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
sorry for asking u like tiz in wat is the ecnr stamping helping us b,coz my coworkers in malaysia ask me wat is ecr,ecnr why do u have ecnr stamping we have ecr stamping wat does tiz mean wat difference does it make how useful is it,plz it will be very kind of u 2 tell me all the benefits plz plz plz thanks.
SIR PLS TELL ME HOW IS ECNR GOING TO HELP US
please suggest me whether my mom and dad requires any ECNR stamp from local passport office if they are coming to Kuwait on visit visa of my sponsorship . If so they are asking for min 10th class certificate where as my mother doesn’t have any certificates. What to do now how to approach. Please guide me sir. If u can please mail me the details
@Sandeep
ECNR is not required in their case as they are not traveling for employment purpose.
Thank you sir for your advice
I will be travelling to israel on business visa, I have the ECNR cancelled in my passport. Do I need to get ENCR stamp.
@Rohit
For Israel, ECNR stamping is not required, so you can travel without any worry.
Dear Sir,
In my case i have empolymnet visa for GCC country, but my passport ” ECR” mentioned.
my edu.qualification below 9th.std only.In this case ” ECNR” Required or not ? Any complecated things or easy to get ” ECNR” kIndly advise.
@Karthick
You will need ECNR stamping as you are going to gulf for employment. It easy to get this tamping if you have all documents in place like PAN card, address proof, employer letter etc.
My wife’s passport is stamped “ECR”. Can she travel with me as dependent to “UK”? Please let me know if any extra documentation/letter/approval etc. is required for the same.
@Pankaj
For UK, ECNR is not required.
HI
Iam living in canada holding Permanent residentship of Canada I am here in India on vacation I wanted to know I have just renewed my Indian passport in toronto two months back but it does not say anything about ECR or ECNR so to go back to canada do I need to send my passport to immigration for ECNR stamp ?? or is it ok???
@Divya
For canada, ECNR is not a requirement, So don’t worry about this.
Enjoy your trip to India 🙂
thanks Pankaj
Hi Pankaj,
My mom is having passport with ECR on it.She is going to dubai on visit vissa of 60 days to meet my elder brother.Is it necessary to go to POE & get d ECNR done .She is having 2wat ticket.I want to know is she required ECNR .
Thanks,
Ravi
@Ravi
As she is going for a visit visa, she does not require a ECNR stamping.
hi Pankaj,
I applied business visa for UK, In my passport mentioned ECR.
should I apply for ECNR clearance.
Kindly suggest me.
@Praveen
For UK, ECNR is not required.
Hi,
I got B1 Visa & want to travel to US for business meetings for 1 month. My passport has ECR stamped. Do I need to get ECNR stamped before going to US ?.
Please usggest. Thanks.
@Harsha
For USA, ECNR is not required.
i am having indian pass port stamped with ECR. i want to go to kuwait to see my daughter on visit visa. is it necessary to have the passport stamped with ECNR?.
my husband is having passport stamped with ECNR, then can i get my passport stamped with ECNR? if so whom i have to meet. I am residing in Visakhapatnam
@Meenakshi
ECNR is not required for visit visa, its required when you are going for employment.
Dear Sir,
i want to know what is the procedure of ECNR from POE for the Registered Recruitng Agency, what r the documents requirements for ECNR for recruting agency,
they neeed the documents attested form Embassy or not for a semi skilled or unskilled category.
help us to inform me in details.
thanking you,
@Raja
You have to fill passport form for Misc services (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/miscell.pdf) and submit it in passport office along with ID, residence and ECNR eligibility proofs. For ECNR eligibility proof, you can submit PAN card copy, degree certificates or even a 10th class certificate will also do. Also submit copy of Voter Id card or Ration card for residence proof.
Dear Sir,
Thanks for reply but i want to know
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR ECNR THROUGH RECRUTING AGENCY, WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRE FOR A RECURITING AGENCY FOR EMMIGRATION CLEARENCE FOR SKILLED AND UNSKILLED CATEGORY EXCEPT MOL LICENSE COPY.
THANKS,
RAJA
@Raja
For ECNR, you have to directly apply to passport office.
hi Pankaj
its divya again as you cleared my one confusion that ECNR is not required to go back to CAnada (and also that my remewed passport from toronto doesn’t mention anything about ECR or ECNR) I wanted to know as iam PR of canada so to go back to canada with my daughter next month do i need to show only my passport and PR card on immigration in the airport or any other formality is also needed like visa and all and also when i will reach canada only PR card is enough to enter canada?? and what is PCC is this any requirement???thanks
@Divya
Sorry, But I don’t have much information about Canada immigration rules.
@Pankaj
I am travelling to Saudi Arabia for some meeting on Monday (22nd March). Do I need an ECNR stamp?? If yes, how long does it take to get a temporary ECNR. My flight is to Riyadh is Monday evening (5pm) and i am arriving in Mumbai MOnday morning (11am). Can I get the same done and what is the procedure / documents required??regards. You prompt reply will be appreciated
@Arnab
For official purpose visits, ECNR is a requirement for middle east countries.
But as your flight is on Monday. It will be difficult for you to get ECNR stamping. Stamping takes minimum 1 day.
You have to fill passport form for Misc services (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/miscell.pdf) and submit it in passport office along with ID, residence and ECNR eligibility proofs. For ECNR eligibility proof, you can submit PAN card copy, degree certificates or even a 10th class certificate will also do. Also submit copy of Voter Id card or Ration card for residence proof.
@pankaj
thanks for the quick response. What about a temporary ECNR stamp for one visit. I heard it takes a couple of hrs only. Wht r the documents required?? Also, i am not going on a work visa, infact the visa clearly states Not allowed to work. Is the ECNR still req? Thanks.
@Arnab
Yes, temporary ECNR should take less time. I also got it done in 2006, but that time my employer got it done from an agent, so really don’t know whats the process.
However, As you are not going there for employment so It should not matter.
@pankay. Thanks. One last question. Is ECNR required for business visa to saudi… Mine is a business visa not an emploment / work visa… Saudi does not issue visist visas. Not able to figure this out.. thanks
@Arnab
Your visit is for business work logically so they might stop you at airport. If you have some time better get a temporary suspension, its better to play safe at Indian airports, who never know, what the emigration guy’s mood is.
Pls help. when on visit visa to dubai from india, how does the suspension of ecnr is done and what documents are required. moreover the concerned falls below the min 10th standard .
@Reena
You have to fill passport form for Misc services (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/miscell.pdf) and submit it in passport office along with ID, residence and ECNR eligibility proofs. For ECNR eligibility proof, you can submit PAN card copy, degree certificates or even a 10th class certificate will also do. Also submit copy of Voter Id card or Ration card for residence proof.
Thanks Mr Batra for the quick response. the concerned is unable to provide the education certificate as has not done even 10th class. the visit visa copy along with the return ticket and the form filled is it sufficient . pls advise.
@Reena
If concerned person is not going for employment, then there is no need to get ECNR stamping.
In case, visit is for employment, then you must get ECNR stamping. Visa copy and return tickets are not sufficient to get ECNR stamping.
dear sir,
i am going uae on friday by residence visa but in my passport ecr is required..Is emigration clearence required for me or not?pls gv me a quick reply
@Anil
If you are going for employment, then you must get ECNR Stamping, else you don’t need it.
Dear Sir,
I m working in dubai on an empolyment visa from last 4 yrs, now i have sponsered my wife and my son’s residence visa which is valid for three years.
can u pls advice me that do they need an ECNR stamp on their passports, as i have no intention of making my wife work in uae.
@Umar
They won’t be needing ECNR as they are not going for employment and are dependant on you.
hi, my wife passport has stamped with ECR and she has to travel to dubai along with me as dependent ,whether ECNR stamp required or not?
@Vasu
She does not need ECNR stamping
In case during departure immigration officers insists for ECNR stamp what should i do
@Vasu
You have to tell them that ECNR is only required now in case one is going for employment.
Show them tickets and visa etc.