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
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your information, I have tried above link, but i am getting servise is not available in your area . Sir, Can I go directly with Passport office Ahmebad or contact any travel agency. Please help me.
@Bhaskaran
You should visit Ahmadabad passport office for application of re-issue of passport.
Hi.
I have ECR stamp in my passport and presently am in dubai(visit visa). Now i got the employment visa. I decided to go muscat(will come back to UAE in the next flight) for the visa transaction. Will i be able to carry over this with out any trouble ? i hope UAE immigration doesn’t concern those stamps . please advise.
@Malick
There won’t be any issue unless you go to India and come back from there.
Other country’s immigration department has nothing to do with ECR/ECNR status.
i need ecnr details
@Mubarak
What details you want about ECNR?
Hi Pankaj, I went on holiday to Phuket,bangkok and pattaya with ECR stamp on my passport thanks for our all feedbacks, so people with same issue dnt worry you can travel with out any problem, but iwith vaild visa and return ticket,
@Merwyn
Thanks for your update!
I hope it will help other people visiting Thailand too.
Pankaj,
Remember me?
My police verification was done after i pulled some strings and went to police station directly. Within a week, the report was sent.
Two days before, the status changed to “Application Granted. Police Report Received.”
But suddenly today night it changed to “Police has completed verification process on 18/11/2011. Your passport will be dispatched after ‘Clear’ Police Verification Report is received at Regional Passport Office.”
Please tell me this is OK! am shit scared. I have my travel plans in 2nd week of dec. I had thought i will be receiving the passport within a week or so after the first update.
You have any idea about these statuses? And normally how long does it take to dispatch the passport after these? Please reply.
@Soofi
Thanks for the update!
Looks like police verification is done, but passport department has not received formal report from them.
It may be intermediary case, where status may have been updated by police department online, but hard copies are not received yet.
I believe it should be OK and your passport should be dispatched within a week or so.
@Pankaj,
Thats an encouraging news.
Today again, the status changed to “Passport application has been granted and Police Verification Report has been submitted. You would receive an email/sms once the passport is dispatched.”
Please find my Reference Id and DOB if you wanna/could check yourself.
MA2071329180711
09/04/1986
Please tell me that its one week process thats just left.
@Soofi
Great!
Now it should be done in a week.
@Pankaj
Got it. 🙂 Exactly 1 month and 3 days!
@Aizy
Great to hear that! Really happy for you.
And big thanks for sharing your story 🙂
@pankaj,
Its my pleasure.
Thanks to guys like you who take the extra step to help others without expectations. Salute you!
Hello Pankaj,My mother comes to UAE , quite frequently, on a visit visa of 90 days under my sponsership but this time she was stoped at the Jaipur airport saying immigration clearence was not done but finaly she was allowed to travel after a lot of bargain & requests. If i am not mistaken as per the new rule ECNR is done only for employment not for visiting family & relatives but their arquement was since it’s 90 days VISIT VISA you have to get the ECNR. pls advice for the future .
@Rajiv
Your understanding is right about new ECNR rules.
There is no duration rule for ECNR. It only depends on type of visa, if one is going for employment or business, only then ECNR would be required.
Immigration officer have habit of harassing common people about rules etc. Next time take a printout from Govt website and go with that.
If she wants to be on safer side, she can also get a re-issue of passport with ECNR status.
Hello Sir
I have been recruited for Dubai(UAE) and from Cleint I got a mail:
“Do not forget to check on your passport if ECNR (immigration check is required) if not, then kindly do the needful at the earliest. You can check with any travel agency. Strictly use Dubai Airport only.”
Now please do let me know whether I require a ECNR stamp on my Passport or not And who has to take initiative for this stamp: Me or Client itself ? Though I do have a Master Degree.
@Manoj
Please check your passport if its with ECR status. If its there it must be mentioned on second page of passport and would look like image shown on the post (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3667774791_91da774f89.jpg).
In case your passport has been issued after Jan 2007 and second page is blank (no ecr/ecnr mention) then you won’t need further stamping and your passport is already with ECNR status.
In case its ECR, you would need to get ECNR stamping from passport office.
You would need to apply for re-issue of passport with ECNR status. You can check list for documents required here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
I get Employee visa in dubai but sir in my pass port ECRstamp.
but When I take A Exit fom Dubai Shall I Face problem in india?
@Milan
There won’t be any issue while leaving Dubai. but when you go back from India, ECNR would be required.
Hello Pankaj ji ,If Milan has been living there & he has got UAE Residence visa stamped on his passport then he does not need ECNR BUT if he is in Dubai on a Visit but got the employement visa now then on his Return to Dubai He needs ECNR stamp.
Hi,
I got my emploement visa , but could not board the plane as i had ECR status on my passport.
Now I have got new passport with non-ECR status.
I have paper-visa sent by my employee via email.
Is my VISA which has my old passport number still valid ? My new passport has reference to old passport number on it’s last page.
On which VISA shall stamping be on done , once i reach dubai ?
Thanks in advance
Hi Pankaj,
My Mother will be coming to Malaysia next month end in dependent visa for long term . Her passport requires ECR. Does she need to get ECNR clearance before traveling.
Please clarify, Thanks
@Dinesh
As your mom is not travelling on a business/employment visa, she won’t need ECNR clearance.
dinesh , can you update what happens to your mother is she reached without problem
My passport has a ECR stamp.I have no other document other than Income Tax returns for last three years as well as PAN card but the date of birth on PAN card differs from the passport moreover my Icome tax assement is from a diffrent city than my present residing city.My passport has my present address.I have a UID card for present residing place as residence proof.please advise can I get a ECNR affixed
@Anil
You should get PAN card or passport corrected for right date of birth. If both have different figures, it will create issue.
Now a days, passport are being re-issued for ECR clearance, so anyway you will have to apply for new passport. In the same application, also apply for change of date of birth too.
Dear Pankaj
I hold a valid Indian passport and holding an eployment visa to work in Bahrain. To add my spouse name and for ECNR clearance I recently approached passport office and all the process is through without any complication. Now I have been told that I would be receiving a new passport with a different number. I have two queries to clarify
1. My employment visa holds the previous passport details. Will this affect my travel to Bahrain with the new one
. I have booked my ticket with the old passport number. Will I be able to travel as I can’t cancel being a non refundable fare.
Your reply will be of great help.
Regards
Samuel
HI Samuel, i had same issue as yours. But I was able to fly to dubai. the visa is valid even if it was give on old passport . dont forget to carry both of your passports.
Will this apply to Bahrain. Can you please clarify
I am not sure about bahrain.. but i guess visa rulings should be same for all countries…
go to http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/ and call the regional offices there.. very good people.. will explain you in detail.
@Samuel
There won’t be any issue because of new passport issue. You should carry both new and old passports all time.
Hi pankaj, I want to get my family to dubai. I have been living here since past 5 years. My wife was also here before. Her old passport expired, she was in india at that time. She got the new passport but her new passport carry ECR stamp, but note that she has ECNR done in her old passport. Now my questions are 1. Can she travel with my baby to dubai on residence visa with ECR stamp? 2. Her passport was issued from chennai, but she is in gujarat now, but her name is not endorsed by any means in the local govt. Can ECNR be done n e way at ahmedabad office? I’ll be sending their visas in a fortnight, can they help to get the ECNR done?
@Mufaddal
As your wife is traveling on a dependent visa and have to intention to work to work or do business in Dubai, she can travel even on a ECR status passport as well.
ECNR can be done from any passport office, but one must have local address proofs of that location. Also a new passport will be issued for ECNR now, it won’t be stamped on existing passport.
Visa should not be of much help in getting ECNR. Check required documents here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
I am holding a valid in the passport and there is ECR. so i have applied for delete ECR . but they are issuing new passport. will there be any problem
@Hameed
New passport issue won’t be an issue. You should carry both old and new passport together.
Hi,
I got a new passport with ECNR through Tatkal, but police clearance is not completed, i have a visa for Dubai in my hand, Can i go Dubai without getting police clearance, please clarify.
@Syed
It won’t be safe to go before police verification is completed.
Hello Sir, I applied for ECNR on 7/11 how many days take to dispatch.B’coz i move to Uae By 19/11.
@Hemanth
Passport will be re-issued for ECNR and it may take upto max 45 days in normal conditions, if police verification etc also need to be done.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for the information on ECR stamp. It is really helped us a lot.
I have one question please do answer:-
My Passport was issued in 2008. I do not have any ECNR nor ECR stamp on my passport. Does I require ECNR stamp if I am travelling to US ?
@Rachit
First, your passport is already with ECNR status as it does not contain any such stamp.
Second, ECNR or ECR does not matter for traveling to US.
@pankaj
Thank you pankaj sir. It’s just so relief.
I applied for Ecnr without Tatkal mode.And there is no police verification status.Then how long does it takes to dispatch my passport.I applied on 7/Dec inorder to get before 18th dec what should i need to do.Please,Give me the reply.
@Hemanth
It should take 10-15 days in passport delivery in case of tatkal mode.
dear sir,i want bring my wife abudhabi my own sponser visa.so she got pass port last month.she was finish only higher secondary school(12th standard)but passport second page blank.she is passport eligibility in ecnr.otherwise i need to apply.can you tell me sir please…………
@Solairamu
As her passport’s second page is blank, she is already with ECNR status. She does not need ECNR now.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for the info. I am slightly confused and need your guidance. My passport’s 2nd page is blank so I assume it is ECNR. Correct me if wrong. I am going on a job in the UAE so do I need a ECR or can carry on with the blank 2nd page?
Regards,
Sunando
Hello.. if you have a blank second page.. it means it is ECNr & you can travel.
In new passports ECR stamp is put on last page , above one’s father name and is laminated.. If you have ECR then you need to get it removed before you can travel.