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
Because of Heavy rules of UAE Dubai I can’t able to get my Visa of Employment as the rule says young ladys are not allowed for employment their… and my Husband also work their and I want to get their as soon as possible… My Visa is actually in process their but it was rejected twice.. IS THEIR ANY OTHER WAY TO GO THEIR? Can It be Possible on Visit Visa. Plz… help me its very URGENT…
@Vidya
You can try for dependent family visa.
well i think you need to ask your husbands company to process your visa as an depended thats the only way out to reach there other wise you can not work or you can not move on your own, as lady……
If I am going to study in the Uk for 4 years, do I need ECNR?
@Oci
for USA, ECNR is not required.
no
My old passport got expired and got newpassport . Oldpassport have ECR deleted. but i don’t know how it happened,new passport have ECR stamp . I didn’t check that and came to HongKong and taken employment . Its already 2 months. Now what to do ? ECNR required for HongKong employment? how can I remove this ECR stamp ? is there any problem ?
Hi Pankaj forgot to mention .. If I return to India, do immigration will make issue as I took employment with ECR stamp…? only this is worry ..I can covert this ECNR once Iam in india ..
@Mallik
ECNR is not required for HongKong for any kind of visa.
Hey Pankaj,
Thanks for the wonderful job that you are doing.
My fathers passport was issued on Nov 2006.Till date he has not traveled out of the country.But the Passport does not have ECR page or stamp which was issued before the new rule came into existence and became effective from Jan 2007 .Then will it be a issue if he wants to travel using that passport if he does not get the ECNR stamp ?
@Sachin
There is no issue if he wants to travel outside India.
ECNR is required only in case of few countries, that too when one is leaving India for employment or business purposes.
Dear Pankaj, Hi.
I am travelling to germany next month on Business Visa, but my passport has a stamp of ECR. Request you to please let us know. Do I need to apply for ECNR? or it will be ok to travel germany with this stamp?
@Aakesh
For Germany, ECNR is not required.
hi im going on a visiting visa to dubai my passport is issued aftr 2007 and the seond page is blank do i have to get ECNR stamp
@Avita
First, ECNR is not required for visit visa.
Second, If your passport is issued after 2007 and has a blank second page, you already have ECNR status.
Hi,
i have a visit visa to kuwait and I have booked my tickets . My passport has a ECR stamp on it. will it be a problem if have a ECR stamp when using a visit visa? I do have the return ticket with me as well.
from what i understand the ECNR status needs to be changed only when the person is going for business or for a job right? I know this an often repeated question . I am just trying to clarify my doubts
Thanks and regards
Abu
@Abu
ECNR is not required in case you are going on visit visa.
It will be required when you are traveling on business/employment visa.
Hi ,
I have been working in Singapore for more than a year. My passport has an ECR stamp . I would like to renew my passport. There is facility for passport renewal thru the Indian Embassy at Singapore .If I furnish the necessary documents, would the ECR be converted to ECNR on renewal – Or – do i need to separately apply for ECNR endorsement?..Please advise.
@George
In case your existing passport is with ECR stamp, then new passport may also come with ECR. So to be on safer side, submit ECNR eligibility documents along with passport renewal form.
Do i need ECNR for traveling singapore?
@keerthi
ECNR is not required for travelling to singapore.
hi pankaj,while browsing net i just was reading your posts…and i really wish to hug you….for the efforts you do to help poor people…who mostly gets trapped with the ECR problem..hope the India government follow you …to reduce the trouble caused to its citizens.
@Ronnie
Thanks for the appreciation 🙂
Sub: Husband & Father visa ECNR stamp required or Not
I’ve been working in UAE past five years in different companies and i’ve eligibility to get visa for my dependent so i would like to bring my family under my sponsorship therefore please clarify whether the ECNR is required or not.
@UKathaff
ECNR won’t be required for them as they are not going for job or employment.
Thanks Pankaj, i really appreciate it thank u so much.
since i have ECNR STAMP in passport.icame to uae on visit visa latter i got employment visa .now iam going to india in vacation.do i need ecnr stamp since iam teacher
@Mansar
In case you have a ECR stamp in your passport and you want to go to UAE for job, then you need to get ECNR stamp on your passport before you leave India, back for UAE.
Dear Pankaj,
1. Is it necessary to have valid VISA or tickets? I do not have visa as of now or tickets as i got my passport today(28/03/2011) and its has ECR stamp. I want to convert it into ECNR. which I had mentioned in my Form when applying alongwith 10th, BE, MBA marksheets, PAN card, still i get an ECR? I am travelling out of country to nigeria on business trip for my company in Early May 2011?
2. My place of issue is Kolkata, I am put up currently in Mumbai? Can ECNR stamp be done from Mumbai Passport Office?
Pls Help
@Anand
1. For traveling to Nigeria, ECNR stamping is not required.
2. Visa or tickets are not required to get ECNR stamp, eligibility documents like degree, PAN card are required along with current address proofs.
3. Yes, ECNR stamping can be taken from other places than place of issue, but you will have to provide residence proof of same city where you are applying for it.
Thanks Pankaj, i really appreciate that.. i have been in Mumbai only for 5 months now. so i think i cant do it here as it requires at least a year of residence in a place. How many days will an ECNR stamping take if i need to travel to Kolkata for same?
what happens if i don’t no have ECNR stamping, will ECR stamp create any problems in my business visit?
@Anand
For Nigeria, ECNR is not required. You may travel without any issue.
ECNR stamping may take 2-10 days.
hello pamkaj,
My neighbour is not 10thpassed,he got businees visit visa from doha for job from his sponsor. he took the tickets but he was not allowed to go as they said he requires ecnr.what is he supposed to do now. please advice
@Viji
He can get ECNR stamp on basis of PAN card, if he has.
Or, he can get emigration clearance from protector of emigrants (POE)
Hi Pankaj, I’m bringing a housemaid from india and getting all paper works done thorugh indian embassy, her passport has ECR and she is not educated.. how can i get the ECNR stamp on her passport.
@Thomas
On which visa she is coming along with you?
hi, i came from india to uk in a settlement visa my wife is a british citizen , they gave me 2 years visa will be continued , i have no ECNR stamp in my passport , by next month iam going to malaysia to visit my brother inlaw is there any problem in chennai airport for ecnr or i have to do ecnr
@Kumar
If you not visiting for business or employment purposes, then there is no need to get ECNR stamping.
Dear All,
PLs note i had recently got my passport ,Where the Immigration stamp is not there in the second page but In the last Page it has mentioned ECNR required to remove this from the passport , Kindly advise the formalities to process..
Kindly advise shall i go for business trip with my existing pass port where it has mentioned ECNR required ..
Papana..
@Papanna
If you are travelling to any of the below countries for business/employment purposes, you will have to get ECNR stamping.
United Arab Emirates (UAE), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand and Iraq.
For getting ECNR, you can visit your local passport office with Misc form filled along with address, ECNR eligibility and ID proofs.
Hi Pankaj Batra,
Thank you so much for your good reply and i have one more question – Can i go to Bangladesh ? because ECR (Emigration Check required) is in my passport .
@Papanna
For Bangladesh, ECNR is not required.
Hi pankaj …… Thanks for ur immediate reply …… I have one more doubt – I ll go to USA for Training purpose So ECNR stamp is required or Not ? Pls advise
@Papanna
For traveling to USA, ECNR is not required.
i m s.s.c faild how can i apply ECNR
@Mohammad
If you have PAN card, you can also get ECNR stamping.
hi pankaj,
i have a visist visa of dubai.
i am not qualified. (5th standard only)
my age is 43.
do i need ECNR STAMP or not.
passport issued on march 2011.
@Naveen
ECNR stamp is not required for visit visa. Its only required if you are going for employment or business purposes.
I HAVE ONLY PAN CARD HOW CAN I APPLY ECNR GIVE ME FULL DETAILS
@Mohammad
You are eligible for ECNR stamping, in case you have PAN card.
Please go to your local passport office and submit Misc form, along with PAN card copy, address and ID proofs.
Dear pankaj
i am going to Muscat for interview under visit visa.
My passport is ECR- is it valid.
@Sanjay
As you are not going on employment/business visa, ECNR stamp won’t be required this time.
But when you go back with a employment visa, it will be asked for.
I am eligible for ECNR status and inspite of giving required documents and asking for ECNR while issuing passport is endorsed as ECR .I need to go to Kenya for holiday next month and now if I want to change the status they advised me to ask for reissue of passport and get new renewed passport with ECNR. Is ECNR status required for Kenya and if passport is endorsed as ECR what is the procedure ?
@Shrikanth
For Kenya, ECNR is not required. You may go there without any issue.