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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. So you mean that if we don’t have an ECNR stamp on our passport it will not matter from 1st of October onwards.
    I am planning to get this done as I will be travelling in November.

  2. Now emigration clearance or suspension of emigration check requirement is necessary only in case of 18 countries in the world. These countries are United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand and Iraq (emigration banned).

  3. Hi Pankaj,

    Thanks for the helpful post. I’m planning to travel in December. Do you know where I can find the official document stating the amendment so that I can show the officials a printout in case they are unaware of the change in regulations?

  4. hi pankaj…that really helps. but can u tell me how to go about getting this stamp in case of me goin to these 18 countries….and how long does it take to get it

  5. Hi Niel,

  6. To apply for ECNR stamp in the passport, the applicant is required to fill a Application form . The duly filled-in application form may be submitted personally or through a representative (having authority letter duly signed by the applicant as per or by registered post.
  7. An all inclusive fee of Rs.300/- is to be paid along with the application form either in cash or by bank draft drawn in favour of Passport Officer. In case of bank draft, full name of the applicant and application number should be written on the reverse of the bank draft.
  8. Valid Passport in original.
  9. Attested 2 photocopies of the proof that the applicant is entitled for ECNR as per the list mentioned above. Also carry the original along with you.
  10. 2 photocopies of the first 4 and last 4 pages of the passport.
  11. hi pankaj,
    i hv issued my passport dis july n travelling to UAE in dec. der is no stamp on my passport. does dat mean i need to get a stamp or no? d passport official say no but im still confused. plz help.. do i need ECR or ECNR? im a graduate. so plz help.

  12. Poonam,
    If you have got your passport issued this year, Most probably it will be already with ECNR.
    If there is no stamp for ECR, that means its already ECNR.
    But if you have a ECR (emigraion check required) stamp in your passport, You need to get ECNR stamped.
    -Pankaj

  13. hi pankaj,
    thanx for ur response.
    yes its ECNR..but der is no stamp.. d 2nd page of d passport is a blank page. is dat how d new passports are..? coz dat is wat is confusing.. i mean is der NO STAMP d passport for ECNR? Since der is NO STAMP of ECNR will it b a problem at d airport? n will it b a problem for me in UAE if i hv to get a job visa der?

  14. Dear Pankaj,

    Does it mean that, from 1st Oct. if we are going to Thailand as Tourist we need not have ECNR stamp? can you kindly give me the government web site for the latest amendment?

  15. Indians travelling abroad for reasons other than employment will not need emigration clearance from October 1.

    Under the Emigration Act, a person holding a passport with the emigration-check-required (ECR) stamp has to get clearance from the protector of emigrants (POE) before leaving for employment abroad. The act does not cover ECR passport holders travelling for other purposes. The rule was nevertheless applied to them, too, which has now been waived.

    If you going to Thailand as a tourist, you don’t require ECR suspension.
    http://www.thaindian.com/the-india-story/indian-government-removes-the-emigration-check-required-(ecr)-system-4313.html

  16. Hi,
    I am travelling for tourism to Malaysia and Singapore in November 2007. I have ECR stamp in my passport. Do I still need to get ECNR stamp for Malaysia?

    Thanks
    Rishi

  17. Hello Pankaj
    I am confused person again, I have got the employment Visa from Kuwait and ticket also in my hand and i dont have ECNR stamp in my passport. I am not a graduate. But I have 7 yrs of experience which includes 2 years of gulf experience. Please guide me what should I do? I am non graduate..!! I am told to get ECNR stamp..i dont what to do..am running out of time.! pls pls help

  18. Hi Prasad,
    Please get your passport stamped with ECNR as soon as possible. You need to worry about your qualification as minimum requirement in now matriculation.
    All persons having educational qualifications of matriculation and above are eligible for ECNR.
    All PAN holders are also eligible.

  19. hello pankaj,

    iam going to uae on visit visa ,i dont have ECNR stamp on my passport,my qualification is intermediate can i eligible for ECNR stamp.

    And
    how many days it will take for ECNR stamp in passport office.