Football agents will have to apply for licences from their national football associations and will have to sign a code of conduct under new rules launched by Fifa, football's world ruling body, on Thursday.

The new regulations aim to make the relationship between players, clubs and agents more transparent and impose stricter rules on agents and their clients.

"New Fifa players' agents regulations...should allow better supervision of the activities of players' agents and their respective clients," Fifa said.

Would-be agents will have to pass a written examination held twice a year by national associations instead of the current personal interviews by Fifa members.

Candidates will no longer have to stump up the 200,000 Swiss franc (US $120,800) deposit but will have to take out insurance to cover any compensation claims from players, clubs or other agents.