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 got a job in china, and my passport is ECR – Do i need to ECNR clearance of i can travel or have to arrange new passport .

  2. How to check if my passport is ECNR approved or not. I am a graduate, have submitted all my certificate as well. My passport doesn’t have any stamp for ECNR. I got my passport last week.

  3. hello pankaj sir
    Sir mera passport ECR hai or ab muje Dubai ka visa mil gaya hai. Lekin Dubai jane ke liye muje ECNR passport ki jarurat hai jo muje aapse hi pata chala tha. Ab mai kya kar sakta hu. Mai  36 month se jyada videsh mai rah chuka hu par continue nahi.Plz any options suggest kare details mai please.
    Regards
    Dipesh Mehta

    • @Dipesh
      Please get passport reissued for ECNR status after submitting passport copy showing more than 3 years outside India (not necessarily in continuity).
      Visa on old passport would remain valid. You need to carry both old and new passports.

  4. hi,
    pankaj I visited PoE Office thay told me now new rules for emmigation , employer should registerd in Emigrates.gov.in .I want to know about that please explain.

  5. Dear sir,
    I applied one passport year 1999. In my passport did mistake my agent sivram instead of SIvaram. This passport will expire 2009. Inbetween again I applied with out indimation previous passport I got new passport with correct name. Now I travelling this passport. Now I applied to insert address correction and spouse name. They found I have two passport. They asked to meet RPO . what they will funish and how much they will put penalty. And they will issue passport or not.

    • @Sivaram
      First, you should have got name corrected in earlier passport rather than getting new passport.
      Now, you should meet RPO and explain your case. I am sure he would understand the situation and allow you to get new passport.

  6. Hi..Am eligible for ECNR (Diploma holder, stayed in abroad eight years & last three years having income tax returns) even in my earlier passport also having ECNR..while i went for renewal 4 years back i got ECR stamp. How to clear it?

    Regards
    Lakshmi.

  7. Sir, I have now two passport. First I took in 1999. That is expired 2009. This passport name with mistake Sivaram. My agent missed ” a”. That’s why I applied second passport with correct name year 2005. Now I am using this 2nd passport. I travelled 3 times. Now I went RPO office submit to remove ecr status , they found previous first passport. Next week they asked to meet him. In my second passport my Saudi visa stamped.( I don’t know this is affence )
    1. How much they will put penalty and they will allow Saudi stamping or not . I have to be next month 15th. They will take more time aa sir.they will issue passport or not.

  8. Hello pankaz sir mera nam jakeer basha mera passport ECR hy muje
    ECNR karna hy mere pass 10class
    marcak list mere pass hy muje dubai
    Vist visa pe jana hy my dubai may 5years kam kara hu 2years 18manths
    1monthes please help me sir

    • @Shaik
      If you are going on visit visa, you don’t need ECNR status.
      Also you can get passport reissued for ECNR by submitting passport copies showing more than 3 years stay outside India.

  9. What I can do ecnr painter visa for uae but all travel agent told me that my company is complete 150 person now need new registration of company bt my company told me no issue from uea wht I can do for done my ecnr from india ??

    • @Aman
      If you are eligible for ECNR, you should get passport reissued with ECNR status.
      Emigration clearance would need your company to be registered with Indian embassy at UAE.

  10. My self Naseem khan my passport have been ecr & my birth date did not macth with 10 certificate & passport I am working in kuwait I am planing for vacation please suggest me .

  11. Hi sir
    One small doubt one of Frnd has ecr in his passport he stayed 4 yrs in uae as per procedure he is eligible for ecnr now he is going on a new visa but his n doubt is if he apply for new Passport the no will be change on new passport and the no of Passport on visa is of old Passport.
    Can immigration people will allow to travel with different passport no.

  12. Dear sir,
    Aug 1 i am going to dubai visiting visa emigaration officer cheq passport emigration not clear my sister and husband stay in dubai ecr status now 1 st passport apply already my education passed certificate submit officer but passport geeting time ecr. how change ecnr passport?

  13. Hello, I visited Qatar almost year back on visit and extended my Visa monthly and recently I transferred my Visa to Employment Visa. But my passport has ECR. Will there be any issue if i would return back to India or what is recommended to clear this ECR to ECNR ?
    Thanks!!!

    • @Azhar
      Yes, you would have issues with ECR passport while leaving back India.
      Before leaving India, you must get ECNR status passport or emigration check from PoE office.

  14. dear sir,

    i am moving aborad uae visiting visa so my passport ecr status . emigration people asking u going job searching i said no my sister visited here he writing own hand writing job searching to me wight paper then my sign take him. how can go to uae sir please revert.

  15. Hi Sir,

    I want to apply for passport but i dont have 10th class certificate as i did BPP from IGNOU and now am pursing BA. So i m confused weather I apply in ECR or ECNR.

  16. hi my self Mirza Naqueeb i am doing job in qatar with qatar airways my wife holding ECR passport, i plan to bring my wife on visit visa. it is required to do ECNR for visit visa. please advise me.

  17. Dear Pankaj,

    My passport is ECR even when I submitted matriculation certificated during the time of passport issue. Now I have to travel to Tanzania for work purpose. But the passport stamp doesn’t mention ECNR for Tanzania. What to do?

      • But the Airport Authority of India says something else –

        “The Indian passport holders who have the stamp of ECR, are required to get emigration clearance from Protector of Emigrants if going out to any country except Pakistan, Bangladesh, European countries (excluding CIS countries), all countries of North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and South Africa”

        It doesn’t mention Tanzania as an exception. What to do ? Whether I will be stopped at Airport for Emigration clearance? The protector of emigrants office is saying that there is no need of emigration check for Tanzania. But I have no written proof. Please suggest where I can get the written proof?

  18. But the airport authority says something else.

    “The Indian passport holders who have the stamp of ECR, are required to get emigration clearance from Protector of Emigrants if going out to any country except Pakistan, Bangladesh, European countries (excluding CIS countries), all countries of North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and South Africa”

    http://www.airportsindia.org.in/immigration/ecnr_ecr.jsp

    It doesn’t mention Tanzania. Please Clarify.

  19. My passport was made in 2009 and has an ECR stamp. I want to travel to Dubai. I want to get the Non-ECR status. How do i go about it? What is the step-by-step procedure to get the same?