Checked on 21 October 2026. Indian residents considering an overseas job or residence package should read a new warning from India's missions in the UAE before paying an agency. The advisory, dated 12 October, concerns businesses promoting third-country employment and residence services through social media.
What the embassy reported
The Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai describe complaints about agencies collecting money and then providing neither the promised service nor a refund. They advise applicants to verify procedures and authorised channels directly with the destination country's embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
The warning also makes a clear distinction between help with an application and power to approve it: the issuing government decides the visa. An agency cannot guarantee that decision.
Five questions to ask before payment
Use the following as a practical screening exercise, rather than a guarantee that a provider is legitimate:
- What is the exact government name of the visa or residence category?
- Which official page confirms that I can apply under that category?
- Who is the employer, sponsor or authorised representative, and how can I verify them independently?
- Which charges are government fees and which are the company's own fees?
- What written service and refund terms will I receive before transferring money?
If the answers consist only of testimonials, screenshots or an urgent payment deadline, pause. A clear explanation of the legal route is more useful than the number of followers on a social account.
Check the rules of the destination
Verification is country-specific. For example, GOV.UK provides an official route for checking UK immigration advisers and explains the relevant registration arrangements. A UAE trade name or an attractive office does not, by itself, establish permission to give regulated immigration advice in another country.
For jobs in the UAE itself, the UAE government's fraud guidance says a visit or tourist visa does not authorise work. Do not treat arrival on a visit visa as proof that the employment arrangements are complete.
If you have already paid
Keep the contract, advertisement, invoice, payment record and messages together. Request a written account of what has been submitted and any genuine application reference. Verify that reference through the issuing authority's recognised channel before sending further documents or money.
Use official embassy and local reporting channels for the facts of your case. This advisory identifies a pattern of complaints; it does not establish that every visa agency is fraudulent.
Official sources
- Indian Embassy: official advisory dated 12 October 2026
- UAE Government: avoiding labour and visa fraud
- UK Government: choosing an immigration adviser
- Photo: Spectacular view from Bab Al Qasr Hotel.jpg
- Photo licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources reviewed on 21 Oct 2026. Requirements can change and depend on your nationality and circumstances. This article is general information, not a personal eligibility assessment.
