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 Pankaj,
I have applied for passport on 11-11-2011, and the police verification has been done, but the status of the police verification haven’t got changed. my police verification was done on 24-11-2011 and in the website it still shows Your passport will be dispatched after ‘Clear’ Police Verification Report is received at Regional Passport Office. So what to do? I am stuck as my company has already applied for VISA for sweden
@Rajiv
Looks like police station has not sent back your verification report to passport office.
I would request you to visit police station and ask for the same.
Dear Sir,
How much time now it take to process ECNR stamp on old Passport
@Lakhvinder
Now passports are re-issued for ECNR. It may take upto 30-45 days under normal scheme and 10-15 days under tatkal scheme.
i heard that goernment has passed new rule for ecnr on esisting passport. they will not do ECNR stamp on existing passport. we have to reissue the new passport is it correct.
@Faiz
Now, ECNR stamp is not being put on older passports, but instead passports are being re-issued with ECNR status.
Thank you for your response pankaj. I will submit application for new passport but iam not in the same address now. I stayed in rented house now. I can give CITIBANK 1 yr statement and letter from my company( 3 months in current company) and Gas connection slip (My father’s name). Is this fine? I have aadhar card but they are not accepting…my voter ID card didn’t come yet. i have applied online ,i have application number.
@Faiz
You would also need to request for address change (along with ECNR) as same has been changed.
For address proof, please see acceptable list of documents here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/popuponline/AttachmentAdvisorSub?subDocID=7001&confirmDOB=DOBVarYes
Thank you Pankaj,
Can you please tell me the procedure to change the date of birth on SSC memo issues in Hyderabad in 2004. how to start? what are the documents required and where to go?
@Faiz
We don’t have much idea about how to get date of birth changed on School certificate.
I am bringing my mother-in law to Dubai on visit visa for 3 months. Her passport carry ECR required. Does she require to clear ECNR stamp on the passport. Please clarify urgently as she is taking flight during this week.
@VVN Reddy
As your mother-in-law is not going to Dubai for job or business purpose, she won’t require ECNR stamping.
madan mohan
I have ECR stamping in my passport.now my company objectioned me to change status as ECNR because of work permit.they said by ECR we can do work for several months (3-6moths) only, not for work permit.Please clarify how much time it required get ECNR stamping on my passport.and u said now a days they are going to re-issue the new passport.how much it can charge .
@Madan
You need to apply for re-issue of passport with ECNR status.
It would take 25-40 days under normal scheme and 7-15 days under tatkal scheme.
You can check fees for passport re-issue here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput
Hi Pankaj,
I have ECR stamp on my visa. At present i m working as SE in an IT Company. I have to travel Sweden for Work purpose. So in that case ECR stamp does not matter . rT? I can travel 🙂 Please confirm
@Sandy
ECNR/ECR does not matter for traveling to Sweden. You can travel w/o any issue.
Hi Pankaj,
My passport has endorsed with ECR.
Do I need to get ECNR stamped for immigrating to Singapore for a permanent job?
To get ECNR stamp, police verification is required?
Is there any way I can get emigration clearance without getting my passport re-issued for ECNR stamp?
Thanks,
Manish.
@Manish
For Singapore, ECNR is not required. You can travel with an ECR stamp also with a valid visa.
Pankaj Ji,
I’m a student doing engineering in bangalore, and i have to visit my parents in Muscat, oman by next week. I’d applied for a new passport a month back and now i’ve got it but with an ECR stamp. My friends have told me that I won’t be allowed to travel without having ECNR. I’m not going for a job purpose. Please tell me whether i’ve got to get it stamped for ECNR and how? Your help is much appreciated. Thanks.
@Aditya
As you are not traveling for Job/business, ECNR won’t be needed for traveling to Muscat.
Thnx for the reply, but i’ve got to tell you that many of my father’s colleague’s wards were sent back from the airport even though they were just going for a family visit to muscat with ECR status. I found out from the airport that few airliners allow the passenger provided they have visa and a return ticket produced (Emirates) and others like Air India require only ECNR and nothin else will do. I’ve applied for the same in Tatkal after a lotta runnin around enquiring evrywhre….Hope this Helps other ppl in my condition! God Bless and Happy New Year! 🙂
@Aditya
Thanks for update!
I hope it will really help other people in similar situations.
Hi Pankaj,
I have ECR stamp on my passport. i need to travel to Muscat,Oman for 4 weeks (project work). I’ve very short time only (need to start on Jan 2nd week). Can i travel? Is there any process to cancel ECNR. I saw in passport seva website, then mentioned it will take minimum 2 weeks for re-issue. Please advice. Can i travel with my passport on the respective date?
@Kumar
You should no travel with ECR stamp to Muscat for project work as you may be sent back from Airport.
If possible, get a temporary suspension of ECR stamp, through a travel agent if possible. This is generally valid for short period of time like 5-6 months. This is the only solution in the available time period.
Dear pankaj
I have got Original Visa of UAE for the job of A/C Operator , But In my passport I don’t have ECNR stamp, I am not passed matriculation , In Emigration office they want Original work contrat and Original Visa for getting ECNR stamp .But It is very dificult to get original contract from the UAE company, This chance is got through my relative
Please advice me What shoult I do to solve this issue
Stephen Joseph
Kochi
mob:9497680689
@Stephen
If you are not eligible for ECNR stamp, you should get emigration clearance from protector of emigrants (POE). But they would also need job appointment offer and visa.
@pankaj I have got my passport issued on 29.4.2008. I have got valid work visa for bahrain. my 2nd page of passport is a blankmail. please advice what are the procedures which I have to opt before flying please advice.
@Muzammil
As your passport does not mention anything about ECR/ECNR, its already with ECNR status. So you need not to take any further action regarding ECNR.
@Pankaj, I am working in UAE and want to get my wife and son here in UAE on resident visa, she is an housewife, she does not have matriculation certificate, since she has done her studies from madarsa, there is an ECR stamp on my wife passport, kindly advise whether ECR suspension or clearance required for her, if yes then what are the procedure and what all documents required for the same.Her passport was issued from Mumbai.
One more thing I would like to add is I am sponsoring my wife and my son.
@Aftab
As your wife and son would be coming on dependent resident visa, they won’t be requiring ECNR stamp. They have no intent to work or do business in UAE.
Hello Pankaj,
My wife’s passport is expired 4 years ago, she got the passport when she was 10 yrs old. We have to renew the passport but the date of bith is not matching from SSC memo. Please suggest
@Faiz
You can apply for passport with new date of birth (as mentioned in SSC memo). It would be updated on new passport.
Thank you for the help. I spoke to passport executive and they said I have to bring First class judicial magistrate’s /Sub-divisional magistrate’s (civil court) court order. Can you help me to get details how and where to apply the same. I stay in Hyderabad.
@Faiz
You should go to district court and get birth date change affidavit made.
hello pankaj,
I am planning to travel to singapore& bali for a vacation.i have ECR in my passport will it be a problem to travel to those countries.
@Srivastav
There won’t be any issue regarding ECR stamp for traveling to Singapore and Bali.
First, None of these countries is in the list of prescribed countries for which ECNR is required.
Second, for vacation trips, ECNR is not a requirement for any country.
hi sir, my mother is having a visit visa to kuwait. ECR stamp is there on her passport. she did not complete her 10th. kindly answer the following doubt’s, as it wil be of great help for me.
1. does she need ECNR stamp to go to kuwait?
2.she has a pan card, just as a proof.she doesn’t hold any business,so never paid any tax.can this pan card be help full in obtaining ECNR?
3.The visit visa is for 3monthe from now!! and we didnt plan the return yet.so we didnt buy return ticket yet, what is your suggestion on it? Is the return ticket a must?or atleast, is it of any use?
4. i am from visakhhapatnam.how many days will it take to get the ECNR?
your info wil be of great help to me,
plz do reply.
🙂
@Prudhvi Raj
There won’t be any issue on visit visa regarding ECNR if person is not going for employment or business.
But If she does have return ticket, its better to get ECNR to be on safer side as emigration officer may create unwanted issues at last moment.
Now ECNR stamping is not done on existing passports, instead passports are re-issued. So it may take 30-40 days in re-issue. In case tatkal scheme is applied, it may take 10-15 days.
If her age is more than 50 years, she is eligible for ECNR. Check eligibility conditions here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Dear Pankaj Jee,
Happy New Year to you!
I have a very short question. My daughter had a passport (student) and it has been expired in 2010. Now she needs to renew her passport. Wouls please tell me what is the easiest procedure to renew a passport after more than a year of expiring? Or should she need to apply for a fresh one?
Thank you so much for your excellent free consultancy to thousands of Indians. I salute you for your continued support
@S.K.Deb
Your daughter can apply for re-issue of passport because of expiry of the older one.
Easiest way to apply will be through online passport portal (http://www.passportindia.gov.in)
Hello..Mr.Pankaj,
i want to clarify 1 doubt with u..my passport need a ecnr but i have POE stamped on my passport on that my company name is also there and at present iam in UAE. I wuld like to go india for a week for an urgent work and if i travel to india and wuld like to cum back to UAE do i need another poe stamp on my passport or the 1 which has already stamped is ok or is there any problem while returning from india at airport..pls clarify my doubt..thanks a lottt
@Zafar
If there is some validity date/period mentioned on POE stamp and that period is expired, then there may be issues at airport while leaving India.
I would advise you to check it on your passport.
If stamp is still valid, you work in the same company in UAE (show appointment letter, latest salary slips to prove same) and you have valid work visa, then there should not be any issue.
Hi..Mr.Pankaj,
Thanks for ur kind reply..well i check my passport and i chekd the POE stamp there is nothing validity or expiry date is mentioned on that but on the stamp it shows The reliance general insurance co . ltd dated 19-10-2011 and policy no then after that my job profession then my company name and travel agency name 1 thing i wanna tel u is when travel agent gave my passport after getting POE stamp on my passport he gave me 1 reliance general insurance policy paper in that paper everything is mentioned like my name my job profession company name passport number and its shows policy period from 19 10-2011 to 18 oct 2013.now do u have to show this policy paper at airport while returning from india or do i have to again to do POE stamp on my passport…pls advice looking for ur kind response..thanks once again
Hi Pankaj, I got my passport during my college days and hence it says ECR required. I have to visit Russia (Not for job/business) this year. I am an Engineering graduate. Do I need to get ECNR? Russia is a part of Commonwealth of Independent states for which ECNR is required I think (ECR except for Ban, Pak, all countries of Europse (Excluding CIS), North America, Japan, New-Zealand and Australia)
@Geetha
First, ECNR is not required for any kind of visit to Russia.
Second, ECNR is not required for traveling to any country if you not going for Job or business.
Greetings,
I lost my passport and i came to india with EC and here i applied for passport and i got it. now i have visa to kuwait as a employee and medical, stamping are done. still is their any need of immigration. if it is like that where i have to get it please help me
@Bala
Please check if your passport has ECR status. If its there you would need to get ECNR stamp before leaving India.
Hi Pankaj,
I am travelling to Dubai for a vacation on a tourist visa. I have ECNR stamp on passport for US,UK etc..so that means ECR is needed for UAE? So should I go get a ecnr stamp on the passport for UAE?
@Archana
For tourist visa, ECNR is not required for any country.
hi , palese guide me ,currently I m working in dubai . I have 2 yrs validity work permit visa , I m holding AED 3500 per month . I want to bring here my wife under my dependent visa , my salary covered for that dependent if not what can I do for her dependent visa , what r the procedure for devendent visa plz let me know as soon as possible. thanks
@Sameer
We don’t have expertise in Visa domain. Please contact a visa or travel agent regarding same.