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 clearance required (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
Sir I got a work visa from dubai my passport is ECR I am changing ECNR but I got new passport my visa is old passport no I cont understand please give replymy old passport still valid 2019
@Phani
Visa on old passport would remain valid. You need to carry both passports.
Sir, I work in dubai in a reputed hotel and I have my visa valid till 2016. I was allowed last time instead of having a ECR stamp after showing my qualification certificate.
Wl I be requiring a ecnr stamp anymore. Please reply urgent.
@Rimi
Once you again leaving India, ECNR status would be checked.
Emigration officer may or may not allow on basis of qualification certificate.
Last time I was allowed on the basis of my qualification…and I am carrying the same..do u still think I might not be allowed to travel..
@Rimi
There is no official rule which says that you can carry documents while traveling and show them for ECNR.
So it all depends on officer’s mood at that time.
Dear Sir,
I have a ECR stamp in my passport and i have a work visa on which I need to travel to dubai. I read through your article and realize that I need to get an ECNR stamp. Could you kindly help me with the mumbai address of the ECNR office. When i reached out to the office mentioned in your article they mentioned that they only do POE and not ECNR. Please consider this request urgent. I really appreciate your assistance in this matter. Thanks and Regards
@Sarath
In case you want ECNR status, you would need to apply for reissue of passport. For that you would need to go local passport office.
If you don’t have time for passport reissue, you would need to get emigration clearance from PoE office only.
Dear Pankaj,
Really appreciate your prompt reply. Couple of quick queries:
I am an MBA degree holder, and have this certificate attested by the MOE and the Minstry of Education as well as the UAE Embassy in India.
Since you mentioned that I will need to reissue my passport, what is the quickest procedure to get this done, and what are the necessary documents required? My work visa entry validity is only till November 14 this year.
I checked the POE option, but the POE guys want me to get the visa and the employment contract attested by the Indian Embassy in Dubai. I am going onsite to work with the client and they may not be too amenable to undergo this pain and may rather look for other options. Kindly advice.
Again, thanks for the time taken to respond.
Warm Regards
Sarath
@Sarath
You can apply for passport reissue under tatkal.
It would take 10-15 days in passport reissue.
hii sir i want to know about for visit visa in oman emigration requird becouse in my passport emigration check requird showing
@Atif
If you are not going on employment visa, you won’t need ECNR status.
Hello Mr.Pankaj,
My passport was issued on 9.10.2006.I took it while I was doing my degree.I had submitted my 12’th/10’th pass and other details while I had taken my passport.I have never traveled abroad after that.
Now I have an opportunity from Muscat and I have the visa from the company.There is no mention about ecr/ecnr in my passport.
Do I need to get a new passport with ecnr or is it ok if I just carry my original certificate to show the original while travelling.I am supposed to join on the 27’th.
@George
As your passport does not have ECR stamp/endorsement, you passport is by default with ECNR status. You need not to do anything now w.r.t ECNR/ECR.
Dear pankaj,I had lost my passport in Banglore which was issued in mumbai.now I got my new passport from banglore,but on my new passport it shows emigration required and I need to fly to Saudi asap on employment visa.my company asked to get passport without emigration.I am really tensed I don’t have time.passport office in banglore say that cos my name differs on my SSC mark sheet and on my passport that’s why emigration is required.. Plssssss help meeee.
@Zeba
If you don’t have time now, you should visit PoE office and get emigration clearance.
If you have 15-20 days, you can get passport reissued for ECNR by submitting any of the eligibility proof mentioned on this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
My wife can travel to Bahrain on ecr passport on family visa.
Please let me know any documents to be produce while immigration
@Ajay
She would need valid family visa only in order to travel.
Sir,
I am holding ECR passport and going to Bahrain on family visa, I need to know whether I need to carry return ticket when leaving India along with valid passport and valid visa, mine is online visa.
@Madhavi
You won’t need return tickets if you are going for long term on family visa.
My name is manoj gupta my qualification is 12 pass but my passport is not sowing ecr kya mare ko ecr ki stamp lagwana pareghi pls sir its urgent because my employment visa and air ticket in my hand.jab maine applt kiya tha passport ke liya u am already submit 10 &12 certificate.toh mare passport par ecr ki stamp honi chaiya ya nahi
@Manoj
If your passport does not have ECR stamp, its by default with ECNR status. You don’t need to do anything now for ECNR.
Dear Sir,
My wife passport have ECR stamp and she is an only house wife, i would like to take her into dubai ?
Pls kindly advise me as I would like to sponsor to my wife a resident visa to bring her into dubai as house wife.
I am leaving in dubai past 1 year, so can i do the needful for her.
or does she need emigration check not required certificate from POE.
if yes, kindly advice me the procedure that how to approach.
Kindly requesting you to guide me with good suggestion.
@Mahesh
As she is not traveling on employment visa, she won’t need ECNR status.
She can travel with ECR passport on resident visa without any issue.
Sir thnks for your quick reply..but what documents they need at poe office and how much it takes and is ecr permanently removed?..can u pls help me with the address or any contact number of poe office in banglore
@Zeba
Following documents are required for emigration clearance at PoE office:
* Passport (valid atleast 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
It should take 3-4 working days. ECR is not removed permanently.
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
4. 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
5. Protector of Emigrant office Chennai
Tamil Nadu Housing Board Complex, Ashok Nagar,
Chennai-600 083
Tel No. 044-2489 1337
6. Protector of Emigrant office Hyderabad
8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground,
M.J. Road, Hyderabad.
7. Protector of Emigrant office Trivandrum
Suganth, 24/846 (I), Thycaud,
Trivandrum-695 014
Tel No. 0471-2324835
8. Protector of Emigrant office Chandigarh
Kendriya Sadan, 5th Block, Ground Floor,
Sector-9-A, Chandigarh
Tel No. 0172-2741790
9. Protector of Emigrant office Cochin
3RD Floor Putherickal Building, Market Road, Ernakulam.
Kerala – 682035
Tel. No. 0484-2360187
10. Protector of Emigrant office Jaipur
Hall No.3, RIICO CFC Building, Sitapura Industrial Area, Sitapura,
Jaipur-302022
dear sir I got qatar maid visa and flight ticket i am staying in bangalore . pls advice me how to clear ECNR. PLS REPLY quickly
I Have a visa stamped for saudi arabia. On 01.09.14..As I have ecr passport on which stamping was done.Now how I need to get ecr clearance.any fast track system is available let us know.
@Pavan
If you have 15-20 days and you are eligible for ECNR (http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html), you can get passport reissued under tatkal scheme.
Else you would need to get emigration clearance from PoE office.
As my visa is already been stamped in the ECR passport,after taking new passport will I travel with new passport with out stamping on it.
@Pavan
Visa on old passport would still valid and you need to carry both passports.
@Shoban
If you are eligible for ECNR (check this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html), you can get passport reissued for ECNR status.
Else, you would need to get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Dear Pankaj,
I have ECR passport and i want ECNR passport, I do not have qualificatiom certificate.
I have income tax return file.
Can i apply for ECNR stamp in my passport with income tax return file.
Please advise me.
@Ashwani
You would need
a. Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year OR
b. 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.
Hi Pankaj,
I was unable to travel as I had ECR. I got my passport reissued.
I have a e-visa for employment in dubai. it is an A4 visa not stamped in my old passport. But the paper mentions my old passport no. Will this create any issue while travelling with the new passport. I will carry my old passport. But is there any additional procedure i need to complete before i travel.
@Sarath
There should not be any issue if you travel with both new and old passports.
Dear Sir
I got Qatar MAID Visa and Flight Ticket. I want to make ECNR Suspended. Pls can u advice. Where I have to go and what documents I should submit and how many days this will take. I am staying in Bangalore. or Even Agent who can do for me pls give his address so that I will go and contact and Pay money and get work done
@Shoban
If you are eligible for ECNR status, you can get passport reissued for ECNR status.
Else, you would need to get emigration clearance from passport office.
Hi Pankaj
How is it going. Sorry man just a quick question. I am confused about my ECR or ECNR status
So in the second page of my passport (issued in 2005) i have a tick mark next to ECR and also have a stamp saying “ECNR granted to passport holder till he/she attains 18 years of age and provided he/she is accompanied by parents”
So what is my status now ? I am 24 yr now and i am in New Zealand (working here) and going to apply for passport renewal
Ithink mine is ECR ? Am i right ?
@Gautham
Your passport is currently with ECR status.
While applying for renewal you should select non-ECR category.
You are a legend mate. Keep up this good work hey.
Please let me know other than visa and ecnr(Emigration clearance) on passoort which are required/checks done while travelling to saudi Arabia on employment visa.
@Pavan
Nothing else would be needed.
Hello Pankaj…
Buddy need some info about ECR.
My passport was issued in 2009 and it has ECR stamp on its second page.
My querry is that , I have to travel to Kenya next month for 1 week office work.
So am I eligible for it or will I need to clear my ECR stamp.
Thnx for the help mate…
@Minhaj
For Kenya, ECNR/ECR does not matter so you can travel even with ECR status passport.
Thnx for the help Pankaj
U really doing some very helpful & noble work…
Keep it goinng
I have ECR stamped passport I want ECNR but i have not qualification certificate. So i have given I.T. return one year paid for reissue but then also they have given ECR passport so what do plsss give the reply or idea
@Anish
You would need to submit following for ECNR:
a. Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year OR
b. 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.