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
We have given one year paid return also then also they have reissued the ECR passport and asking for 3 year paid return so what to do ?
@Anish
If possible, please submit any other proof too mentioned on this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Sir today I got my passport in my passport ecnr is not ther like observations it’s ther what the meaning abt that sir I had been passed my sslc an given to the passport office
@Abdul
If there is no ECR stamp, passport is by default with ECNR status.
Dear mr pankaj
I am 20yrs wid a ecr passport.i hav got a job offer in dubai wid all facilities..but how do I get my ecr cleared as I dont have any certificates.
@Niyatee
If you don’t have any eligibility proof for ECNR, only option would be to get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Dear Sir, I have ecr on my stamp and i have POE stamp also, and I have now a residence visa of UAE,do i need to take poe everytime i come and go back from india or residence visa is sufficient…your quick reply would be really appreciated sir…
thanks
@Ram
Yes, PoE stamp or ECNR status would be required while leaving India.
Hey, I just got my passport with ECR, I am an income tax payer but at the time of submission, I was not asked for the returns, I am not going on a job abroad,do I require the ECNR if I visit as a tourist as well?
Please reply
@Pearl
If you are not going for employment, you won’t need ECNR status.
I have ecr passport I want to convert it into ecnr one I have valid certificates with me kindly let me know procedure ….. Thanks
@Rajesh
You need to go to passport office and apply for reissue of passport.
Dear Sir,
As my daughter has to go on a employment visa in November 2014 has she to get non migration stamp on her passport the agent who did her passport says she will have to make a new passport costing 1500/- rs and will get the passport after a month
please help sir
@Anizia
Agent is correct, for ECNR, passport needs to be reissued and application cost is Rs 1500.
You can also get passport in tatkal for fast delivery, but it would cost more.
Hello Pankaj Sir,
I have an employment visa for Dubai and had an ecr stamp on my passport and I could not travel to Dubai. Now I applied for a new passport. Could you please confirm the supporting documents required?
And the same entry permit would work as it is updated with the old passport number or I would be required to change?
Thanks and Regards
@Ram
Please check all eligible documents on this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Same visa would work and you need to carry both old and new passports.
Sir…I msgd yday…if I go to poe office..wot procedure wud it b to get d ecnr stamp if I dont av ne certificates or documents..plz help
@Niyatee
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 have my Ecr passport, my job offer letter and my employment evisa copy..so if i go to the poe office jaipur so how much days or time are want in the process of immigration? And how much fees cost of it?
And ya one more thing..I have my valid passport with 7 years validity, my job offer letter and me employment visa copy but what is the ‘valid pravasi bhartiya bima policy’ ??
Can u explain me please my both of problems.
@Saif
Emigration clearance from PoE should take 3-4 days.
You need to buy Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna from any of the insurance company.
Hello. I appreciate the keen interest ur taking to help people regarding the passport issue..i also come forward with a query. Sir, my birth date on all my documents like marks card, d.l,voters i.d ,pan card is on 22/02/1994 but when i had to renew my passport,i realised that its 20/02/1994 in passport.the officials did not accept my marks card.and i also did not have my B.C. the officials stamped my passport with ECR. I enquired at the hospital where i was born and i came up with my D.O.B to be on 20/02/1994,same as the passport. What do i do now?hoping to get a suggestive feedback. Thank you.
@Mohammed
You can use any other eligibility proof for ECNR status, like income tax return.
If that also does not work, you would have no option but to get emigration clearance from PoE office.
But I would advise you to get birthday changed in passport itself as getting it changed in other records (PAN, marksheet, voter ID) would be more complex. You can apply for reissue of passport for ECNR and date of birth correction together.
As most of the documents has 22/02 date, you can use that only for official purposes.
And how much fees required of this immigration process..? if i submitt the all documents.
@Saif
We are not sure about fees. But it should not be more than 1000 Rs.
Dear sir I issued passport in April 2014 in my passport not mentioned ecr or ecnr but I am going to dubai in January 2015
Ecnr required or not?
@Praveen
If there is no ECR stamp, your passport is by default with ECNR status.
You don’t need any further processing now.
Dear sir,
2010 I applied new passport on tarsal basis. When that time I didn’t attached my mark list I attached only college transfer certificate only the passport office issued the Ecr passport. What can I do for Ecnr passport. Why they are issued for that one. Please your answer
@Pragathee
If you need ECNR passport, you would need to apply for reissue of passport now after submitting an eligibility proof. 10th class certificate is one such proof. For full list, check this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
whether police verification is must for this reissue of passport??? and for name change?
@Sethuraman
If passport has been issued recently (in last 1-2 years) and address remain same on new application, then police verification may not be done.
Hello
I need to know the person who is going to dubai on 5 nov..
If the person is ready to carry some luggage of mine which i have sent to my brother in dubai.
I request if any person is ready
Plz let me know coz its very urgent
Hope i will get positive rply by the tomorrow wid the contact details and person should be from jaipur..
Thanks
Pinky
Dear sir,
now I have only my 12th Mark list can I get Ecnr. Already my sslc mark list missed that is year of 1986.
@Pragathi
You cannot get ECNR on basis of 12th class marksheet.
Either you need class 10 or a professional degree.
Dear sir i have a probelm that in my passport ecr is there in my passport and i have a 10th marksheet and i have a valid uae visa copy also so what is the process sir plz help and i have a pan card also sir plz rply me asap.
@Abbas
Please get your passport reissued for ECNR status by submitting 10th class certificate.
Thank u mr pankaj…really appreciate ur prompt reply. ..
Hello sir,
I have offer letter, employment visa copy, pravasi bhartiya bima policy and geniune documents affidavit. But i dont have the agreement letter signed by foreign employr because the company & agent is dont provide me that..
Because all candidates have ecnr passport..my passport is only ecr..
So what can i do sir my visa is ready? Can i get emigration without this. Pls help me ..gve me some suggestions.
@Aamir
As per current status, attestation by foreign embassy is required for emigration clearance at PoE.
If you are eligible for ECNR, please get passport reissued for ECNR as soon as possible.
i have my passport with ECR, my name is sethuraman, but in my passport mentioned sethu raman, i need to change this or not?.
And suggest me , i apply for this change after my visa or before it? Please reply me.
@Sethuraman
You can get your name corrected in passport by applying for reissue along with ECNR status.
It would be better to get passport changed before visa stamping.