Check a licensed seafarer recruitment agency before paying for a ship job
Kenya Maritime Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Before you pay anyone for a ship or cruise job, check that the agent is on KMA's list of licensed seafarer recruitment and placement agents. Licensed agents may not charge you any agency fee.
- Fee
- Licensing a seafarer recruitment and placement agent costs USD 1,000.
- Where
- Online on KMA's Seafarer's Hub (the licensed agents list), or Kenya Maritime Authority head office, Bahari Towers, Mbaraki Road, Mombasa
What you need
- Your employment contract: the agent must let you read it before and after signing and give you a copy
Steps
- Open KMA's Seafarer's Hub (kma.go.ke/seafarers-applications) and download the list of licensed seafarers recruitment and placement agents.
- Find the agent's name and physical address on the list and check that the licence expiry date has not passed.
- Do not pay any agency fee. If an agent asks you to pay for recruitment, walk away.
- To report an agent or an employment problem, send KMA a formal complaint with your evidence and a copy of your employment agreement (info@kma.go.ke, 0724 319344). Complaints are free.
Watch out
- KMA will not take responsibility for seafarers who accept jobs through unlicensed agents.
- Recruiting Kenyan seafarers without a KMA licence is an offence punishable by a fine, jail or both.
- Running a recruitment agency? You need a KMA licence first. The fee is USD 1,000 and it takes about 30 days.
Who can apply
- Any Kenyan seafarer looking for work on a Kenyan or foreign ship. Kenyan seafarers may only be recruited through agents on KMA's published list.
Official sources (5)
- Seafarer's Hub kma.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Licensed Seafarers Recruitment and Placement Agents (list, updated 25 August 2026) kma.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Public notice for MSA Sec 118 (3) (FIN 21082026) kma.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Application for Annual Seafarers Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (KMA/MSD/FRM/45) kma.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- KMA English Citizens' Service Delivery Charter, July 2026 kma.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026