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
My housemaid came to UAE on tourist vias and we chaged to employment visa by travelling nearby country. her passport have ECR stamp. she is 49 years, no matriculation certificate and not completed 3 years in abrod. now she want to go vacation to india. Please tell me there will be any issues while going and coming back from India? If she face any issue how can be sloved?
@Sachi
There would be definite issue while leaving India as she does not carry ECNR and going to UAE for job.
I would advise you to get her ECNR stamp or emigration clearance before leaving India.
Thankx for you information.
please tell me any issues while going to India?
@Sachi
There won’t be any issue while going to India.
How about a person leaving india for a visit (for job hunting) for two months is Clearence required?
@Zaheer
If you go out on a visit visa (not employment/business) with return tickets, you won’t need ECNR or emigration clearance.
Hi, i am Niranjan kumar Recently i went to UAE with employment visa, And the agreement was 2years, But due to Family problems i came back to india, Almost 6months are over, And my visa validity is 2013, So i am i elegible to go UAE again with this VISA ? pls let me know the details If yes than tell me where can i check my visa status wethere valid or rejected ?
@Niranjan
We don’t have much knowledge on topic such as UAE visa. Please consult a visa or travel agent for same.
My wife and child travelling on dependent visa to Malaysia , my wife passport does having ECR stamped on her passport . And my daughter whose passport issued recently does not have any stamp . So I understand there is no issue for my child but Is traveling for my wife can be problem .
@Deepak
There won’t be any issue for both of them as they are going on dependent visa and not for business/job.
thanks Deepak you post has given the exact information i m looking for.
SIR,
DO I NEED A ECNR STAMP ON MY PASSPORT WHICH HAS ISSUED IN 2011 AS THERE IS NO STAMP ON THE SECOND PAGE OF D PASSPORT N IT IS FULLY BLANK AND I WANT TO VISIT UAE AND I M A GRADUATE
@Habiba
Your passport is already with ECNR status and no further stamping is required.
Hi Pankaj,
My Status for passport now is “Passport application is under review at Regional Passport Office”, so should i visit the regional office or i shouldn’t worry
Regards,
Rajiv
@Rajiv
It should not be a case of worry, you need not to visit passport office.
Hi Pankaj,
But other guys who have experienced the same problem are saying u have to bribe the police, this is because of negative police verification report.
@Rajiv
We are not sure about this status being negative. We would advise you to wait for 4-5 more days and check if there is a status change.
Did any policy guy actually visited your address.
I have ECR striked off on my passport and ECNR left out… I thus guess it is an ECNR… Please advise
@Ram
In case ECR is striked off, passport is with ECNR status.
I want to apply for passport but my original certificates is not with me now. I am B.Ed. graduate but should I apply for non-ECNR? by these means my degree certificates won’t be needed, right? I am traveling for vacation so it won’t effect right?
@Nirali
You can get ECNR status even by showing your 10th class certificate.
As you are applying for new passport, better get it with ECNR status.
It won’t be an issue if you get ECR status passport in case you don’t intend to travel to foreign countries for job/business.
HI, my housemaid has worked in the Gulf for over 5 years with another sponsor. She now works for me for the past year. We brought her in on a visit visa and then transferred her to a maids visa. she has a ECR stamp on her passport.
My question is when she goes on leave to India will she face any problems returning back to Dubai.. eventhough she would have a valid UAE maids visa in her passport?
thanks
@Shaz
As she is going to work in Gulf, she would need ECNR stamp on passport or emigration clearance.
As she already lived there for more than three years, she is eligible to get ECNR stamp. Before leaving India, she should get passport re-issued with ECNR status.
Sir,
DO I NEED A ECNR STAMP ON MY PASSPORT WHICH WAS ISSUED IN 2007 (AUGUST) AS THERE IS NO STAMP ON THE SECOND PAGE OF D PASSPORT N IT IS FULLY BLANK. I ALREADY VISITED UAE 2 MONTHS BACK ON VISIT VISA. AM PLANNING TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA ON EMPLOYMENT VISA IN FUTURE….DO I NEED TO HAVE THE STAMP OR ITS NOT NEEDED……PLZ REPLY
@Syed
You won’t need ECNR stamp as your passport is already with this status.
Hi, I am on employment visa in uae and have ecr stamp on my passport. if i travel to india for short trip will it be a problem to come back . My employment visa is already stamped on passport. Also can i get ecnr done in uae? i hold bsc degree form mumbai university.
hi sir,
i am gurpreet singh.
i have a qatar work visa for 5 years, when i was going to emmigrataion counter on the amritsar airport, officers tell me you have to need ECNR stamp, now have to fly on 21 january 2012 becouse the ticket is confermed when today i had gone to passport office amritsar the tell me you have to need an another new passport, if i will be apply for a new passport then my my will be cancelled. i am so confused please give me the right solution thanks
Hi Gurpreet,
I had same case as yours.. exactly same.
You have to apply for new passport.
Your Visa is still valid.
Carry your old passport with your new passport when you travel
trav
@Amy
You may be stopped at Airport while returning back from India due to ECR stamp.
ECNR status or emigration clearance is required if you are going for job to UAE.
I think, ECNR cannot be done from UAE. Once you are back in India, get you passport re-issued with ECNR status.
hiii sir
Now i have 5 days remain. On the raja sansi airport Emmigration officers said to me you have not requirement of a new passport, just went to local emmigration office they will be ECNR stamped on your old passport.
but you are saying i have to need a new passport.
i am so confused please give ne the right solution.
thanks
@Gurpreet
As per new policy (which local emigration officer may not be aware of), no stamp on existing passport will be put. Any changes to passport should be done only through re-issue for passport.
You can read more on passport website: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/
Hi Gurpreet,
Now the rules have changed. A new passport will be issued.
You can check with passport office or immigration office where ever the officers told you.
There is another way to get it cleared. Some POC from delhi. This is valid for short term may be 6 months. I am not sure of this as i did not go get this.
Trav
Hello Pankaj Sir,
My passport was issued in 2008 and I do not have any ECR stamp. Now I am travelling to US and there is a transition from DOHA, QATAR. Do I require ECNR stamp specially for me on the passport?
Thanks,
Rachit
@Rachit
You won’t need any further ECNR stamp on passport as your passport is already with ECNR status.
Hello,
I am an indian and currently in India, i was working in dubai long time back and i have ECNR stamp on my passport and now again am moving to Qatar on working visa so do i need to stamp it again for immigration clearance?
@Huma
As you already have ECNR stamp on passport, it need not to be taken again.
I’m an Indian, working in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I want to bring my family for short term visit. Recently my minor children got passport but home address little bit mistake than my wife passport address, if any problem to apply visit visa in UAE. Please help
@Nihas
There should not be an issue because of some difference in children and mother’s address on passport for applying in Visa. But to be on safer side, you should get it corrected as soon as possible.
sir I applied for my pass port in guntur on 2nd December & also police enquiry was completed on 15th Dec-11. But today onwards I should not get my pass port status in web site. So how many days should be taken for know my pass port status.
@Goli
You should have got passport by now. If you have not got till now and unable to check status for same, you should immediately contact passport office where you submitted your documents.
Hi pankaj,
I had decided to take a maid from India ( i am Indian too ), but she does not qualify for ECNR as per your list. Is there any way of obtaining it?
@Reina
She can get emigration clearance from Protector of emigrants (POE) office.
Below are addresses of Protector of Emigrant offices:
1. Delhi: Jaisalmar House, Canteen Block, Man Singh Road, New Delhi, Tel No. 011-23382472
2. Mumbai: Building E, Khira Nagar, S.V. Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai-400054, Tel No. 022-26147393
3. Kolkata: Room No. 116 A Wing, 3rd MSO Building, DF Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700064, Tel No. 033-23343407
4. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Housing Board Complex, Ashok Nagar, Chennai-600083, Tel No. 044-24891337
5. Hyderabad: 8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground, M.J. Road, Hyderabad.
6. Thiruvananthapuram: Suganth, 24/846 (I), Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram-695014, Tel No. 0471-2324835
7. Chandigarh: Kendriya Sadan, 5th Block, Ground Floor, Sector-9-A, Chandigarh, Tel No. 0172-2741790
8. Cochin: Mercy Estate, 4th Floor, Ravi Puram, MG Road, Cochin. 682015, Tel. No. 0484-2360187
Dear sir,
I have got a job in oman. While travelling from hyderabad is the passport, ticket and visa sufficient or do I have to call for a labour agreement as well. My passport has been issued recently and the 2nd page is blank. Will I require an encr clear stamp or is it already understood that its not rtequired. Thanks
@Aamna
Passport with a valid visa and ticket should be sufficient to travel.
As your passport’s second page is blank, its already with ECNR status and no further ECNR stamping is required.
Thank you Mr. Pankaj. Just a clarification here, I got a baby sitter job in oman. Thhough Oman embassy also confirmed the same with me that passport, visa n ticket is sufficient but immigration in airport say to keep the contract handy just in case. Am a bit confused. Different job titles have different rules. Plz advice
@Aamna
If immigration department is asking to keep it, then you should keep it to be on safer side.
You never know the mood of immigration officer at airport.
My Passport is issued on 2006 and i don’t have ECR stamp in my passport. Does it mean i need to take ECNR stamp on that? I checked with passport agent and they told if you have ECR stamp in your passport then only you need to take ECNR endorsed.
In my case since second page is blank so i do not need to worry. Would you please give your expert advise on this. Please note my passport is issued on 2006.
@Jagannath
As your passport does not contain any ECR stamp, it would be treated with ECNR status. While getting passport, you must have submitted some education qualification documents so they provided ECNR status.
Now there would not be any need to get ECNR stamp.
Dear sir,
Can you tell me where in passport site this is mentioned that if passport is issued before 2007 and the second page is blank then it means that we need to have ECNR and for passport issued after 2007 and second page blank means ECNR is there.I tried to search this in passport site but i didnt get this info.
@Pushpa
Generally in passports before 2007, ECR or ECNR was clearly mentioned on second page and a blank second page was rare instance.
There used to a stamp like shown in this image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3667774791_91da774f89.jpg and it was striked off or not based on ECR/ECNR status.
If somebody have a blank page for passport issued before 2007, it may be considered as with ECNR. You may read this passport website link: http://www.passport.gov.in/shimla/ecnr_ecr.htm
Hi! I have a job in UAE and have a blank 2nd page (passport post 2008) so I reckon I have ECNR. Subsequently my wife will be joining me there but her passport has a ECR stamping. My question is, when I try to get Visa for her, will an ECNR be required? She will be on a defendant status for now. Also in future if she wants to work, will I have to get the status changed again? Cheers.
@Sunando
Your passport is already with ECNR status as it has a blank second page, you don’t need further stamping.
If your wife is traveling on dependent visa and is not going to work/do business in UAE, she won’t need ECNR status.
If she wants to work in future, her visa would change from dependent to employment and then she would need ECNR status while leaving from India.