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
Just wanna check how long will it take to complete ECNR.& can we get our passport on hand or they will send it through speed post.
@Vara
It may take 2 days to 7 days depending on your address.
Hi,
Please help me witrh information. I have recevied my work visa from Doha Qatar, and my passport has ECR and not ECNR. I would like to know if that is ok for travel, as I am due to travel by 6th of Dec your expert comments are highly awaited.
Thanks
@Mustafa
For working in Qatar, you must have ECNR stamp. Otherwise, there can be issues while emigration.
Hi Pankaj,
Do I need ECNR stamp done? ….I am travelling to Dubai on a Service Visa (14 days) just for a visit..Please reply asap
@Sushanth
As you are not going for a job, you don’t need ECNR stamping on passport.
hey pankaj thanks for helping me out with ecnr procedure
i finally got it done the same day..i submitted only the high school marksheet with my offer letter..
could you please let me know about the visa process now..i mean now how will the company from dubai process my work visa..and how many days it takes generally?
@Arjun
Sorry, But I don’t have much idea about visa process. Please consult any visa expert.
Dear Arjun where did you convert your SCR to ECNR?? at passport office or POE office?
Dear Pankaj,
m a post graduate, but in my passport they put ECR stamp. Kindly help how and where i can convert it to ECNR?
@krishna
You have to go to nearest passport office with filled up form and qualification and residence proofs for the same.
hi, pankaj- my fiance has h1 visa & i have ECR & NOT ECNR stamp, i m just compalated M.B.A but degree is still waiting so please let me know the process of the ECNR.
@Bhumi
Which country you intends to travel?
For USA, ECNR is not required.
My sister is coming on visit visa to Kuwait on 16th Dec 09, she has an ECR stamp on her passport, (she has already travelled to Kuwait once before 3 years on the same passport with ECR. I have sent her Visa copy, tickets (by e-mail). does she need ECNR stamp to travel this time? pls advice.
@Fatima
As she is not going for employment, she does not need ECNR stamping.
Hi Pankaj,
Just saw your site and must say its very very informative. I also wanted to know something about ECNR. I have an ECR stamp on my Passport and i would be travelling to Macau next month. Do i need to get the ECNR stamp before that. I have read from your replies that ECNR is required for travelling to only the 18 countries as mentioned by you. Then in that case i don’t need it i presume. Kindly help as then i would get the stamp at the earliest if required. Thanks in advance and keep up the good work.
@Aniruddha
For Macau, you don’t need ECNR stamping.
Hi
I am in japan .
My wife passport holds ECR stamp, she has to travel Japan next month.
Do we need ECNR stamp in her passort.
if ECNR is not required, can i book ticket via Malaysia?
because Malaysis is there in the list of the countries which need ECNR stampling.
can you please confirm.
@Raju
ECNR is not required for Malaysia, if you are not going for employment.
Dear
I have a family Visa for my wife but her passport carries ECR stamp becoz she has not done her SSLC so do suggest me to take temporary suspention of ECR before she flies to Bahrain?
Please assist
@Barkathulla
ECNR is required if you are going for employment, as your wife is not going for job, she does not require ECNR stamping.
Hi Pankaj,
i am an engineer, i am going to UAE for a job, how can i add my professon in my passport? is ECNR is necessary? please give reply as soon as possible..
You need not add your profession to your passport..Its nowhere required…
ECNR is required if ur going to UAE for employment…
HI Pankaj Batra ,
Doin good job man 🙂 I am IT enggrr
I have a ECR stamping in my passport (made-july05)
i will be travelling to france in midweek of jan 2010 for offic work (employment)
i know that for europe ECNR is not requiredbut my doubt is
do i need ECNR stamping as i am goin for work realted purpose ?
Not required foo France…and if ur going on Biz. visa, u must be carrying a Return ticket for immi chek both in India and at the port of call…
Its a gud idea, though, to get the ECNR stamp to avoid last minute hiccups in future…it takes 1 day to 30 day depending on whr u got the Passport from and where u’ll be submitting it for ECNR..
Hi Pankaj,
My cousin (did not study even 10th) has gone to Dubai earlier on a employment VISA. At that time he got his Emigration check done. He came back recently and again going to dubai on 27th of Dec 2009. I have already booked the tickets. The problem is, this time he is working for a different company, so he got a new VISA.
Does he need to get a Emigration check again? If so, how to get it? He has just 2 working days left to take care of this. So, please tell me what is the best way to get the emigration check done, if it is necessary. Also, please tell me if he need to personally available for the emigration check.
Please reply soon, as this is kind of emergency. Based on your answer i have to decide on cancelling the ticket.
Thanks,
Rajesh.
@Rajesh
If the last ECNR stamp that your cousion got was temporary, then he needs to get it again. And if it was not, then he does not need now.
Emigration check not required stamping has nothing to do with company or employer.
Thanks for the ‘very prompt’ reply. So, What I understood was ‘EC is for a country and can be temporary or permanent’. Is that right? How can I know if it is temporary or permanent?
@Rajesh
ECNR can be temporary for a country (I got one in 2006 for visiting Malaysia) or permanent for all countries.
If its temporary, it will be written on stamp that emigration check suspended till this date for this country.
Thanks. There was a confusion here.
My cousin got a passport with ECR stamp (not ECNR). As i have already told, he did not complete even 10th grade. So, I dont think he cant get a permanent ECNR. Last time he went with ECR only but with a Visiting VISA and return ticket. At that time he went to POE, Hyderabad and got a stamp in his passport saying ‘NOT FOR EMPLOYMENT’. But this time he got a EMPLOYMENT VISA. So I think this time its compulsory to get Emigration check done. Am I right?
There is a 2 day bandh in Hyderabad. So I have no other source of info. So please bear with me.
Thanks,
Rajesh
@Rajesh
ECNR stamping can also be received on the basis of PAN card, if your cousion has one.
As he is going for employment, there can be issues while departing from Indian airport without ECNR stamp.
will they issue new passport after removing ECR stamp or will they modify the existing passport making it as ECNR?How long will the processing take?
@Saikrishnaraju
New passport won’t be issued and ECNR stamp will be put on your passport. It will take 2 to 30 days depending on different factors.
I have been issued a passport with ECR stamp on it.I have already applied for ECNR but concerned officials asked original matriculation certificate.Right now i dont have those because my originals are under my college department which they will give after my graduation.So can i get ECNR stamp by attaching custodian letter issued by our college?kindly clarify
i dont think they will agree with a letter…better request ur college to release the certificate temporarily for this purpose..Colleges do give bak certificates on genuine request..
One more suggestion…take this ECNR thing seriously and urgently..otherwise, wht happns with most of us is that we postpone it till it becomes a crisis, when moving out of India…
will they remove ECR stamp after getting ECNR or will they just stamp ECNR stamp on the other page by keeping ECR page as it is?If they leave ECR page as it is then is there any problem while visa stamping?
@Saikrishnaraju
They will put ECNR stamp on same page and this will make ECR stamp void.
Secondly, visa stamping has nothing to do with ECNR/ECR status. ECNR is a policy of indian emigration department and other countries (which issues visa) don’t care whether you have ECNR or not.
Me and my Family are going on a visit visa (with return tickets) to Oman. I have ECNR clearance but my wife’s visa is old and has ECNR – deleted. It is ECR.
Do we need to apply for suspension at POE or should we take ECNR stamp from passport office.
I was told post 2007 ECNR is not required on visit visa with a return ticket.
Please help I am traveling day after.. no time!
No…for tourism purpose visit, ECNR/POE clearnance etc. arent required..make sure, u sure you show ur return tickets at Bureau of Immigriation chekpoints in Indian airports
Hi pankaj
I have old passport i have job in saudi arbia for 8 year now it exp so i had a new passport from pune on passport there is stamp such as emigration and some country name so now im going to trevel [UAE] SO i canot understand is neccery to samp OFemigration sir i have no certfi of SSC SO WHAT CAN I DO
Hi,,,ECNR is also given to those who have stayed abroad for more than 3 years…go to the local Passport office with relevant visa (old passport , with date of entry-exit stamp etc.) , proof of employement abroad etc. and chek with the enquiry counter what else is required for ECNR…i guess, u shud get it in 1 or 2 days, depending on ur case…
Sir,
My parents are planning for Dubai for tourist visa is it required the ECNR pls clarify on their Passport Stamp is Stricked out and new stamp is ECR REQUIRED EXCEPT FOR BANGALADESH,
if they are carrying return tickets, then they probably wont be bothered for ECNR…as return ticket indicates visit for tourist purposes..
Hi Pankaj,
I’m travelling to OMAN on a business visa, do i need to get ECNR stamping done. I went to the passport office (bangalore) today and was told that i don’t require one (since i don’t have anything printed on the second sheet of my passport) and they only delete ECR . Please help in this regard, i’m really confused with the info available on the internet.
My passport was issued in May 2007.
i guess, u got ur Passport made after 2006 and hence, ther is no reference of ECR/ECNR…hence no need to worry…u have ECNR status by default… Immigration authorities wont bother u at Indian airports
And ur entering VIsa for non-employment purpose and may b carrying a return ticket to India..Enjoi ur trip!!
Kudos to the work you are doing here. I have a peculiar problem. I plan to travel with my wife to Malaysia for tourism purpose in March 2010. Her visa carries the endorsement for ECNR upto 24 years of age. This is no longer valid as she is 26 now.
My question is:
1) Do I need to get the ECNR endorsement done in her passport? (As the passport has been issued in our home city we will have to go there to get it done.)
2) When is it appropriate to apply for he malaysian visa. Should I apply right now of should I apply post mid feb for the visa.
3) Finally if we shoe our return tickets and hotel vouchers can we avoid ECNR.
Thanks for your time and attention. Will look forward to your advise on the same.
Regards
Shantanu
ur going for tourism pupose,..shud carry a return ticket for both passengers…this will give a proof that ur visit to Malaysia is not for employement and hence no immigration control (ECR check) is required… so no ECNR stamping needed, per sse
Even if u want to get ECNR in ur wife’s passport, u can do it in ur city (or nearest passport office) of ur residence..but it may take around 2-20 days, if u submit passport in an office differnt than the office issuing the passport.
… U get malaysian visa in 1 day time (same day in Delhi embassy), and u need to submit ur return travel tickets for getting the single/multiple entry tourist visa.
Hi
I m currently in US on H1B Visa. I m going to India for vacation. I got an itinerary with stop over in Abu Dhabi (UAE). My passport says ECR. Do I require to get ECNR Stamped?
@Anand
1st of all, ECNR is required only when you are going for employment.
2ndly, you are not going to Dubai from India, so ECNR or ECR does not matter as its an indian emigration requirement and other countries has nothing to do with it.
hi sir, i am staing in dubai as on employment visa. i gote marriag on jan 3rd in India. now i am taking to my wife with me on my sponcer. but she dont have ECR or ECNR stamps.
the thing is ….. if she want to do job after few months then these stamps are required ?. if its required how she will get ?
right now i am in india – west godavari dist
sayed 949079032
@Sayed
She does not require ECNR stamping as now she is not going for employment. Once you are out from India, this stamp does not matter, so even if she joins somewhere in Dubai, that won’t have any impact on ECNR requirement. Once she comes back to India and wants to go back to Dubai for job, then she will need ECNR.
Hi pankaj m going to dubai for 3 months for training through my office nd on my passport ECR is mentioned tell me do i require ECNR on my passport?
@Jay
You should get ECNR stamping as you are going for official purposes.