in Government, India, Travel

Emigration clearance not required (ECNR)

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.

Emigration check not required (ECNR)

Emigration clearance required (ECR)

Eligibility for ECNR status:

The following applicants are eligible for Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) status:

  1. Gazetted Government servants, their spouses and dependent children
  2. Holders of Diplomatic/official Passports
  3. Persons having educational qualifications of matriculation and above
  4. Persons above the age of 50 years
  5. 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)
  6. Income-Tax payers (including Agricultural Income-Tax payees) in their individual capacity, their spouses and dependent children below the age 18 years.
  7. 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
  8. Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act. 1947
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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:

  1. Protector of Emigrant office New Delhi
    Jaisalmar House, Canteen Block, Man Singh Road,
    New Delhi
    Tel No. 011-2338 2472
  2. Protector of Emigrant office Mumbai
    Building “E” Khira Nagar, S.V. Road, Santacruz (West),
    Mumbai-400 054
    Tel No. 022-2614 7393
  3. 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
  4. Protector of Emigrant office Chennai
    Tamil Nadu Housing Board Complex, Ashok Nagar,
    Chennai-600 083
    Tel No. 044-2489 1337
  5. Protector of Emigrant office Hyderabad
    8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground,
    M.J. Road, Hyderabad.
  6. Protector of Emigrant office Trivandrum
    Suganth, 24/846 (I), Thycaud,
    Trivandrum-695 014
    Tel No. 0471-2324835
  7. Protector of Emigrant office Chandigarh
    Kendriya Sadan, 5th Block, Ground Floor,
    Sector-9-A, Chandigarh
    Tel No. 0172-2741790
  8. Protector of Emigrant office Cochin
    3RD Floor Putherickal Building, Market Road, Ernakulam.
    Kerala – 682035
    Tel. No. 0484-2360187
  9. 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:

  1. Passport (valid at least for six months)
  2. Valid Employment Visa
  3. Contract Duly Signed by Foreign Employer
  4. Valid Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Policy 2006
  5. Affidavit from Candidate Declaring Genuineness of Documents
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4,643 Comments

  1. Your article says PAN card is sufficient for ECNR. But the passport helpline tells me otherwise. My class 10 certificate is with college authorities. Please advise.

    • @Sharmila
      Article was not updated with latest rules. It has been updated now.
      If you file income tax returns, you can get ECNR status.
      Following documents would be required in that case:
      Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year
      OR
      Income Tax return statement (with income tax being paid by the applicant) for last one year that is stamped by income tax authorities and a copy of the PAN card
      Note: i) Proof of payment of advance tax is not sufficient. You need to submit additional documents as specified above.
      ii) Applicants submitting NILL income tax return statement are not eligible.

  2. my passport is isuued after 2008 and i dont have ecnr stamp on my passport 2nd page. do i require to get the stamp on it. if so, how to get it and what is the application to be filled up by me pls let me know

  3. Hi My passport issued in 2006 january and it had a stamp ecnr required..I got a stamp from emmigration office on my employement visa (seprate page attested on passport with company sponsor name stamped by jaipurimmigration embassy) and I was allowed to enter UAE.Now the problem is I am getting offer from other company and my Visa is going to get changed with new company sponsor..Will it create me a problem What should I do in such case pls share your experience if any..

    • @Amir
      There is no issue before you come back to India. Once you are leaving India for a different employment, you may be stopped and asked for emigration clearance again from PoE office or ECNR status.

      • Hi Pankaj,

        Appreciate your prompt reply .But what I feel there are going to do internal transfer of visa..It means my new employer will internally transfer the visa with settlement of my current employer.In that case what problems I can face..

        • @Amir
          Visa processing inside UAE has nothing to do with ECNR requirements, Its an Indian emigration policy.
          So if employer changes, Indian emigration officer may nullify existing emigration check done for different employer.

          • Hi Pankaj,

            Thank you so very much.This means “If I am within UAE and visa gets internally transfer with other employer without any urge to visit INDIA so I should not have any problem as this policy is only lies with Indian emmigration policy.
            Second statement of your “So if employer changes Indian emigration office nullify my current check done for new employer”
            From this statement I understand if My visa gets internally transfer and the next time when I fly to Inida and while returning back forth to Dubai I should not face any check on my new Visa…(emigration clearance again from PoE office or ECNR status will not be required on my new visa.

            I belive my understanding is correct. Pls acknowledged and correct if wrong.

            • @Amir
              First statement is correct.
              Regarding second statement, logically your emigration check is void if employer is changed, as earlier check was done with keeping previous employer in mind. So you would need to get emigration clearance again by submitting new employer contract/offer lette copy.

              • Hi Pankaj,

                This mean atleast as of now when my new employer ask for my visa stamping.I should not face any problem of ECNR -Even while returning back to India from UAE airport I should nt face any problem .This ECNR will come into check when I will be returning back to UAE in my next visit.

                Any alternate solution for this if i can do something from UAE itself for my next return.As I do not want to waste time applying for emm igration check not required on my new visa from India.

                Appreciate your patience. Please assume my questions as a lay person as it is my first visit with ECNR problem.

                • @Amir
                  Your statements are correct and you would not face any issue while in UAE or while returning to India.
                  You can get permanent ECNR (or non-ECR) status by getting passport reissued with any of the eligibility proofs (www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html). This can be done from UAE itself, I think.

  4. Hi Pankaj,
    GoodAfternoon..Iam staying in Malaysia. Am planning to bring my parents to Malaysia on Visiting visa (for 1 month). On my parents passport – ‘Emigration Check Required’ is stamped on the last page (just above the address). My parents have applied passport in Nov-2013.
    Will this ECR stamp cause any issues to my parents when they are travelling to Malaysia (on visit visa)? Please clarify.
    My parents age is less than 50 years.

  5. Helloo
    sir
    Soon i will get my work visa.and my company ask me about emigration clearance so what i have 2 do kindly reply sir

    thank you

    • @Amey
      In case your passport is with ECR status and you are going for employment into one of the listed countries, you need to get ECNR status or emigration check from PoE office.

  6. iam in the merchant navy i have continuos discharge certificate but i have ecr in my passport so while joining ship will it be a problem for me as a seafarer??

  7. Hi, Good Day, 1. My mother has ECR stamp on her passport and now she is more than 50 yrs. Do i need to get ECR clearance before leaving to UAE on Visit Visa?
    2. My brother also has ECR stamp on his passport, Does he needs to get ECR clearance before leaving to UAE on Visit Visa?

  8. I took the passport in 2008, that Time I didn’t submit my 10th class certificate . Cause in my school certificate the date of birth is entered wrongly for 3 month difference , that’s y I didn’t submit the school certificate for passport . Instead of school certificate I submitted my birth certificate . So I got passport with ECR stamp and the same date of birth which entered in the birth certificate . Now I completed master degree in engineering and I got a job offer in Europe . So I want to remove ECR status . Can I get the date of birth in the school certificate on the passport . And if there is any problem when the date of birth in the passport and school certificate is different .

    • @Amaldas
      First, you don’t need ECNR status while leaving India for job in Europe
      Second, you can get ECNR status on basis of your engineering degree too instead of 10th class certificate.

          • Dear Pankaj, My problem is the same, my 10th marksheet bears a different name( dad’s name too ), and my engineering degree does not have DOB printed. Can I get ECNR based on the engineering degree without the DOB printed on it?

              • Thanks Pankaj, my engineering degree was obtained from a deemed university ( narsee Monjee – Mumbai ), hopefully that should not create problem., I also have 1 year tax return filed in the same name with pan card number printed on it and, ppl say they require 3 years of tax returns whereas on passport website it is written 1 year. my previous passport has ECR , can I get it cancelled bu submitting my engineering degree and 1 year tax return with pan card copy? Really grateful for your help .

                • @Pulkit
                  There won’t be any issue because of deemed university.
                  Engg degree or income tax return can used for getting ECNR. Both are not needed.

                  If you are submitting income tax return, only following documents would be accepted.
                  i) Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year
                  OR
                  ii) Income Tax return statement (with income tax being paid by the applicant) for last one year that is stamped by income tax authorities and a copy of the PAN card
                  Note: i) Proof of payment of advance tax is not sufficient. You need to submit additional documents as specified above
                  ii) Applicants submitting NILL income tax return statement are not eligible.

  9. Hi Pankaj,
    i would like to know whether we need ECNR clearance each time when we come for vacation, I mean if I have employment visa stamp in my passport and when I go for vacation after 1 year again when I exit my country does ECNR clearance is required or not,my passport has ECR stamp on it and I went to abroad on visit visa later i changed to employment visa so I was not asked 1st time when I exit from my country now I finished 1 year i want to go for vacation I am doubt whether in immigration counter they may ask for ECNR clearance please suggest wat has to be done.

    • @Samuel
      If you get ECNR status on passport, it would be one time effort and you won’t be asked for same everytime you leave India.
      But if you have ECR status and leaving India for employment to any of the listed countries, you may be stopped at airport and asked to get ECNR or emigration clearance from PoE office.
      Emigration clearance from PoE would be valid for one job and country only. If you change job or visit any other country, it would not be acceptable.

  10. Hi Pankaj,
    I don’t have ECNR clearance as I told you earlier I leave my country on visit visa where we don’t need ECNR clearance but after going to abroad I was offered a job and changed my visit visa to employment visa, so I was not return to my country again.Now i want to go to my country for my vacation, in this case shall a immigration officer can ask me while I am returning back to abroad where as I have employment visa stamp in my PP..

    • @Samuel
      When you go back from India, you would be stopped because of ECR status and employment visa.
      To avoid this, either get passport reissued in India with ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE office before leaving India.

      • Hi Pankaj
        I have employment visa stamp in my PP for 2yrs but ECNR status is not available in my PP so employment visa is not enough for me to exit form my country as my residence status is changed will it be sufficient for me to exit or not please advice

      • Hi Pankaj,

        Hope this maili finds you well, usually how long does it take to get POE clearance on existing passport, I got employment visa from UAE however to to ECR status i was stopped at the airport and was asked to get POE clearance.

        Please advise

  11. I went to Singapore on visit then to Malaysia & got work permit as house maid / helper.
    After 2 year work I came to India on holiday & have to go back with same employer with valid work permit stamped till Jan 2012.
    My passport has ECR. I am not educated & not sure what to do. any one can help in this care.
    below is C/O email

      • Crrection

        I went to Singapore on visit visa then to Malaysia & got work permit as house maid / helper with NRI family in Jan, 2012.
        After 2 year work I came to India on holiday in Jan,2014 & have to go back with same employer with valid work permit stamped till Jan 2015.
        My passport has ECR. I am not educated & not sure what to do.
        Now I am 24 years old, Appreciate your reply.
        below is C/O email

  12. Dear Pankage,
    This morning she went to POE office & refused to give NOC.
    She is not educated how to talk to the officer.
    What to do?
    Regards
    Mehta

  13. Dear Batraji,
    She went to Chandigarh POE office with agent & refused to give NOC without any reason.
    Some one mentioned there she can go to singapore & from there to Malaysia.
    She need some one who really get the NOC. Her family is hand to mouth, still they will pay the reasonable charges.
    Best regards
    Employer

    • @Sukhwinder
      I won’t be able to help her getting emigration clearance.
      I can’t suggest whether going through Singapore would be right option as I don’t have any experience/knowledge on same.

      • Dear nanda,
        Thanks for the information. You are right we have to follow the indian high commission.
        Employment pass is issued by malaysian govt. with contract and bond with insurance. Why we should follow indian rules for employment in malaysia
        IHC fixed the wages how they know employee is good in work.
        Contract is always between employee and employer.
        Any way she will loose job one more unemployment in india.
        My great country.
        Regards

  14. Dear Mr. Pankaj

    First of all hearty congrats for your great help for people like us, who is finding it very difficult to dealt with govt. depts regarding the passport related stuff. they dont provide proper information at all.

    my question here is, my brother got UAE employment opportunity, however he is 12th Pass. Will he required to have ECNR stamp to his passport? his current passport doesn’t have any information related to ECR/ECNR

    what documents may be required to do so? and number of days it can take.

    I have inquired through passport office and they say, it need to cancel existing passport and issue new passport, they are not doing any endorsement to it.

    its confusion that does it really required to cancel passport for ECNR stamp? or they are just fooling him. we are resident of Gujarat and for us passport office (Passport Seva Kendra) is at Nizampura Vadodara (Baroda)

    please help me in getting ECNR done.

    regards
    Saifuddin

    • @Saifuddin
      First, as his passport does not have ECR stamp, passport is already with ECNR status by default and nothing needs to be done now.
      There is no ECNR stamp being put on any passport now. If a person is not eligible (your brother is eligible as he was done matriculation) then only a stamp is put that of ECR.

  15. I am Amit Dalwala currently working in Doha with Qatar-Residence Permit.

    I have sponsored my wife and daughter with ‘family-yearly visit’ visa to live with me in Doha, Qatar. After arriving them here, they will go through the Qatar Govt regular process for issuing their residence permit.

    My wife holding passport with ECR stamp.

    My query is,

    Does she require to undergo any procedural requirement because of having ECR stamp before traveling from Mumbai to Doha?? She is not traveling with work/employment visa. Her visa clearly states Housewife.

    Would appreciate your kind reply on my above query.

  16. Hi, Good Day, My wife has ECR stamp on her passport. Do i need to get ECR clearance before leaving to UAE on Visit Visa/Turist Visa?

    THANKS

  17. Dear sir,

    I got my passport in 2010, i have to ask u one thing that in the second page of my passport there is nothing stamped on it.
    what does it mean?

    I have check many of my frnd passport, in some of passport there is status returned on it about ECR nd ECNR and in some of only single stamp is there of external ministry .
    But in my passport nothing is there it is totaly blank.
    Everything is ok na or i have to do some thing.
    Thanks,
    Bharat pant

    Many of

  18. Hi Pankaj,

    I have an ECR required stamp. I also have a valid uae employment visa which was issued while I was in th Uae on a visit. Now I am travelling to india for vacation. do I still have to get ECNR stamp even if i have a valid employment visa.

    Also my passport was issued in May 2013 and I turned 50 in June 2013…Can I travel back to UAe or do I need to get the ECR stamp deleted..Please advice urgently

  19. Hi Pankaj,

    my family travelling to dubai tourism purpose for one month tourist visa, my wife passport is ECR stamped, shi is 50 year old will she have any problems? also my son is 14 year old they don,t have any stamp her passport. Please clear the dillema.

  20. Dear sir
    My Passport is stamped with ECR.i got a job in UAE..is ECNR is required for me and i how can i get it and how many days taken it for stamping ECNR..
    Reply me sir