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
sir i got passport on nov 2011 but it dont have ecr stamp or ecnr stamp,now i want go dubai on employment visa is it require ecnr stamp on my pass port.
@Ranadheer
Your passport is already with ECNR status as it does not contain ECR endorsement. You may go to Dubai on employment visa without any issue.
I am an Indian passport holder. My passport has been issued from dubai. On my first passport issued from Mumbai I had ECNR done. Now how ever in my new passport no mention of ecr or ecnr. Now I am traveling back to UAE on a visit visa. Do I still need ecnr or I do not need it as my passport has been issued from dubai?
@Merrick
On new passports, second blank page (no endorsement of ECR) means ECNR status, so you don’t need ECNR stamp again.
i’m 10th fail. i have a malasiya tiuriest visa in here. but i have confer degree and It returens,can i apply for ecnr stamp..
@Sivam
For tourist visa, ECNR is not required.
ECNR would be required if you are going for job/business.
I AM GETTING A VISA FROM OMAN (MUSCAT). MY PASSPORT IS ISSUED IN THE YEAR 2010. COMPANY HAS ASKED ME TO SEND THE MEDICAL REPORTS AND PASSPORT COPY. I SENT THEM. THEY HAVE NOT ASKED ME ANY CERTIFICATES YET. DURING INTERVIEW I HAVE SHOWN THEM THE COPIES OF CERTIFICATES. IS IT MANDATORY TO CARRY THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATES ALONGWITH ME WHILE GOING. I HAVE NOT ASKED TO DO THE ATTESTATION ALSO. IS IT A COMPULSORY OR IT IS UPTO THE SPONSOR. IN MY CASE WHAT ABOUT ECNR.
PLS ADVISE.
@Rahul
We don’t have much knowledge on visa rules for Oman.
Regarding ECNR, as you are going for job, you should have ECNR status on passport before leaving India for Oman. If your passport does not have ECR endorsement, it would already be with ECNR status by default, else you would need to re-apply for same.
thank you very much for your valuable comments
i WANT TO APPLY FOR TATKAL PASSPORT. i HAVE NO RATION CARD. BUT MY PARENTS HAVE. CAN I USE MY PARENTS RATION CARD TO USE IN PASSPORT APPLICATION AS MY NAME IS ALSO MENTIONED IN THAT RATION CARD?
@Anfar
Yes, you can use ration card as address proof for passport application, in case your name is mentioned in same.
Dear Pankaj, i m travelling to oman for job i got visa confirmation from company but they are asking for ECNR. i have issued my passport in nagpur and my passport doesnt have ECR stamp. so is their need to have ECNR on my passport. do reply me at the erliest if possible. you may reply me on my email- [email protected]
@Shashank
In case your passport has been issued after 2007 and does not contain ECR stamp, it means your passport is already with ECNR status.
Hi,
Here anyone knows how long does it takes (tatkal and normal mode) to get rid of ECR stamp from the passport if the person applies from chennai PP office.
Thanks in Advance..
@Nazeer
Passports are being re-issued now for ECNR status. It may take 30-45 days under normal scheme and 7-15 days under tatkal scheme.
hi i am a gradute,going to dubai on visiting visa to seek job..on my passport it has written emigration check required..i want to know,do i require ecr r ecnr…if ecnr den wat do i do to make ecnr….?its urgent,pls help me………..
@Anand
As long as you are going on visit visa and does not show intent to work in Dubai, you won’t require ECNR status.
But if you intend to stay for job or business there, you should get ECNR status before leaving India.
You need to apply for re-issue of passport with ECNR status.
Hi Pankaj,
I applied for a new passport in December and accidentally selected ECNR required as No in my application so I have an ECR stamp in my new passport. What is the procedure to remove this? Do I need to apply for a fresh passport altogether or can I just apply for an ECNR status? How long will this process take? I had to wait 72 days for my current passport so don’t really want to wait again.
Thanks,
Atul
@Matt
You would now apply for a re-issue of passport.
This process would take same time again as issue of new passport as process is similar.
This time you can apply through Tatkal scheme so it should take 7-15 days.
Wow. That would mean another 2000-2500 rupees on this blasted thing! Do they go through the whole police verification thing all over again and treat this as a fresh application? Can’t believe it’s so complicated!
Had a look at the Mumbai RPO site : http://passport.gov.in/mumbai.html And there’s some Misc service called ECNR. What exactly is that? I read somewhere that I can apply for the ECNR stamp for 300 rupees?
@Matt
Now process has changed and they are not putting ECNR stamp in existing passports.
Please call passport seva kendra on 1800-258-1800 or visit http://www.passportindia.gov.in for more information.
http://passport.gov.in/pms/EMIGRATION%20CHECK%20NOT%20REQUIRED%20STAMP.htm So this is outdated?
@Matt
Yes, that’s older site.
New site is http://www.passportindia.gov.in/. Passport processing has been outsourced to TCS.
Wow. Surprised they have outdated info up there 🙂
Thanks for the help Pankaj!
@Matt
Like most of the Sarkari websites, they too have outdated information:)
So I just called the chap at the PSK and he tells me the process is different from the RPO. At the PSK they ask for a fresh application but he says things might be different at the RPO. I’ll lose my sanity trying to make sense of everything.
@Matt
You should try RPO too to make it clear, if possible. Do update us with your findings.
We have received comments from multiple persons that when they went to RPO, ppl there told them to apply for re-issue.
Hi Pankaj How r u ??? pankaj do we reqd ECNR in resident visa for family.
@Ali
ECNR won’t be required if person is not going for job or business.
sir i wanted to know tht can i get pasport with tenth compartment memo of CBSC?i hav tenth TC & bonafied.can i get pasport along vth ECNR stamp?if not?can i get ECNR stamp with my husband pasport?we married before 10days.can i get ECNR with husband pasport?please please please help me.i wanted to go dubai and wanted to work for small companies like calcentres ,computer operaters ,insupermarkets or anything like tht.am poor.please do not esitate to answer me.pls kindly help.ur help is requirred for me alot
@Kirthii
If you have not passed 10th class, you won’t be eligible for ECNR under 10th class rule.
However you can get ECNR on basis of some other eligibility. Please check full list of eligibility conditions here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
i am planning to brig my wife to dubai within few months but her passport has ECR in it, is it possible to bring here here as a resident as she is not planning to work.
@Sai
ECNR won’t be required if person is not coming for job/business. As your wife would be traveling on dependent resident visa she won’t need ECNR.
My mother is comming in oman for visit visa 3 month., for my mother immergetion is req ?
in passport no where written for immergation Req / Not Req.
@Sanjay
ECNR won’t be required on visit visa.
Also, if there is no mention of ECR/ECNR, it should already be with ECNR status.
hi sir,
my passport carries an ecr stamp and it is issued in the year 2009 in bangalore now i have already traveled to siria,uae,and iraq on tourist, but now i have an oppurtunity to move to dubai on employment and i am 10th pass, so do i need to get this ecr cleared please update me on this asap.
with regards,
hatim.
@Hatim
If you are going to middle east for Job, you would need to get ECNR status on passport. You would need to apply for re-issue of passport with ECNR status.
hello,
i am going to ireland next month on student visa n i got a ecr stamped on my passport so do i need to get a ecnr ???
@Rahul
ECNR is not required for Ireland.
Hello,
i had lost my passport in australia now i got it again and now i have two passport one is issued from india(before) and another is issued from australia(after) now that passport got expired which was issued from australia now what should i do
@Ajay
If passport has expired you should apply for re-issue of passport.
Dear sir,
My name is Sajan Samuel Indian resident working in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. I am planning to bring my wife and kids to Riyadh for Visit by end of March 2012 for 2 months, but my wife passport has ECR in it.
Is there any problem will happened at Airport due to ECR?
Awaiting your confirmation.
Thanks in advance
@Sajan
There should not be any issue for your wife and kids to travel on visit visa with ECR status.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanks for all your constant valuable inputs. another question, my wife is due to arrive in UAE on a dependant visa but has ECR on her passport. Once she is in the country and sometime in the future she wants to get a job and gets one, what is the challenge? Will she have any problems re-entering India or leaving India the next time? Thanks.
@Sunando
If she has intention to do job there, it would be better to get ECNR status before leaving India.
ECR status on a passport employment visa would create issue.
Sir,
I have received the employmed visa to work in dubai as a manager. I have done my postgruadation. now i am 25 years old. upto 24 years ECNR stamp was there in my passport and my passport validity is till 2015 , when i visited to the passport office they told me change my passport because of slight damage in two pages, and for ECNR they asked me get visa copy, ticket and contract letter from the sponsor.
my sponsor will be sending me the appointment letter mentioning about my job and salary, Is this letter is sufficient to get ECNR stamp? whether this letter has to be attested by indian consulate dubai?
I would like to know that to get ECNR stamp how many days required as the validity of my visa is till 20/03/12.
Awaiting for your reply.
Thank you
@Elveera
Now-a-days passports are being re-issued in-spite of ECNR stamping on existing passports. Reissue may take 7-45 days depending on tatkal/normal application.
Here are the documents required to get ECNR status: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Thank you Pankaj Sir for your quick reponse and information
hi sir,
my passport is not ecnr and i will go uae in a tourist visa recently. did i need ecnr stamp ? i m 10th fail but i have a pancard, can i got a ecnr stamp by a pancard ? please advised me.
@Maharana
You won’t need ECNR stamp/status if you are going on tourist visa.
hi sir,
thanks for yr information. but i have a one question that can i got ecnr stamp by a pan card . if not then how many document need for it ?
@Maharana
This page has all the required documents: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
hi pankaj now i am in duabi and i have ecr on my passport and i need to go back to india for 5 days so i need ecnr for coming back to dubai?
@Suraj
If you would be going to Dubai for job/business, you would need ECNR stamp/status on your passport.