Emigration check not required (ECNR) stamp is not required, if one is not travelling for employment purposes.
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Emigration Policy Division) have allowed ECR passport holders travelling abroad for purposes others than employment to leave the country on production of valid passport, valid visa and return ticket at the immigration counters at international airports in India w.e.f. 1st October 2007.
ECNR is only required if you are travelling to any of the below 17 countries for employment:
United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand and Iraq.
For all passports issued before January 2007, a blank second page in the passport means your passport is endorsed with ECR and you need to get emigration clearance if you are travelling to any of the above 18 countries for employment.
For all passports issued after January 2007, a “Blank” page 2 on your passport is deemed to have been ECNR endorsed. If you don’t fit into ECNR eligibility criteria, and Emigration Check is Required, there will be an endorsement in the passport regarding ECR.
Eligibility for ECNR status:
The following applicants are eligible for Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) status:
- Gazetted Government servants, their spouses and dependent children
- Holders of Diplomatic/official Passports
- Persons having educational qualifications of matriculation and above
- Persons above the age of 50 years
- Children up to the age of 18 years. (For re-issue of passport, after they attain the age of 18 years, documents to proof their non-ECR category has to be submitted, else ECR stamping will be done)
- Income-Tax payers (including Agricultural Income-Tax payees) in their individual capacity, their spouses and dependent children below the age 18 years.
- Persons possessing two years diploma from any institute recognized by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT), or persons holding three years diploma/equivalent degree from institutions, such as Polytechnics recognized by the Central/State Governments of India
- Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act. 1947
- All professional Degree holders , their spouses and dependent children. Examples of professional degree holders are Doctors holding MBBS degree or equivalent degree in AYURVED or HOMEOPATHY, accredited Journalists, Engineers, Chartered Accountants, Cost Accountants, Lecturers, Teachers, Scientists, Advocates, etc
- All persons who have been staying abroad for more than three years (the period of three years could be either in one stretch or broken) and their spouses
- Seamen who are in possession of Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), or Sea Cadets and Deck Cadets
a. who have passed the final examination of three years B.Sc. Nautical Sciences courses at T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai and b. who have undergone three months pre-sea training at any of the Government approved training institutes, such as T.S. Chanakya, T.S. Rehman, T.S. Jawahar, MTI (SCI) and NIPM, CHENNAI, after production of identity cards issued by the Shipping Master at Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai - Persons holding Permanent Immigration Visa, such as the visas of UK, USA and Australia.
How to apply for ECNR stamping
If and only if you are travelling to any of the below countries for employment, you need to get ECNR stamp, if you does not have already:
United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand and Iraq.
You have either to get the entire ECR stamp deleted, or if your are not eligible (categories listed above), you may get a temporary Emigration Suspension before leaving India. If the applicant does not have Non-ECR status then All such ECR passport holders need to obtain Emigration Clearance Certificate from the Protector-General of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas India Affairs.
Documents required for ECNR (non-ECR) status:
All eligibility documents list can be seen here: Non-ECR documents list
Protector of Emigrants (PoE) offices for Emigration clearance:
The POE offices in India are situated at the following places:
- Protector of Emigrant office New Delhi
Jaisalmar House, Canteen Block, Man Singh Road,
New Delhi
Tel No. 011-2338 2472 - Protector of Emigrant office Mumbai
Building “E” Khira Nagar, S.V. Road, Santacruz (West),
Mumbai-400 054
Tel No. 022-2614 7393 - Protector of Emigrant office Kolkata
Room No. 116 A Wing, 3rd MSO Building, DF Block,
Salt Lake, Kolkata-700 064
Tel No. 033-2334 3407 - Protector of Emigrant office Chennai
Tamil Nadu Housing Board Complex, Ashok Nagar,
Chennai-600 083
Tel No. 044-2489 1337 - Protector of Emigrant office Hyderabad
8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground,
M.J. Road, Hyderabad. - Protector of Emigrant office Trivandrum
Suganth, 24/846 (I), Thycaud,
Trivandrum-695 014
Tel No. 0471-2324835 - Protector of Emigrant office Chandigarh
Kendriya Sadan, 5th Block, Ground Floor,
Sector-9-A, Chandigarh
Tel No. 0172-2741790 - Protector of Emigrant office Cochin
3RD Floor Putherickal Building, Market Road, Ernakulam.
Kerala – 682035
Tel. No. 0484-2360187 - Protector of Emigrant office Jaipur
Hall No.3, RIICO CFC Building, Sitapura Industrial Area, Sitapura,
Jaipur-302022
Documents required for emigration clearance at PoE office:
- Passport (valid at least for six months)
- Valid Employment Visa
- Contract Duly Signed by Foreign Employer
- Valid Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Policy 2006
- Affidavit from Candidate Declaring Genuineness of Documents
Could you please tell me.
I came to UAE on visit visa. I have ECR on my passport. I got job in Dubai.
I am now having UAE residence visa – I am babysitter and my sponsor is a UAE arab local.
I am coming to India for vacation.
Can I come to India and come back to UAE for my work without any problem If my ECR is still on my passport.
I have valid employment visa in UAE but ECR on Passport. Can I travel to India for vacation…?
Please advice.
Pari
Dear sir
I had ecnr passport . I’m going to kuwiat for job purpose.any educational certificates required in immigration counter while going to kuwiat.please reply me
Dear sir
Mere passport pr ECR ka stamp hai ECNR kaise krna hoga passport me 2020 tak valid 4 year tak saudi me hu kaise hoga
E.C.N.R pasport ke liye kitna saal ka gulf exparince chahiye
Dear sir,
I got Qatar visa but my passport having ECR now I have to go for renewal for ECNR but passport number will be change the visa will remain valid can I travel plz reply as soon
Hello , I have got a visa form Bahrin,but my passport have ecr .and I have not ssc pass. Pls give me a solution.
Hi,
If I got direct moh for Kuwait without any agency,can you provide emigration clearence.
I hv to convert ECR TO ECNR through abroad visa can I
Sir as I have completely my ssc in 1989 there is a change in my name so I went to school they refuse me it won’t be happen any change in certificate can I convert my ECR passport to ECNR by visa details which I vistied can sir plz plz help me sir how can convert it waiting for ur rply sir
Dear sir
Iam looking for my borther passport ECR clearance
now he has a offer from dubai but his passort is ECR, how he can travel to UAE
and if the ECNR is required then what will be the procedure
hopping your kind answer. thanks
Reply
sir i already stay abroad for more than three years. so am i eligible for ecnr but i have no 10 certificate
I am going to China, i got visa also and on my passport, ECR is written.. So there is any issue regarding ECR..
Hi Pankaj
We are a family group of 13 & traveling Dubai for tourism purpose and having valid VISA, return air tickets & hotel confirmation. 2 of our members have ECR written on their passports on last page. please let us know if tourism purpose required to do some action or immigration will let us travel ???
Please help immidiately
my passport is ECR and got a visa for job in Dubai.
but at time Emmigration in Bombay airport they rejected me. and saying breing new ECNR Passport or POE letter.i told my sponsor to clear my emrigation from uae Aambessy they will send me documnet afther i receive document how many day require to clear
pls sugges me what to do in this case…
and what will heppen….
hi sir mera passport Riyadh indian emabassy 5may 2008 main banaya tha kya mera passport ecr ya ecnr h plz reply
in my passport don’t have mentioned ECNR then how can i get ECNR stamp in Oman it is possible or not ?
Dear Sir,
I want know about ENCR eligibility
If I have matriculation certificate use in passport documents or information than I need to get EMIGRATION CLEARANCE NOT REQUIRED.
dear sir iam muneer if i get ecnr status on pasprt.mor then three years continuing staying there
Iam 10th fail how can ECNR stmp 10th fail Ok or no Plz reply
We are employing an Indian maid for Oman and her passport is ECNR do we still need to get ECNR stamp