NORKA Roots and ODEPC are two Kerala Government agencies that can legally recruit workers for jobs abroad, including the UAE and other Gulf countries. NORKA Roots recruitment and ODEPC recruitment are some of the safest ways for a Malayali to get a Gulf job, because both are run by the state and registered with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). But fake notices using their names also appear, so always apply only through their official websites.
What are NORKA Roots and ODEPC?
NORKA Roots works under the Kerala Government’s Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs. Its recruitment page says it is authorised by the MEA to help with overseas recruitment, and that it recruits nurses, doctors, technicians and housemaids for employers in GCC countries. It also runs many welfare services for Pravasis (more on that below).
ODEPC (Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants Ltd.) is a Kerala Government company under the Department of Labour, set up in 1977. It is registered with the MEA and calls itself the first public sector recruitment agency in India.
Both agencies also appear on the Indian Consulate in Dubai’s list of agencies allowed to recruit Indian nurses and women workers on ECR passports for the UAE.
What kind of Gulf jobs do they recruit for?
It changes all the time. Vacancies come only when a foreign employer sends a demand. Some examples from their official sites:
- NORKA Roots: nurses, doctors, technicians and domestic workers for GCC employers.
- ODEPC: in October 2026 its website listed a UAE walk-in interview for steel fabrication roles (structural fabricator, steel erector, MIG welder, painter, erection foreman). It also listed security guard recruitment to the UAE, plus nursing jobs in Belgium and Germany.
Do not assume there is a UAE vacancy for you today. Open the official site and check the current notifications before you do anything else.
How do I apply for NORKA Roots recruitment or ODEPC jobs?
- Go only to the official website. NORKA: norkaroots.kerala.gov.in or norkaroots.org. ODEPC: odepc.kerala.gov.in. Type the address yourself. Do not click links sent on WhatsApp.
- Register a profile. ODEPC has a “Register” form on its site. NORKA asks job seekers to register on its job portal with a full profile. NORKA says registered applicants get SMS alerts when new vacancies come.
- Apply to a specific notification. Use the “Apply Now” button on the job listing. Keep your CV, passport copy and certificates ready as PDFs.
- Attend the interview. Interviews are announced on the official site. Some are walk-in.
- After selection: you get an offer letter, then attestation, visa, medical and (if your passport is ECR) emigration clearance on eMigrate. Read our guide on ECR passports and eMigrate.
Do NORKA and ODEPC charge a fee?
Government does not always mean free. NORKA Roots’ recruitment page says its service charge is Rs. 30,000 plus GST per candidate. The candidate also pays for certificate attestation, visa processing and the medical test. Some notifications may say the employer pays, so read each notice.
ODEPC’s website does not list a fixed fee on its home page. Its payment policy says fees once paid are not refunded. So ask ODEPC directly, on its official phone or email, what you must pay before you pay anything.
For any MEA-registered recruiting agent, the legal limit is Rs. 30,000 plus 18% GST. If anyone asks for more, or asks for cash with no receipt, stop.
How can I check if a NORKA or ODEPC notice is real?
Fake websites have used NORKA’s name before. In 2021, NORKA warned about bogus sites taking applications for a school in Qatar, and said it had not authorised any agency to take applications for it. Before you trust a notice:
- Find the same job on the official website. If it is not there, treat it as fake.
- Check the web address. Official ones end in kerala.gov.in, or are norkaroots.org.
- Never pay a “registration fee” to a private person or a personal UPI ID.
- Call the official number (below) and ask.
Our guide to fake job offers in the UAE shows more warning signs.
What other NORKA services help UAE workers?
NORKA’s official site lists services such as the Pravasi/NRK ID card, the NORKA Insurance Card, the NORKA Care health insurance scheme, the Santhwana financial help scheme, NDPREM (help for returned Pravasis to start a business), emergency repatriation, a Pravasi Legal Aid Cell, and certificate attestation. Rules and premiums change, so check each scheme on the official site before applying.
NORKA helplines (from the official site): Global Contact Centre toll-free from India 1800 425 3939, from abroad +91 8802 012345, email mail.norka@kerala.gov.in. ODEPC: +91 471 2329441 / 42 / 43 / 45, info@odepc.in.
Is there another safe route besides NORKA and ODEPC?
Yes. Private recruiting agents registered with the MEA can also recruit legally. The list is on emigrate.gov.in under Recruiting Agent > List of Recruiting Agents. It shows whether the agent’s licence is active. Sub-agents are not allowed under the Emigration Act, 1983. If you are already in the UAE, you can also apply to companies directly through our walk-in interview listings.
Quick answers
Is NORKA Roots recruitment free?
Not always. NORKA’s recruitment page states a service charge of Rs. 30,000 plus GST per candidate, plus attestation, visa and medical costs. Check each notification.
Does ODEPC have UAE jobs now?
In October 2026 its site listed UAE steel fabrication and security guard recruitment. Vacancies change, so check odepc.kerala.gov.in for current notices.
Someone on WhatsApp says he is a NORKA agent. Is he real?
Be careful. NORKA has said it has not authorised any agency to take applications for it. Apply only on the official site.
Can I complain about a fake agent?
Yes. Call the NORKA helpline, the MEA’s PBSK toll-free line 1800 11 3090, or report it to us.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the NORKA Roots, ODEPC or eMigrate official site for your case.
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