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. sir,I have bahrain visit visa and my passport have ECR stamp.I am seaman I have panama CDC also and tomorrow is my flight.sir can I get ECNR clearance stamp from airport?

  2. sir my passport is ECR i have multyple visa and single entry visa at malasiya my sister maried malasiyan all ready been at malasiya (multyple visa) stay at 25 days. again i want to be go malasiya two month. i have try to go malasiya at today in trichy airport. but they are stop to me , they said you want sumite POE how can i get poe what documents want to be sumit??
    iam going to social visite to relacation. but they asking POE pls share to me drtails

    • @Kannan
      Emigration check would only be needed in case one is going for employment. In your case you don’t have employment visa so it should not be needed. PoE won’t also give you clearance as they need employment contract for the country to which you are travelling.

  3. Hi sir,
    I got employment visa for Dubai,my pp is in ecr stamp,can I get emigration clearence stamp in CHENNAI,tamilnadu,I tried but everyone saying Dubai emigration was stopped temproraly,is it true.what are the documents need to get that and how long will take.

  4. Sir I have work visa for qatar and my passport is ecr but i have completed my puc 10 2.can i apply new passport with ecnr stamp by submitting the old one .
    Is visa valid to new passport?

    • @John
      1. Yes, you should apply for reissue of passport for ECNR status. You would need to submit copy of copy of matriculation certificate.
      2. Visa on old passport would remain valid, you would need to carry both passports.

      • Thanks sir
        in my ecr passport the father surname is same (for example upendar kumar rae) as visa but if i make a new passport and father’s surname is missingp(example upendar kumar) then it give problem for me.sir please review.

  5. dear sir, I have a work visa for abudhabi, but my passport is Ecr, and one thing I have 10th memo but my date of birth is different in passport and memo so what to do sir please give me an advice..

    • @Sreekanth
      If date of birth is different, it may not be accepted as proof.
      Either you can get date of birth changed in passport too or you would need to provide different proof for ECNR.

  6. Sir,
    In my passport my name is rashad abdul azeez..but in my sslc book my name is rashad abdul azeez p.if i apply for a new passport with this sslc book,will it be a problem?i already have visa with old passport.

    • @Rashad
      Yes, if 10th copy has different name than whats there in existing passport, it can’t be used for ECNR status.
      You can either get name also changed in passport as per SSLC, or use a different proof for ECNR.

  7. Sir

    I was offloaded by emigration on Nagpur Sharjah flight due to ECR status on my Passport on employment visa. Now, I am going for POE.
    1. Is POE valid for one time journey or some duartion?
    2. If i visit India on POE stamp and returning to Sharjah, will I need to get POE.once again?
    3. Is there any provision to get my Passport ECNR stamped in Dubai/Sharjah after providing all the eligibility documents?

    I am an Engineer.

    Thanks

    2.If after sometime I visit India

    • @Ajay
      1. It should be for some time duration, but for same country and employer.
      2. Depends on after how many days you come back.
      3. You can get passport reissued in Dubai/Sharjah for ECNR status.

  8. Sir,
    If i apply for new passport acvording to sslc book,is there any need to change the visa?or can i use the old passport in which visa is taken?

  9. Sir my passport is ECR status but I am a graduate.Now I am ready
    to go to Saudi Arabia but i want to get the ECNR status on my passpassport. How it will be possible.

  10. Hi Sir
    I am Fateh Singh have got employment visa for Dubai and had to fly on 19th august but i stuck in boarding as my renewed passport(3 months ago) has ECR stamp.Though i attached my older passport (which had got ECNR done) with the new one but they did not let me board.I have got Visa,E-ticket & contract paper from company.I lost my matric certificate so is there any way to get ECNR done on urgent bases in Chandigarh

    • @Fateh Singh
      If you can submit any other eligibility proof for ECNR, you can passport reissued with ECNR under Tatkal application.
      If you don’t have enough time, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office.

  11. Hi Pankaj
    I checked with passport office in chandigarh but they says it will take long.I am in Emigrant office in sector-9.people says you have to get your original visa,employment/contract aggrement attested from Indian Embassy from sponsered country.only then ECNR will be done

    • @Fateh
      Yes, seems like all PoE are now asking for agreement attested from Indian embassy in foreign country. This requirement was not there earlier.
      So now, either you can ask your employer to send attested copy of contract to get emigration clearance, Or you need to get passport reissued. There is no other option available now.

  12. Hi Pankaj
    Emigrant ppl said 1 more thing that either you could have mentioned or attached an attested copy of visiting/stayed in abroad for more than 3 years.This option is liable for all those who are not having 10th certificate with them but had been worked in abroad.
    As far as re-issuing the passport again is not suitable option for those who have to go on urgent bases because if ppl have got visa & company aggrement with them has to be revised too as passport number vill be changed at the time of re-issuing.I have contacted my employer & they send attested concerned embassy documents by courier/post which expects to reach on ASAP bases.
    I just say Thanks to Pankaj for his online support.Otherwise Travel Agent does guide properly.

  13. Sir i have to go dubai.. I have emplyment visa but iny passport i have ecr stamp. And i need urgent emigrant clear .. How???? Help me i have only one day left to go

  14. Hi Pankaj,
    I want to permanently cancel ECR stamp from my passport what is the procedure to do this &BLS international can help to cancel the ECR if i will show all documents .

    Regards
    Sushil

      • Means every time when i will leave india i have to go to POE office to temp cancel ECR
        because i have employement visa is for Maleshiya & i have to go to india for a week.
        because to renew the passport in UP it takes long time and tatkal is also not eaisly possible.
        Pls suggest

        Regards
        Sushil

          • ok
            If I have to move to other country like austrailiya or Singapore then same process will be required .
            I can renew my paasport after coming to maleshiya to send all the document and visa will not be lost at the time of renewal.

            • @Sushil
              Yes, emigration clearance for different country would need to be taken again.
              But if you want to travel to Aus or Singapore, it won’t be required as ECNR is not needed for these countries.

              • I am not asking for travling to AUS or singapore will go for Employement .
                emigration is for when i will come to india and again back to these country is required.
                Or can i apply for new paasport from maleshiya with all document TO cancel the ECR.

                Regards
                sushil

  15. Dear pankaj
    I have ECR in my passport. I get my saudi employement visa. i have eligible to ECNR becoz i have 10+2 edu. Certi. I check many site for deletion of ECR then the can be done by passport office to submit edu.certi. Rs.300 fees and one Id proof for ECNR stamp. Sir my ques. Is its true. can i get ECNR from passport office.

  16. Hi – My aunt is flying to Dubai on a long term visa – 3 months.Her passport says Emmigration check required.
    Does she require to do any emmigration clearance to done before she travels from India since this visa is not for employment.
    Immediate reply will be much appreciated.Thanks,

  17. Dear Mr.Batra

    I had ECR status on old passport due to which I was offloaded from the Sharjah bound aircraft. To get ECNR status I have already applied for New Passport under Tatkaal scheme. But, my employment visa has OLD passport number.
    1. Is NEW passport number necessary on my employment visa?
    2. If yes, is it possible for my employer to get the Passport number changed to NEW passport number on VISA?
    3. If VISA amendment is not possible then employer will again apply for new visa for two years, how much time would that take and how much will is cost?

    I am employed as Project Engineer in Construction field.

    Thanks
    Ajay

  18. Dear sir i have uae employment visa essued on septembet 16th and my employer gave traveling date september 29th not counform but i like to change my traveling date to 2 nd weak of october is it possibul

  19. Sir
    I stay in hyderabad. I have applied for reissue of my passport but as there is a change in address I need to provide them an address proof. I produced my aadhar card as they have stated on their website that aadhar card is applicable. But after visiting PSK the officials refused to accept aadhar card saying that it’s not a valid address proof according to their rules. They are saying me to produce a voter id issued minimum a year ago or a one year bank statement of which I have none. My voter id card was issued recently and they are refusing to accept that. I can’t even produce my current house’s electricity bill as the house is in my mother’s name and according to PSK authorities the bill should contain my name if I am producing it as an address proof. My ration card contains my old address so I can’t even use that as an address proof. So I need your help sir please advise me what should I do now?

    The documents in which I have my present address are :
    1. Registration certificates of my both vehicles in my name.( issued 3 years ago)
    2. Aadhar card ( issued 3 years ago)
    3. Voter ID (issued recently)
    4. Passbook and statement of the bank account (2 years old but there are no transactions)