How to Become a FIFA Football Agent in 2026: The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide

In 2025, football agents earned USD 1.37 billion in commissions from international transfers — a historic record and a 90% increase compared to 2024. A total of 16,117 applications were processed for the exam — also a record. Yet, only 18% of candidates passed.

The profession of football agent is one of the most lucrative and competitive in the sports industry. However, since FIFA reintroduced the mandatory licensing system in October 2023 (with the FIFA Football Agents Regulations — RFAF), it is no longer possible to operate as an intermediary without undergoing a rigorous process: application, eligibility verification, exam, and licensing.

In this article, I explain step-by-step everything you need to know to become a licensed FIFA football agent in 2026: the requirements, application process, exam, costs, and what comes after passing.

What This Article Covers

The new licensing system: what changed since 2023
The 4 steps to obtain the license
Eligibility requirements: who can and cannot be an agent
The 2026 exam: dates, format, languages, pass rate
Syllabus: which regulations you need to master
Costs: how much it costs to be a FIFA agent
Post-license: ongoing obligations
Annual fee and continuous professional development
Representation of minors: additional requirements
Market data: how much agents earn

What Changed with the RFAF

Between 2015 and 2023, FIFA deregulated the profession: it was enough to register as an “intermediary” with a member federation to operate. There was no exam, no training requirements, no significant oversight. The result was an explosion of registered intermediaries — many without the necessary professional competence — and growing concerns about transparency and ethics in transactions.

In 2023, FIFA adopted the FIFA Football Agents Regulations (RFAF), which reintroduced:

A mandatory exam to obtain the license
Strict eligibility requirements
(criminal background, conflicts of interest, professional conduct)Limits on commissions
in certain operationsObligations for continuous education
(professional development)Regulation of representation contracts
with minimum requirementsJurisdiction of the Agents Chamber of the FIFA Football Tribunal

for international disputes

The 4 Steps to Obtain the License

According to article 4 of the RFAF, to become a football agent you need to:
1. Application Submit the application form through the FIFA Agent Platform

(agents.fifa.com). Only natural persons — no companies.
2. Eligibility Meet all the eligibility requirements

of article 5 of the RFAF. FIFA's General Secretariat verifies compliance.
3. Exam Pass the FIFA football agent exam

(art. 6). Passing grade: 75% (15 out of 20 correct answers).
4. Annual fee Pay the annual license fee

to FIFA (USD 600) within 90 days after passing the exam (art. 7). By submitting the application, the candidate agrees to abide by the RFAF, FIFA Statutes, Code of Ethics, Disciplinary Code, and the RETJ

.

Eligibility Requirements (art. 5)

The requirements are strict and verified both at application and continuously after obtaining the license:	Requirement
Details	No criminal convictions
Must not have been convicted of organized crime, drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, match-fixing, sexual abuse, assault, harassment, exploitation of minors, among others.	No serious disciplinary sanctions
Must not have been suspended for more than 2 years or disqualified by a sports regulatory authority for breaches of ethics and professional conduct.	Not an official or employee of FIFA/club/federation
Cannot be an employee or official of FIFA, a confederation, federation, league, or club (except agent representatives in FIFA bodies).	No interests in clubs, academies, or leagues
Must not have personal or agency interests in a club, academy, or independent league.	No unlicensed practice
Must not have provided representation services without a license in the 24 months prior to application.	No recent bankruptcy
Must not have declared bankruptcy or been a director of a bankrupt company in the past 5 years.	No links to betting

Must not have had interests in sports betting entities in the 12 months prior.A university degree is not required.

Anyone over 18 who meets the eligibility criteria can apply. It does not matter if you are a lawyer, accountant, former player, former coach, or someone without specific football education. What matters is passing the exam and complying with the rules.

The 2026 Exam: Everything You Need to Know	Aspect
2026 Data	Exam dates
April 28, 29, and 30, 2026 (additional sessions May 5-7 if needed)	Application period
January 20 – March 6, 2026 (45 days, Zurich time)	Format
Online with remote proctoring. From your own computer + smartphone with FIFA app. Private and quiet space required.	Questions
20 multiple-choice questions (select one or more correct answers). Each candidate receives a unique randomly generated set.	Passing grade75% — i.e., at least 15 out of 20
correct answers	Languages
Spanish, French, or English (candidate's choice)	Reference materialsOpen-book exam
— authorized materials can be consulted during the test	Results publication
June 4, 2026	Pass rate 202518%

(down from 52% in the first exam in April 2023)Only 18% pass — and it is open-book. This means 4 out of 5 candidates fail even with access to regulations during the exam. The difficulty lies not in memorizing articles — but in understanding their application in concrete situations

. Questions are designed to assess deep comprehension, not superficial reading.

Syllabus: Which Regulations You Need to Master

The exam is based on the following FIFA regulations (editions of the Study Material published for each call):RFAF
— FIFA Football Agents Regulations (and FAQs)RETJ
— Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players
FIFA Statutes
FIFA Code of Ethics
FIFA Disciplinary CodeFIFA Guardians
— Child safeguarding toolEthical Hiring Guide
— incorporated into the 2026 study materialFIFA Circulars

— complementary publications with study materialFIFA does not organize or endorse preparatory courses. Official study material is available on the Agent Platform and FIFA website. Private companies offer preparation courses, but none have official FIFA endorsement. The only official preparation source is the FIFA Football Agent Exam Study Material

published for each call.

Costs	Concept
Amount	Exam feeUSD 100, charged by Victvs
(company managing the exam). Some federations may charge an additional administrative fee.	Annual FIFA license feeUSD 600
per year, payable before September 30 each year	Preparation (optional)

Variable (private courses range from hundreds to thousands of USD; official FIFA material is free)

If you do not pay the annual fee within 90 days after passing the exam, your application is automatically void (art. 7, para. 3).

Post-License: Ongoing Obligations

Obtaining the license is not the end — it is the beginning. Article 17 of the RFAF establishes ongoing obligations:Continuous professional development: You must complete a minimum number of continuing education credits

each year through the Agent Platform. Agents with prior licenses (pre-2015) must complete 40 credits per year for 5 years.Ongoing compliance with eligibility requirements:

The requirements of art. 5 apply not only at application but throughout the license validity. If at any time you cease to meet any (e.g., criminal conviction), the license may be revoked.Annual fee:

USD 600 each year before September 30. Non-payment may result in license suspension.

Representation of Minors: Additional RequirementsIf you want to represent a minor, or a club in a transaction involving a minor, you need an additional step: complete and pass a mandatory continuing professional development course on minors

available on the Agent Platform (art. 13, para. 2 of the RFAF).Accreditation to operate with minors is valid for 3 years and must be renewed by repeating the course. Also, contact with a minor can only occur at earliest 6 months before the minor can sign their first professional contract, and requires express written consent from the legal guardian

.

The Market: How Much Agents Earn

Data from FIFA's Football Agents Report 2025USD 1.37 billion
in total agent commissions on male international transfers — historic record (+90% vs 2024)3,010
international transfers involved at least one agent1,559
agents received commissions for services rendered
Women's football is also growing: agent commissions in female transfers increase every year16,117
applications for the 2025 exam — the highest number everPass rate in 2025:

18%

The numbers are clear: there is a lot of money at stake, but competition is fierce and the entry barrier is high. Only the most prepared and professional survive.

Exemptions: Who Does Not Need to Take the Exam

There are two groups that can obtain the license without taking the exam:Agents with prior licenses (pre-2015):

Individuals who held licenses under previous FIFA Player Agents Regulations (1991, 1995, 2001, or 2008) could apply for the new license without exam, provided they did so before September 30, 2023, and demonstrated registration as intermediaries between 2015 and 2023. This window is now closed.Agents with recognized national licenses (art. 24):

In countries with FIFA-recognized national sports agent licensing systems, agents licensed under that legislation can apply for equivalency without taking the exam. They must meet RFAF eligibility requirements and pay the annual fee.

Differences Between FIFA Agent, Intermediary, and Unlicensed Representative

This guide is based on the FIFA Football Agents Regulations (December 2024 edition), RFAF FAQs (March 2023), official information from inside.fifa.com/transfer-system/agents, the Football Agents Report 2025, and FIFA circulars on the 2026 exam. Exam dates and data correspond to the 2026 FIFA call. This guidance is informative and does not replace advice from a specialized lawyer.If you are building your career in professional football, create your free profile on Futbol CV','.

How to Become a FIFA Football Agent in 2026: The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide