Preparing for a Gulf Job: What to Check Before You Accept an Offer

Every year, thousands of Nepali workers take up jobs in the Gulf — and every year, a smaller but real number lose money or end up in a worse situation than they were promised, almost always because a step was skipped or a document was not verified before departure. This guide covers what to check, in order, before you accept and sign anything.

Before the interview

• Verify the recruiting agency is licensed. Every legal foreign-employment agency in Nepal is registered with the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE). Ask for the agency's licence number and confirm it directly with DoFE rather than taking the agency's word for it.
• Get the job details in writing before the interview — position, salary, working hours, accommodation, and contract length. A recruiter who will not put basic terms in writing before the interview is a warning sign, not a formality you can skip.

What the interview usually looks like

Most Gulf recruitment interviews for Nepali workers happen through the agency, either in person or over a video call with the employer or their representative. Expect questions about your relevant experience, physical fitness for the role (particularly for construction, hospitality, and domestic work), willingness to work the stated hours/shift pattern, and basic English or Arabic if the role requires it. Dress neatly, bring your CV and any trade certificates, and be honest about your actual experience — a mismatch discovered after you arrive is far harder to fix than one caught in an interview.

Documents you will need

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay
• Medical fitness certificate from a GoN-approved medical center — this list is specific; a certificate from an unapproved clinic will be rejected, wasting the fee you paid
• Police clearance certificate (PCC)
• Pre-departure orientation certificate — mandatory training covering your rights, the country you are going to, and how to seek help if something goes wrong. This is not optional paperwork; it is genuinely useful information
• A copy of your signed labor contract, in a language you can read and understand

How to recognize a fraudulent offer

• Asking for payment far above the legal recruitment fee ceiling. Nepal caps what agencies can legally charge for most Gulf destinations — a demand well beyond that ceiling, especially in cash and without a receipt, is a red flag.
• "Free visa" arrangements with no clear employer. A genuine job offer names your actual employer and worksite. Vague promises of a "free visa" you can use for any job once you arrive are a common scam pattern.
• Any suggestion your passport will be held by the employer on arrival. Employers confiscating a worker's passport is illegal in every major Gulf destination country, regardless of what a recruiter tells you informally.
• Pressure to sign or pay immediately, "before the slot is taken." A legitimate opportunity survives you taking a day to read the contract properly and, ideally, having someone else read it too.

If something about an offer does not add up, DoFE and the Foreign Employment Board exist specifically to answer these questions before you leave, not just to handle complaints after something has gone wrong.

None of this is meant to discourage genuine opportunities — most placements go through exactly as described. The point of the checklist is simply that the small amount of time it takes to verify each step is far cheaper than discovering a problem after you have already left Nepal.