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
Hello sir I am working in dubai more than 3 years I taken residence visa for my wife but in my wife passport ECR stamp is there she is studied upto 5th standard It is necessary to get a ECNR to travel.If it is necessary what are documents required to get a ECNR.
@Naser
As your wife is not going on employment visa, she won’t need ECNR stamp to travel.
Hi Pankaj,
My passport has ECR stamp. I wanted to know whether I need to get ECNR stamping, if I’ve to travel to USA for work/employment purpose (L1B VISA).
Just wanted to clear this confusion. Thanks in advance.
@Rahul
ECNR is not required for traveling to USA for any kind of visa.
Thanks Pankaj.
kindly advise me that Is ECNR is require for Kurdistan – Iraq if some one going there on employment visa.
@Rajesh
For Iraq, emigration has been banned. Please consult travel agents regarding this case.
hi,
recently, i came to know that Emigration ban has lifted to travel for Iraq, so I want to know that do we still need for the emigration clearance.
@Rajesh
Thanks for the update.
Indian Government has lifted the ban on grant of emigration clearance for Indians wishing to travel to Iraq The government of India has decided, in order to facilitate travel by Indian nationals to Iraq on work and/or for visits, not to extend the ban on the grant of emigration clearance, which had been issued under Section 31(1) of the Emigration Act, 1983. India had warned its citizens not to travel to the conflict-ridden Gulf country months after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
And now, ECNR stamp is necessary in order to travel to Iraq for employment and business purposes.
Hi Pankaj,
My passport has ECR stamp. I wanted to know whether I need to get ECNR stamping.
I am going to muscat on visiting visa.
pls reply.
thank you.
@Nash
For Muscat, ECNR would be required in case you are going for job or business purposes.
In all other cases, ECNR won’t be required.
Hi Pankaj,
I got my passport in Sept/2006 and there is no ECR/ECNR stamp in it. Second page is empty. I’m planning to go to US on H1. Do i need to get ECNR stamp on my PP. Heard that in similar cases, immigration dept. asked for ECNR for US.
Just wanted to clear the confution. Thanks in advance.
@Sunil
ECNR is not required to travel to US on any kind of visa. You may travel without any issue.
my passport is issueg before 2007 so i need to CNCR stamp for jorden
bt officer of passport office ahmedabad is refused to do stamp so i wht do?
tell me immideately bcz i returned from airport i have visa of jorden
plz plz reply me fast
@Sagar
You can get ECNR stamp from passport office by filling up the Misc form and submitting copy of eligibility proof.
10th class certificate, degree certificate or PAN card etc. can act as eligibility proof.
sir
my name is sudhakar,my brother was apply for ECNR ON 02-02-2011 , at RPO HYD, he want to go QUTAR on professional work with in one weak other wise his visa is cancelled .how we can get passport with ECNR stamp with in one weak. what is ECNT ACT ? how we can get urgewntly please send reply
@Sudhakar
If you live in same city as passport office is in, then you can request passport office for pickup in-spite of sending it through post.
I need to get ECNR clearance for my wife & my son who are planning to come for a vacation. Please advice me regarding this and also they plan to travel in march. pls reply.
@Ram
ECNR won’t be required for your wife and son as they are not traveling for employment or business.
They may travel without ECNR stamping.
thanks for this reply. keep it up Sir. bye 4 now.
ram
Dear Pankaj,
Cud you pls confirm that whether we can use PAN card to get ECNR.When i asked agents and at passport office in kerala, they told dey cant accept PAN card alone as document for getting Ecnr..
I think the info @ http://www.passport.gov.in/shimla/ecnr_ecr.htm is not valid for other passport offices…Pls confirm
@Adhil
PAN card can act as a proof for getting ECNR.
Passport rules are same for all states and does not change as per different passport offices.
If you are in doubt, you may call passport office for the same.
You may also lodge a complaint at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/complaints.htm
my passport issue in 2002 ahmedabd passport office and i got the work visa for saudi arabiya and i need to do ECNR, so at which place i need to do ECNR? At ahmdedabad or any other place?, as i m having master degree in computer science
@Ruby
You should visit nearest passport office to get passport stamped with ECNR stamp. As your passport was issued from Ahmedabd passport office, you may visit same office.
My Passport is issued in November, 2010 and I am going to Dubai for Employment Purpose Does ECNR Stamp required please help me out
@Vidya
As you passport is issued recently, there are high chances that It will be already with ECNR.
If nothing has been specified (ECR/ECNR) on your passport, that means its already with ECNR by default.
In case ECR is specifically written then you would need to get ECNR stamping before leaving to Dubai for employment.
Thanx For Help
as in the previous comment of sagar on 4th feb that Ahmadabad passport office refused to do stamp, what we need to do other than complain?
Dear Pankaj,
I am planning to bring my wife and kid to QATAR on Family Residential Permit(RP)
visa. Yesterday only my wife got the passport with ECR stamping. As i understood i can bring my family to qatar with this ECR stamping..and not required ECNR as they are not coming for the job. Am i right or wrong?….. Please advise………
Thanks in advance,
RAJ.
@Raj
Your wife and kid can travel to any country without ECNR stamping, if are not traveling for employment/business purposes.
Thanks alot
hello sir
I am Rajesh. my passport issue date is 25/07/2002.at that time i gave my SSLC marks card to them.but in my pass port they mention ECR. now i have job offer in ABUDHABI. and i have only 3 days time.please sir give me suggestion.
thanking you
rajesh
@Rajesh
You will have to get ECNR stamp, in case you are leaving for Middle east for employment.
If this is not done, You might run into issues at airport while emigration checks.
Hi,
I am travelling to through my company and my client has arranged for a visa. The visit is a business visit but client has arranged for a tourist visit visa. I have ECR stamp. Do i still need ECNR stamp?
@Rahul
If you have a tourist visit visa, you won’t need a ECNR stamp.
But in case you tell the emigration officer that you are visiting for business purposes, they may raise questions on visa type and ECNR thus.
Thanks for thje information, Since the visa mentions tourist on top and the sponsor is a travel agency I hope there is no way that they can find out if its a business visit.
SIR,
I DONT HAVE MATRICULATION CIRTIFICATE CAN I APPLY FOR ECNR BY PAN CARD,
AND CAN I GET ECNR STAMP FROM DUBAI
@Subhash
Yes, you can get ECNR, if you have a PAN card.
ECNR stamping can only be from passport offices in India and cannot be done from Dubai.
sir can u please send me the image of deleted ecnr passport
my pasport have no ecr and no ecnr stamp so what be do plz reply soon
@Vikash
In case your passport has been issued after Jan 2007 and does not have ECR/ECNR stamp, that means its ECNR by default.
SIR I AM ALREADY OUT OF MY COUNTRY I CAME HERE ON VISIT VISA NOW I GOT THE EMPLOYMENT VISA NOW THE NEW RULE SAYS THAT IF WE GET THE EMPLOYMENT VISA IN DUBAI I HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND COME BACK SO I AM GOING TO KICH ISLAND MY PASSPORT IS IN ECR STAMPED SIR IS THERE WILL BE SOME PROBLEM FOR ME TO ENTER THE COUNTRY WHEN I COME BACK FROM KICH TO DUBAI
@Subhash
ECNR is checked only at Indian airports while leaving India for a foreign country. So you won’t have issue if you go back to Dubai from Kich.
Dear Pankaj;
Is it possible for ECR passport holder for travelling without any problems through emigration if the passport contains a valid employment visa.
Case is like this:
The person went to Dubai on a visit visa initially. After that moved to Bahrain on an employment visa. Still the passport is ECR . Now the person is in Bahrain.
Now if this person go back to India for vacation, can the person return back to Bahrain with already stamped visa without ECNR in the passport?
Thanks in advance
@Adhil
There might be issues while returning back from India.
As per emigration rules, ECNR stamp is required if a person is leaving for employment to one of the 18 countries prescribed.
It is advisable to get ECNR stamp before leaving back for Bahrain.
Hi Pankaj.. I’m in trouble… and I dont know whom to turn to now, I hope you can help me out. I will be having a visit visa (gonna be looking for employment once am there) for the UAE with me in 2days, which will ask me to enter the country within 45 days , but my passport has been stamped with ECR during passport renewal for “god only knows what” reason.
I stay in Hydbad and if you follow the news you’ll know that this is the worst RPO. When I asked them how long it’ll take, they said 2 weeks to 2 months. I’m in dilemma now because if I leave things to fate there is a possibility that my visit visa may expire by the time the passport comes home. And because I’m gonna go there to look for a job I’m not planning on booking a return tkt right now.
No travel agent is able to help me out with an ECNR issue, they say i need to get this done the normal way and hope that it comes soon.
Is there no way at all to ensure that the passport will come within a specific time frame?? please help me if you can, I’d be forever grateful.
@Ady
First of all, for visit visa, ECNR is not required. So there is no need to worry at this point. While leaving, Just don’t tell emigration officer at airport that you are going for a job.
Only when you are leaving on employment or business visa, ECNR requirement comes into picture.
Once you get job, come back to India and then you would need ECNR to go back.
Regarding how much time passport office may take, is solely depends on them. There is no maximum time frame for the same. Corrupt officer may ask you to pay some money and get it done in a single day. Some agents too have contacts in passport offices and can get it done quickly for some extra money.
Hi Pankaj,
I have renewed my passport on 23/07/2008 & it has got ECR stamp requiredexcept for Bangladesh, Pakistan and all countries in Europe {Excuding Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)}, North America, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, South Africa and Singapore.
I have applied for US visa as I am joining Merchant ship, is there any need to get ECNR stamp or cancellation of previous ECR. Please guide me.
Thanks
Can I go for interview with this ECR stamp for US C1/D visa.
@Rajmanjit
For traveling to USA, ECNR stamping is not required.
So you may travel without any issue.