Protector of Emigrants, Goa Police enforce Emigration Act provisions
The Fatorda police and officials of the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) on the job to seal the immigration consultancy office at Borda.
MARGAO
The Protector of Emigrants (PoE), Bengaluru, which holds jurisdiction over Karnataka and Goa, in coordination with the Goa Police, conducted a joint enforcement operation against an alleged unlicensed immigration consultancy at Margao on Friday.
The raid targeted the consultancy office located next to the Multipurpose College, Borda, Margao, which was found to be engaged in allegedly illegal overseas recruitment activities in violation of the Emigration Act, 1983.
The operation led by Avaneesh Shukla, Protector of Emigrants, Bengaluru saw the agency effecting seizure of key documents, registers, and other materials relevant to the investigation. The consultancy office was sealed after the raid.
Fatorda Police Station in-charge, PI Nathan Almeida informed that a FIR will be registered under the Emigration Act against the consultancy owner.
Sources said the PoE Office, Bengaluru had received multiple complaints that the agency is posting advertisements via social media like agency website, Facebook and Instagram for arranging overseas employment in countries such as Europe and the Gulf nations. Despite being served a notice dated 30.09.2025, the agency continued its operations illegally.
The PoE for Goa reiterated that under Section 10 of the Emigration Act, 1983, no person or organisation is permitted to engage in overseas recruitment without a valid Registration Certificate/ Licence issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. Any such violation is a punishable offence under Sections 24 and 25 of the Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of Rs 2,000. In the event of repeat offences, both penalties are doubled, the agency added.
Advisory to aspiring emigrants
The PoE Bengaluru has issued an advisory to Individuals aspiring to work abroad strongly advising them to verify the credentials of any recruitment agency through the following channels by visiting the official government website: www.emigrate.gov.in and emailing the PoE Bengaluru Office: poebengaluru@mea.gov.in.
The emigrate portal provides a complete list of registered recruitment agencies and the contact details of all Protector of Emigrants offices across the country.
For grievance redressal and support, emigrants or their family members may also contact the Pravasi Bharatiya Sewa Kendra (PBSK), established by MEA, through: 24x7 toll-free helpline: 1800-11-3090; email: helpline@mea.gov.in
Warning to unlicensed recruiters
The The Protector of Emigrants, Bengaluru, has issued warning to all individuals and entities involved in unauthorised overseas recruitment-including those operating under the guise of study abroad consultants, PR visa facilitators, Portuguese Passport application or work permit advisors to immediately cease all such activities. Failure to comply will result in strict legal action under the provisions of the Emigration Act.
