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 was working in dubai since 34 month with ecr passport now i am in india and i want ecnr passport what will i do
@Shamim
If you are eligible for ECNR status, then you can get passport reissued with ECNR status from local passport office.
@Shamim
Also, 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 are eligible for ECNR
Sir i am vakil am before Saudi Arabia 4 years 11month am coming vacation 4 months
ECR passport return ticket velid visa velid passport ok am back saudi arebia again inmigratoin yes a no please sir telling my problem
@Vakil
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) are eligible to get ECNR status.
Please apply for reissue of passport with ECNR category and submit Passport copy (first two and last two pages, including ECR/Non-ECR page)
can you explain me I got hotel job offer later and visa presently I am in kolkata my brother send me visa tickit and offer later. but my passport is ECR it is possible to go qatar or how to clear immigration
@Firoj
If you have some time before leaving (1 month) and you are eligible for ECNR (check eligibility on this page: https://www.pankajbatra.com/travel/emigration-clearance-not-required-from-oct-1/); then you should get your passport reissued after submitting eligibility proof.
If you don’t have time or ineligible, please get emigration clearance from PoE office.
🙋Hi sir iam shaik iam work Saudi Arabia my passport ecnr i want ecr passport how much year stay Saudi Arabia for ecnr clear pilzzz help me sir🙏🙏
@Shaik
You will be eligible for ECNR if you have stayed for more than 3 years outside India.
Sir iam staying I have been two years old from Saudi Arabia Will not
@Shaik
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) are eligible.
@pankaj Batra
please guide me that protector is required for family (dependant ) visa?
@Ali Bajwa
Didn’t understood your question.
sir i am still working uae more than 2 year 6 month i want ecnr passport what will i do??
@Ganesh
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) are eligible for ECNR. If you fall into this criteria, you can get passport reissued with ECNR status.
sir .. i came in saudi Arabia 2008 with ECR passport .. then i renew my passport after 4 years in. 2012 in saudi Arabia. so my passport status automatically become ECNR or not.. ???
in my new passport ECR or ECNR status not mentioned.
@Rosh
If ECR is not mentioned then passport is by default with ECNR status.
Sir
My brother passport is Containing ECR and we need to update to ECNR and we don’t have matric certificate but we have Income tax return which is generated online, so passport office will accept online income tax return without stamp and sign of income tax authority??
@Salman
You can show ITR-V acknowledgment of online tax filing. In case processing has been done, letter sent on email by IT department (143(1)) intimation can also be used.
Sir im yasmeen got employment visa for dubai but my passport is ecr ican go directly to dubai
@Yasmeen
No, either you need to get passport reissued with ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE office before leaving India.
Greetings sir
I’m working at Kuwait last 14 month my passport Is ECR.
Now I’m planing for vacation I have 8 months valid visa for Kuwait can I back to Kuwait after my vacation
Ther any problem in my immigration
Please replay me
@David
If you have employment visa, you won’t be allowed to fly back from India with ECR status.
It would be better if you get passport reisssued with ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE office before travelling.
I am 1979 born and don’t have a 10th certificate but I am running my own business and have the ITR 3.lac and 3.50 lac 2017-18 ,and 2018-19
I also have the valid aadhar card and voter card driving licence, can I apply for encr passport for Canada pr.
Please help with your guidance.
Narendar
@Narender
For Canada, ECNR status is not required and you should not worry about it.
1st time going to Dubai Pleas e confirm in indigo airlines need otb message or not.
@Asha
OTB is not required for people travelling on Tourist visa
You can call Indigo on their customer care number 9212783838 to confirm same.
Sir I’m Gopal i Got an ECR stampp in my passport. with. this can i visit FOR WORK sri lanka…… Without Poe certificate?
Sir please reply
@Gopal
For traveling to Sri Lanka, ECNR is not required, so you can travel even with ECR passport.
Sir, My Mom is 47 yr old and Dad is 52 yro. And we want to go Dubai for 10 days vacation as to celebrate their 25 anniversary. But both having an ECR Passport. Will they face any problem at airport having an ECR status? Is that required for us to take Immigration certificate from POE in Delhi? or suspension of ECR status? or any other problem that they can face? please answer Sir. Thanks for this sir.
@Sam
For traveling for tourist purpose, ECNR is not required. So they can travel without any issue with a return ticket.
My name is Martin on my passport is mentioned in the last page ECNR required do I have to get the ECNR required for UK please let me know.
@Martin
For UK, ECNR is not required; so you can travel even with ECR stamp passport.
Hello pankaj sir sir me Dubai me 2 yers saudi me 1 yers raha hu mera passport ecnr ho sakta hai plz reply me
@Sandeep
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; are eligible for ECNR status. So you can apply for reissue of passport by submitting passport stamped pages copies.
Sir I Have got ecr passport and I want to join merchant navy and I have completed such from open board
@Ravi
Unless, you want to travel on listed countries on employment visa, you don’t need ECNR status.
Hii pankaj ji ..mere Pasport me ECR laga hua he kya me job ke liye Europe country se visa ke liye apply kar sakta hu?
@Rajesh
For Europe countries, ECNR is not required, so you can apply for visa even with ECR passport.
Hello sir I m Sohail I have issued my passport with ECR category but I had to transfer in ECNR what should I do knw
@Sohail
If you are eligible for ECNR, please get passport reissued by applying along with eligibility proof.
Hlo sir mere passport Ecr hai mere ko doha qater k wark parmant visa Mila hai or company ne mere ko agreement documents ki photo copy send ki hai humko immigration krvana hai app eske bare Hume btna
@Jaspal
Please go to nearest PoE office and get emigration clearance.
how do the visa agents arrange for the ecnr stamp on a passport which has ECR. The protector of emmigerent site requires them to have a poa from the employer and many more details which the employer typically doent give. so whats is there process to arange for ecnr stamp