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
We have a house maid (Aged 48 years) in UAE & she doesn’t have ECNR status. She came here on
tourist visa & we found her & employed with valid UAE residence visa.
We would like to take her for vacation along with us to India. I understand there may be difficulties in
emigration on our return trip to UAE.
To overcome what to be done?
can we approch passport office for ECNR? If yes what are the documents required?
she don’t have matriculation.
please advise
@Sachi
As she don’t have matriculation, she can get ECNR based on PAN card if she has.
In case she does not have that too, she would have to get emigration clearance from protector of emigrants as ECNR stamp cannot be issued.
Hello Pankaj
I was searching for ECR clearance related posts and luckily found this one first. Seems you are doing a good job. I too have a question for you.
My brother has got a job in Saudi Arabia. The company currently doesnt have work visas so they’ve issued him a visit visa. (1)Their agent in Mumbai says that since my bro has ECR stamp, it could be a problem visiting saudi. In you post i saw point#2 tht one can get ECNR based on PAN card. My bro is not SSC. Is this true? If so, it would b a good news for my bro. (2) The agent just said that the visit visa is now stamped. Since he doesnt hv ECNR, does he need to do some extra formality for ECR clearance before travelling?
Appreciate your help.
Regards,
Rajesh
@Rajesh
For visit visa, ECNR stamp won’t be required but take caution while emigration. If emigration officer comes to know that he is going for job, he may send him back.
To be on safer side, it will be better to get ECNR stamp before leaving. PAN card and income tax return copies can also act as eligibility condition .
Hi Pankaj
Many thanks for the prompt response. Just one question, he has the PAN card but not filing returns since his income is far below the limits. So, will the PAN Card only suffice or returns are also must?
Regards
Rajesh
@Rajesh
As per Govt link: “Proof of assessment of income-tax and actual payment of income-tax for last one year or copy of PAN card. However, in most cases as an assessment order is not issued separately by the income-tax department, income-tax returns which are stamped by income-tax authorities can be accepted.“
my wife doen’t have ecnr on her passport. her education qualification is nil.
I m working in UAE as en engineer from last 5 years.
My question is if she comes on house wife VISA issued from UAE. does she required ecnr stamp on he passport.
her passport has ECR stamp.
@Javed
Your wife won’t need ECNR stamp if she is visiting on a dependent visa.
pankaj ji thnks for your reply.
My wife is coming UAE to stay here. she is coming on entry permit for residence.
Please clarify still she can travel to UAE with RCR stamp on her passport or i need to take ECS (emmigration check suspended) from POE office or is there any other way to get rid off the hurdle at airport immigration…
my wife applied the ecnr while applying the passport under the category Engineer’ wife (dependent) instead they given ECR. now the problem is i already got the housewife VISA for her….and i am not sure wheater she need to run for ECS…ECNR or she can travell with ECR status..
Please clarify..
thanks
@Javed
She won’t need ECNR stamp as she is not going for employment or business.
BATRA JI , to be double sure and to be on safer side..one more quary…in the first para of this page mentions
“The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Emigration Policy Division) have allowed ECR passport holders traveling 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.”
it shows that ECR passport should have RETUN TICKET, but in my case my wife will not be having the return ticket as she is coming to stay with me…after entering the UAE ,,residence VISA will be stamped on her passport…may be we will go back to India after 1 year or so ..and in her next visit to INdia she will be having the residence VISA sticked on her passport not the separate visa.
@Javed
Generally return ticket won’t be asked for residence visa but If your wife does not even have visa on passport nor the return tickets, it might be an issue.
I would advise you in this case get either visa first stamped on passport or get return tickets.
pankaj ji,
the UAE entry visa carries the world RESIDENCE in bold letters after only entering the UAE, that VISa get stamped on passport..
first uae provides a A4 size paper visa for one time entry then after entry they ask for medical and after getting the medical clearance they stamped the visa on passport for 3 years. RESIDENCE for housewife …..clearly mentioned in the VISA, will they allow to board with ECR passport. she will be carrying the original VISA not the photocopy….generally people carry the photocopy and from the uae airport they collect the original visa from counter before proceeding for immigration.
@Javed
If she carries an original paper residence visa, it should not be an issue then.
She may travel with ECR stamp too.
Thanks Batra ji,,
My wife came to UAE on Residence permit for house wife with ECNR status…
Thanks again for your valuable suggestions
Sorry correction….SHE CAME WITH ECR STATUS….
Hi pankaj,
i am going to russia for my p.g.and i have ecr stamp on d 2nd page of my passport,what should i do??..will it be ok if i apply for suspension of ecr?
@Sunny
For Russia, ECNR/ECR does not matter.
Also for traveling for education purposes, its not required for any country.
What is the procedures to get emigration clearnace for travelling in Riyadh with a employment visa. and I dont passed sslc., so please reply for the same.
@Shibu
If you have PAN card, you can get ECNR based on that.
If not, ECNR can’t be issued and you will have to get emigration clearance from Protector of emigrants (POE)
I have some questains:
(1)How many days will take to get the ECNR stamp on the passport. when can i get back my passport after submit it.
(2) Is there any emergency service?
(3) i have got an employment visa. what is the procedure to proceed the ECNR & processing the visa together? plz mention the the ways to get it as soon as possible.
@Taofiqur
It may take minimum 2 days and maximum even 15 days. It all depends on your location and method of delivery.
There is no emergency/Tatkal service for ECNR.
Visa has no relation with ECNR. ECNR will be done by passport office and visa by appropriate country consulate.
Thanx mr. Batra……………….
I’m totaly new in this field. i have no idea regarding this. plz help me…
i have some more questions………
i have got an employment/I visa from UAE, Dubai. company sent me a photocopy of that visa but did not send the original. i have got a booked eticket copy of a flight from Hyderabad to dubai too.
could u plz exlain what should i do from now onwards to till reaching dubai?
Apart from that i have some more small questions ………..
(1) is there anything required to do in india for process or need any approvement? or i can directly go for the flight.
(2)Before leaving india Any medical check up should be done in india or not?
(3) Any police clearence certificate is required?
(4) What are the documents will be required there in dubai?
@Taofiqur
We have little knowledge about Dubai visa process and requirements.
Can you please consult an experience visa/travel agent on your questions.
Hi Sir,
I’m from Bangalore, I was not allowed to go to bahrain for employment bcoz of ECR Stamp. I have Bachelor’s Degree.
I came back to Bangalore but wen I inquired for ECNR, they said they will provide new passport but wats d use… I have to loose Job If I go for New.
By September 2nd I need to be in Bahrain. Many agents have shown me other ideas which are risky and expensive.
I need to remove this ECR stamp… Help me…. Tell me wat should I do????Plz I’m Waiting.
@AliAhmad
Bangalore passport office has stopped providing ECNR stamp and have been issuing new passport only, as their passport application procedure have become computerized completely.
You may consider emigration clearance from protector of emigrants (PoE).
Thanks for replyin… Now I have degree certificate, visa and company agreement(not attested by embassy) along with ECR stamped passport. If I go to Cochin POE, will thy clear it and give me same day or I hav to wait them there in cochin?
[email protected]
@AliAhmad
Frankly, We don’t have idea how much time POE office will take to process the clearance.
Can you please consult a travel agent for this.
SIR I APPLIED PCC FOR AUGUST 23 2011, WHEN I WILL GET THE PCC FROM CHENNAI PASSPORT OFFICE.
Hello Pankaj,
I just want to know if GAMCA medicals for work visa to Gulf countries can be done anywhere in India for Indian citizens regardless of their place (state) of origin. I mean, if one resides in Mumbai, can he get GAMCA medical test done in Delhi to get the necessary result ‘FIT’ stamped on his Visa or is it compulsory to do the GAMCA medicals in Mumbai itself ?
@Cezar
Sorry, we don’t have much idea about GAMCA test.
hi sir,
my name is sandeep shetty from udupi.am recieving my passport on 22.08.11 as a appleid tatkaal.but i dont knw its ECR or ECNR. how can i check my passport is ECNR stamp or not.Allready my visiting visa is ready to dubai. please reply me as soon as possible.
@Sandeeo
If your passport has ECR mentioned in second page then its ECR else ECNR.
Check sample photo of a ECR passport provided on the article page.
DEAR PANKAJ,
now i saw my passport. here not mentioned in ECR .In my passport only my details are available.
DEAR PANKAJ,
MY DAD IS TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG FOR TOURING ON 9/09/2011 , HIS PASSPORT WAS ISSUED IN 2001, AND HAS ECR STAMP ON IT. DOES IT NEED TO BE REMOVED? HE IS TRAVELLING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I DON’T NEED ANY TROUBLE.
KINDLY SUGGEST WHAT TO DO, ALSO THE VISA IS ON ARRIVAL FOR HONG KONG? KINDLY REPLY ASAP.
@Gaurav
For tourist visa, ECNR is not required for any country.
Moreover, HongKong is not even in the list of countries which requires ECNR stamp.
THANKS A LOT PANKAJ. YOU HAVE RELIEVED ME FROM LOT OF PRESSURE. JUST ONE LAST QUESTION ABOUT THE HK VISA, I THINK HE JUST HAVE TO WALK IN WITH THE RETURN TICKETS OF HK TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND WILL GET THE VISA ON ARRIVAL IN HK AIRPORT? OR HE HAS TO GET IT HERE IN INDIA AT THE AIRPORT
@Gaurav
He will get visa on arrival at HK airport only. It won’t be done in India.
Hello Pankaj,
I dont have ECR mentioned in My Passport, so its obvious that its ENCR…but shud i get it stamped coz i’m going on an employment visa for sharjah. I’m from mangalore.
@Vaishak
If your passport does not have ECR, that means its with ECNR by default and you don’t need to get any ECNR stamp before visiting sharjah.
But i’m going on an EMPLOYMENT visa… I’m confused bcoz it says “There is no requirement of ECNR stamp, if you are NOT traveling for job or business purposes” which means that ECNR stamp is required IF I’m going for job related work.
@Vaishak
As I said earlier, your passport already has an ECNR stamp (not having ECR in latest passport is equivalent to this) so you don’t need any more such stamps.
If you will go to passport office for ECNR stamp, they won’t do it as its status is already ECNR.
Thanks a lot Pankaj 🙂
My friend is going on work on Dubai. He has received his visa. Does he have to get the ECNR Stamp ? Is it done on the visa or on the passport?
@lobo
If your friend has ECR stamp on passport, he will need to get ECNR stamp before going to Dubai for job.
hi, Currently my passport has ECR status. i am planning to apply for H1B visa (US), do i need to remove ECR Status from my passport before applying ? and can i travel and work in US with ECR status on my passport?
@Samrat
ECNR stamp is not required for visiting USA, so you need not to get ECR status cleared before visiting US.
Hi,
My passport is issued after 2007 and no ECNR stamp, as it assumed for passports after 2007 stamp is not placed. I have to leave for Qatar for Job do i still require ECNR stamp and if yes in how many days on get the stamps.
@Vikram
As your passport is already with ECNR status, you need not to get any more stamps on it.
LISTEN I AM MARRIED TO A GIRL.I WANNA BRING HER TO UAE.I HAVE APPLIED FOR HER EMPLOYMENT VISA AND I GOT HER HER VISA.BUT HER PASSPORT HOLDS AN ECR STAMP HOW TO SLOVE THIS PROBLEM PLZ TELL ME
@Shadab
If your wife is going to UAE on an employment visa, she would need ECNR stamp on passport before leaving out.
She should get it done from passport office. Now a days in-spite of ECNR stamping, new passports are being issued, so she may have to apply for change in passport.
@ Pankaj Sir,
Hello. i m in a fix rite now, im travelling to uk in cple of days and i was told ECNR stamping is not required. im going for studies (pg) and my passport has ECR stamp and says that ECR is reqd for countries other than europe and etc.
my dobt is that i m going by qatar airways to uk. and have a layover period of 1 hr at qatar . will it be a problem coz of ECR??
@Deepanshu
There would not be any issue with flight stopover at Qatar with respect to ECR/ECNR.
Remember you are not going to Qatar, its just a flight stoppage.
Dear Sir,
I am sending My daugter to China for MBBS Study She ECR Stamp on her Passport
Please advice how to get it clear
@AK Joshi
For China, ECNR is not a requirement. So there is no need to get ECNR stamp or Emigration clearance.
Sir,
Thanks for Clarification
Actualy My Daughter’s Passport rwas enewied on 06.09.2011 but in her old passport she has resident visa of UAE. can she come to UAE with new passport and resident visa whic is in old passport ? or in that case ECNR is required?
@AK Joshi
If she is not going to UAE for employment/business purposes, she may visit UAE even without ECNR stamp.
hi Mr. pankaj
my name is Hitesh modha from rajkot(gujarat)
i already finish my 3 years employment contract with same company in dubai
i m s.s.c pass student from india
now i got my new employment visa from dubai
now i want to ask u.. how can i remove E.C.R stamp from my passport ??
and what is the requirement for this stamp ??
and where can i do this ??
please give reply as soon as possible
thank u
@Hitesh
You should apply for ECNR stamp in your local passport office before leaving to Dubai for job.
You are already matriculation pass, so you are eligible to get this stamp.
Hello Pankaj,
I am travelling to HK (client meeting for 10 days) on Sep 18 and I have a passport issued in 2003. My passport has ECR status and I am eligible to apply for ECNR clearance. As I have to travel to HK in such a short notice, I am little confused / scared.
1) Is it mandatory to get ECNR clearance in my passport, even for such non-employment travel to HK?
2) If it is mandatory, do you know how long it will take to get my passport back from the passport office, after the ECNR clearance is stamped?
Your earliest reply will be appreciated.
Cheers,
Bharani
@BTG
1. Its not a requirement to get ECNR stamp to visit HK (on any sort of visa and purpose).
2. Now a days, new passports are being issued in-spite of ECNR stamping in most of the passport offices, so it may take upto one month in passport renewal.
Pankaj,
I am from Ahmedabad. I got my tourism visa, which was sponser from Dubai. My question is on my passport ESR/ Encr, not mention. Will i face any problem. Please kindly suggest.
@Irfhan
For tourism visa, ECR/ECNR does not matter and you may travel without any issue.
Also, If your passport does not have ECNR or ECR stamp, its by default with ECNR status and no further action is needed.