contract |
AED 300,000 plus capital requirement |
|
Domestic worker (Tadbeer) |
Tadbeer centre |
Separate framework, not Permit 64 |
Why the Distinction Changes Your Risk
If you need permanent staff who report directly to your management, a brokerage-licensed agency is the right fit. If you need a flexible bulk workforce without carrying the sponsorship burden yourself, a manpower supply licence is what you actually want. Signing with the wrong licence type does not void the contract, but it can leave gaps in who is responsible for gratuity, WPS payments, and worker welfare.
It is also worth knowing what Permit 64 does not cover. Domestic worker recruitment, meaning nannies, drivers, and household staff hired for a private residence rather than a company, runs through a separate Tadbeer service centre framework, not Permit 64. An agency quoting you a Permit 64 number for a maid placement is quoting the wrong licence entirely.
How to Verify a Permit 64 Number in Minutes
Verification does not require a phone call or a site visit. MOHRE's enquiry portal lets you check a licence directly using details the agency should already have provided on its invoice or contract letterhead.
Start by asking the agency for its Permit 64 number and establishment card number, not just a generic trade licence number. Then open MOHRE's official enquiry services and select the licence or establishment verification option. Enter the transaction or licence number exactly as shown, complete the captcha, and the portal returns the registered company name, current status, and validity dates straight from MOHRE's own records.
Cross-check that returned company name against the name on your invoice and contract. A mismatch, even a close one, is worth pausing on. Genuine MOHRE certificates also carry a QR code that can be scanned to pull up the same certificate details on a mobile phone, which is a fast secondary check during an in-person meeting.
The establishment card is a useful second document to request alongside the Permit 64 number. It confirms the company is registered as an active establishment with MOHRE for payroll and work permit purposes, and its number should be consistent across every document the agency sends you, from the initial proposal through to the final invoice.
What a Valid Licence Does Not Guarantee
A Permit 64 confirms legal authorisation and financial backing. It does not confirm that the agency is good at its job. Licensed agencies still vary enormously in sector expertise, candidate quality, and how honestly they represent their pipeline.
Treat licence verification as the floor, not the ceiling, of your due diligence. Once the licence checks out, the real evaluation starts: ask for references from other UAE clients, request a sample of a completed placement, and have our team review your employment contracts before signing anything.
Red Flags That Show Up Even on Licensed Agencies
A clean Permit 64 does not rule out sloppy or opportunistic practice. Watch for pressure to pay the full fee before any candidate has been presented, invoices issued from a company name that does not match the licence, and reluctance to put a replacement guarantee in writing.
A subtler red flag is an agency that is happy to discuss its licence verbally but stalls when asked to send the actual transaction or licence number in writing. Legitimate operators treat that request as routine, since the information is a matter of public record on MOHRE's portal anyway. Hesitation at that specific step is disproportionately meaningful.
|
A Clear Violation, Not a Grey Area If an agency asks the candidate, rather than the employer, to pay any part of the fee, that is a violation of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regardless of how the licence checks out. Report it to MOHRE directly rather than assuming it is a one-off billing error. |
What Happens If You Use an Unlicensed Agency
Beyond the obvious risk of losing a deposit, using an unlicensed intermediary removes every protection Permit 64 is designed to provide. There is no bank guarantee to claim against, no MOHRE jurisdiction to escalate a dispute to, and no formal complaint mechanism if the placement falls apart.
The exposure is not limited to the agency either. MOHRE can treat unlicensed recruitment activity as a compliance issue tied to the hiring company, particularly if the resulting worker's visa or contract documentation was handled improperly. A five-minute portal check before signing is a small price against that risk.
There is also a quieter cost that rarely gets discussed: an unlicensed operator has no obligation to honour a replacement guarantee, salary benchmarking promise, or any other verbal commitment made during the sales process. Without MOHRE's oversight sitting behind the relationship, those commitments are only as good as the individual's word.
Building Licence Checks Into Your Hiring Process
Verification works best as a standing step in procurement, not a one-off favour done for a suspicious-looking vendor. Add a Permit 64 check to the same checklist used for any new supplier: confirm the licence, confirm the licence type matches the service being purchased, and file a screenshot of the verification result alongside the signed contract.
That small habit protects institutional memory too. HR teams change, and a documented verification from the day a contract was signed is far easier to produce during an audit than trying to reconstruct whether anyone actually checked eighteen months later.
Before finalising any agency relationship, it is worth reviewing what to ask before you sign, and comparing the licence status against what agencies actually charge in the region, since a suspiciously low fee is often the first sign the licence will not check out either.
A Five-Minute Check That Protects the Whole Hire
MOHRE Permit 64 is not a formality to skim past on an agency's website. It is the single clearest signal of whether an intermediary is legally authorised to place candidates or supply workers in the UAE, and checking it costs nothing but a few minutes on MOHRE's own portal before any deposit is sent.
Verify the number, confirm the licence type matches what you actually need, and treat the check as step one, not the whole evaluation. Pairing a confirmed licence with real reference checks and a documented paper trail is what actually protects a hiring budget and a company's compliance record long after the invoice is paid.
|
Working With a Fully Licensed Partner Shouldn't Be a Question ReapHR's Permit 64 details are available on request before any contract is signed. One less thing to verify before you start hiring. |
Explore our recruitment services for employers, or have our team review your existing employment contracts for compliance gaps. If a vendor relationship already feels uncertain, an independent HR audit is a fast way to check the whole engagement, not just the licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MOHRE Permit 64?
Permit 64 is the licence category MOHRE issues to private employment and recruitment intermediaries in the UAE. It confirms the holder is legally authorised to place candidates with employers, has posted the required bank guarantee, and operates under MOHRE's direct regulatory oversight, including inspection and complaint-handling authority.
How do I verify an agency's Permit 64 online?
Use MOHRE's official enquiry portal, select the licence or establishment verification service, and enter the agency's transaction or licence number exactly as shown on their paperwork. The system returns the registered company name, status, and validity dates directly from MOHRE's records, which you can cross-check against the agency's trade licence.
What is the difference between a brokerage licence and a manpower supply licence?
A brokerage or placement licence means the employer sponsors the worker directly once hired, while a manpower supply licence means the agency sponsors the worker and deploys them to the client under a service contract. Both require Permit 64, but they carry different compliance obligations and are not interchangeable.
What happens if I use an unlicensed recruitment agency?
Working with an unlicensed intermediary offers no MOHRE protection if a placement goes wrong, a fee dispute arises, or a candidate's documentation is mishandled. The employer may also face compliance scrutiny, since MOHRE can treat unlicensed recruitment activity as a violation tied to the hiring company, not just the agency.
Does a valid Permit 64 guarantee good service quality?
No. Permit 64 confirms legal authorisation and financial backing, not service quality, speed, or sector expertise. A licensed agency can still be a poor fit for a specific role. Treat licence verification as the minimum compliance check, then evaluate track record, references, and sector knowledge separately before signing.
