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
Hi, I have got ECR stamp on my passport. I have to go to US for long term on job related assignment to US. Do I need to get the ECR stamp converted to ECNR stamp? Thanks
@Manu
For US, ECNR is not required. You may travel without worrying about ECR/ECNR.
hi pankaj,
i m going 2 oman for employment. do i need the ecnr stamp on my passport.
@Sahil
Yes, you must get ECNR stamp as you are leaving for employment.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for writing such a nice and informative blog. I have one querey please help me,
I am going to saudi arabia for Higher Studies on Student visa. My passport have ECR stamp. Do I need to get ECNR stamp for going study purpose to saudi arabia. Please help me ASAP. Your agile reponse is highly appreciated. Thanks.
@Abuzar
ECNR stamping is required if you are going for employment.
As you are going for studies, you won’t require it.
My passport was issued in 2003 before my graduation. SO i have ECR stamp. I am going to US . Do i need the ECNR stamp.
@Harsh
For US, ECNR is not required.
Hi,
I am travelling to New Zealand under Family Work Visa (My husband is employed there). The second page on my passport is blank. Does this imply that I have got ECNR on my passport. ?
@Meena
First, ECNR is not required for New Zealand.
Secondly, If your passport has been issued recently with a blank second page, that means its already with ECNR status.
Thank you for confirmation on ECNR. Would like to know whether Cathay Pacific airlines offer 40 kg luggage capacity for economy class on one-way flight.
@Meena
I am not sure about that, you can check Cathey Pacific site or consult your travel agent.
hi pankaj
i got uk student visa and in my passport there is an ecr
so it is necessary to make ecnr or not
@Zaki
For UK, ECNR is not required, so you may travel without any issue.
Hi Pankaj,
I am Travelling to Dubai for Employement and my passport having ECR. I am living in Hyderabad, do i need to go for Passport ECNR in Hyderabad Passport Office?
Please help me.
Regards
Babu
@Babu
Yes, you will have to go to Hyderabad passport office along with filled up form, eligibility, address and identity proofs.
Dear Pankaj Batra,
I have gone through your replies and understand that if the travel out of the country is not for employment then ECNR is not applicable. I am currently working in dubai and my wife will be joining me on a family visa. Her passport has a ECR stamp. Is there any notification from the GOI which she can carry in case the officials at the airport insist on the ECR suspension? She will be travelling alone from India, hence I am concerned.
Regards.
@Arshad
You can carry printout of this notification: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=30989&kwd=ECRS
Dear Pankaj,
My son who is on Job visit visa employed in Saudi Arabia has his passport with
EC suspended until July 2010. Is it mandatory that he change status to ECNR from Embassy in Saudi or during his next visit from PP office in Cochin ?
He has PSW in the UK. For UK even for employment is ECRS a problem ?
Sharaf from Cochin
@Majeed
He may come back to India without any issue. Whenever he needs to go back to Middle east, he would need to get ECNR stamp from passport office.
For UK, ECNR is not required.
Hii Pankaji,
I got a job offer from Finland, Could you Plss tell me whether ECNR is required for Finland, as it is mentioned that ECNR is not required for European countries (Except CIS countries). Will Finland come under CIS country. Please guide me whether ECNR stamp is required or not?
@Sravanthi
For Finland, ECNR is not required.
Hey Pankaj,
I’ve applied for Dubai tourist visa but 2nd page of my passport is blank (there is no ECR/ECNR stamp, as my passport issued during my graduation) Do I need to make any changes in my passport for Dubai visit (As, I’ve US B1B2 Visa).. Please suggest.. Thanks in Advance.
Regards,
Anand K.
@Anand
First of all, ECNR is not required to tourist visas.
Secondly, In case 2nd page of passport is blank, its already with ECNR stamp and does not need further stamping.
Thanks Much!
Hi pankaj,
I am working at oman. my wife is coming to oman as a dependent ( no employment ).
For her is there ECNR stamp required. Thanks in advance
@Rama
No, your wife does not require ENCR stamping as she is not going for employment.
HI PANKAJ
I AM 45 YEARS OLD, AND I WANT TO TRAVEL DUBAI AND I GOT EMPLOYMENT VISA, MY PASSPORT IS ECR, SO DO I HAVE TO GET POE…IF SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH WILL COST FOR POE.
R.DAMWANI
CHENNAI
@R.Damwani
You will have to get ECNR stamp as you are going to Dubai for employment.
Visit your nearest passport office and fill form for the same. ECNR stamping fees is 300 Rs.
THANKS FOR THE REPLY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT DOCUMENTS I HAVE TO PRODUCE THERE FOR ECNR…..WILL PASSPORT AND VISA COPY IS ENOUGH…PLEASE ADVICE.
@R.Damwani
You need to show qualification proof (minimum 10th class), ID proof and address proofs.
Visa copy is not required.
THANKS FOR THE REPLY…BUT I AM NOT QUALIFIED AND I DONT HAVE ANY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE..PLEASE ADVICE
@R.Damwani
If you have PAN card, that can also be a qualification for ECNR.
Hello Pankaj,
I have graduated in 2003 and have a ECR stamp on my passport. I have a to move to UK for about 2-3 yrs for job related assignment. So do I need to get my passport ECNR cleared. Also if I need to do so then can I get it cleared from any passport office(Pune MH) or do I have to visit the passport office(Bhopal MP) I got my passport issued from.
@Vaivit
For UK, ECNR stamping is not required.
Thanks a lot for the prompt reply. Cheers to you for the GR8 work.
hello sir,
my passport has a ecr stamp..im a BE,MBA. g raduate.in my passport there is a spelling mistake.i m planning 2 go 2 dubai in a employment visa.is it possible to get a poe stamp and go there without any issue..if i need to change the passport with a correct spelling,is it possible to change without ration card and voter id ..but i have passbook and all original cetificates…and a old ration card..
@Nawas
If the passport was issued in the last one year: You have to give a written application for spelling correction and surrender the passport at passport office.
If it is found from your application that the errors are on passport department part, the passport will be dispatched to you duly corrected, in about 4 working days of receipt of your request there. No fee is required to be paid in this case. Otherwise your passport will be returned to you without correction, advising you of the further course of action.
If the passport was issue more than a year ago (or) if the error is on the part of the applicant, you will have to apply afresh for the correction (miscellaneous service), with the relevant supporting documents (latest address and Id proofs). Fee will be payable in this case.
hello sir,
My parents are planning to visit uae on visit visa of 1 month, but they have a ECR stamp on there passport. Do they require to obtain ECNR stamp. Kind help.
Sagar
@Sagar
For visit Visa, ECNR is not required. Its only required if somebody is going for Job.
I propose traveling to Malaysia as a tourist. My wife wishes to accompany me. Her passport was issued in 2003 and has a stamp ECR. She posses a valid Pan Card.Can she travel without a ECNR stamp.
@Ravi
ECNR is not required for tourists.
Dear Pankaj Batra,
What is the process for ECR suspension in Bangalore. Here the Regional Passport Office has stopped accepting any interaction with citizens, and the only interface is the TCS run “Passport Seva Kendra”. According to them, there is no procedure for removal of ECR. The only option is to apply for passport afresh.
Regards.
@Syed
I am not sure about Bangalore, but can you please confirm the same from Passport seva kendra or by calling any of the offices mentioned here : http://rpobangalore.gov.in/frm_office_add.asp
Dear Pankaj Batra,
Further to my earlier query, my wife has to travel to dubai on a family visa (non-employment). Her passport has a ECR stamp.
From your earlier clarifications, I understand that she only needs a valid passport, valid visa & “return ticket”. As she is coming to stay with me, she will have a “one way ticket”. How will the immigration at bangalore airport handle her case?
Regards.
Hi Syed,
If you are from Hyderabad then i have Agent contact who will clear your issue by taking 5-6K.
I have Paid 5K and come to dubai.
@Syed
As she will be traveling on a dependent stay visa, she won’t be requiring a return ticket.
There should not be any issue on airport for the same.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for Services. Working on Oracle Apps as a Technical Consultant and have Joined in Dubai . I Think many of your fans using your site . So Please help to find Bachelor Accomdation in dubai.
hi pankaj,
this is keerthi planning for uk for masters degree and i hav applied for passport month ago,for uk ecnr is required ? and if required how many days it takes for ecnr process ?and please explain me clearly what is the process for ecnr
@Keerthi
For UK, ECNR is not required.