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Emigration clearance not required (ECNR)

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 check not required (ECNR)

Emigration clearance required (ECR)

Eligibility for ECNR status:

The following applicants are eligible for Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) status:

  1. Gazetted Government servants, their spouses and dependent children
  2. Holders of Diplomatic/official Passports
  3. Persons having educational qualifications of matriculation and above
  4. Persons above the age of 50 years
  5. 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)
  6. Income-Tax payers (including Agricultural Income-Tax payees) in their individual capacity, their spouses and dependent children below the age 18 years.
  7. 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
  8. Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act. 1947
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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:

  1. Protector of Emigrant office New Delhi
    Jaisalmar House, Canteen Block, Man Singh Road,
    New Delhi
    Tel No. 011-2338 2472
  2. Protector of Emigrant office Mumbai
    Building “E” Khira Nagar, S.V. Road, Santacruz (West),
    Mumbai-400 054
    Tel No. 022-2614 7393
  3. 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
  4. Protector of Emigrant office Chennai
    Tamil Nadu Housing Board Complex, Ashok Nagar,
    Chennai-600 083
    Tel No. 044-2489 1337
  5. Protector of Emigrant office Hyderabad
    8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground,
    M.J. Road, Hyderabad.
  6. Protector of Emigrant office Trivandrum
    Suganth, 24/846 (I), Thycaud,
    Trivandrum-695 014
    Tel No. 0471-2324835
  7. Protector of Emigrant office Chandigarh
    Kendriya Sadan, 5th Block, Ground Floor,
    Sector-9-A, Chandigarh
    Tel No. 0172-2741790
  8. Protector of Emigrant office Cochin
    3RD Floor Putherickal Building, Market Road, Ernakulam.
    Kerala – 682035
    Tel. No. 0484-2360187
  9. 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:

  1. Passport (valid at least for six months)
  2. Valid Employment Visa
  3. Contract Duly Signed by Foreign Employer
  4. Valid Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Policy 2006
  5. Affidavit from Candidate Declaring Genuineness of Documents
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4,643 Comments

  1. I have my passport with ECR written on it so do i have to go and get the ECNR stamp done on my passport if i am going to dubai. Please reply to me as soon as possible coz i hav my flight on 22nd july 2008 if possible plz mail me.

    Reply to Abdul

  3. Hi Pankaj,

    In my passport ihave a check for ECNR required.
    but i am going for USA is there any problem.
    Can i apply for ECNR form USA.
    is there any problem if i go for part time job in USA. Waiting for u r replay.

    Thanks & Regards
    Sudarshan

    Reply to sudarshan

  5. Hi,
    ECNR Stamp require on dubai residence / visit visa.

    I think ECNR stamp require only for employment in 18 contry is it correct?

    Reply to Pratik

  9. I need to get the ECR stamp on my passport, I have a PAN card and also am a Degree holder.

    My problem is I have forwarded the original degree certificates (B.E, +2, Matric) to my employer for processing the Employment Visa in UAE. I have the original marksheets though.

    My question is, can I go for the ECR cancellation on the basis of my Degree/HSC/Matric marksheets? Or since I have a PAN card can i submit my Pan card copy for the same?

    Also, any idea how long it takes to get this done at the Regional Passport Office, Calcutta?

    Thanks a lot mate, you’ve been so patient and helpful with your advice!

    HB

    Reply to H

  10. With regards to the above, I need to get the ECR stamp cancelled, i think i wasn’t clear above.

    Thanks,
    HB

    Reply to H

  11. Hi Mr Bhatt,

    You need to go with all original certificates for ECNR stamping. They may ask for anything, you never know. Make sure you go with all documents like employer certificate on their letter pad, employee card if any, residence proof, 10th certificate, degree certificate, PAN card etc. Try to keep as as many proofs you have which prove your identity and residence.

    Its done on same day. In morning you go, you will get passport back by evening.

    Reply to Pankaj

  12. Hi Pankaj,

    The new rules are really confusing. My travel to UAE for employment is on this month end.
    I took my passport on november 2006. I am 3 year diploma holder. the second page on passport is blank. Do i need to take ECNR? Some are telling its required and some agents its not. How could I confirm this? Could you please help me in this regard.

    In case if ECNR is required, I also have forwarded my original certificates to the Employer but I have attested copies of the Diploma certificates with me. Can I use that for getting ECNR? i have me marksheets with me.

    Thank you
    Sreejith

    Reply to sreejith

  13. My passport says the following

    “Emigration check required except for Bangladesh, Pakistan, All countries in Europe (except Commonwealth of Independent states), North America, Japan, New Zealand & Australia”

    I have a shengen visa & plan to leave for Netherlands on a tourist visa on the 19th August & travel to France & Italy from there. Do I need to worry or do something about the above emigration clause or I can safely travel. I am travelling for the first time abroad so a little worried. Please advice

    Reply to Tarun

  14. Dear Pankaj,

    My passport says the following

    “Emigration check required except for Bangladesh, Pakistan, All countries in Europe (except Commonwealth of Independent states), North America, Japan, New Zealand & Australia”

    I have a shengen visa & plan to leave for Netherlands on a tourist visa on the 19th August & travel to France & Italy from there. Do I need to worry or do something about the above emigration clause or I can safely travel. I am travelling for the first time abroad so a little worried. Please advice

    Reply to tarun

  15. Hi Sreejith,

    If your passport does not have any stamp on 2nd page, that means you are already under ECNR.

    But as you are going to gulf for employment, you must get ECNR stamped explicitly as you never know about Indian immigration officers.

    Make sure you go with all documents like employer certificate on their letter pad, employee card if any, residence proof, 10th certificate, degree certificate, PAN card etc. Try to keep as as many proofs you have which prove your identity and residence.

    Its done on same day. In morning you go, you will get passport back by evening.

    Reply to Pankaj

  17. Hi Pankaj,

    Thank you for your response. Yesterday I enquired with 2 passport offices here at Kerala. They mentioned like the rule of giving blank passport without ECNR has started on August 2006. As I got my passport issued on november 2006 they told me that its not required for me. I have sent my certificates for approval to UAE, that is the reason why I was hesitant to get this done here. Do you feel still it might create problem in Airport? I might need to ask them to send my documents back for getting ECNR here.

    Regards,
    Sreejith

    Reply to sreejith

  20. Dear Mr. Pankaj,

    In my passport, is required ECR.I want to go to qatar on 18th Aug. For stamping ECNR, in my Passport , I enquired Ahmedabad, Passport office, issued the same office, they are saying, now they have stopped all the stamping on ECNR for passport on required countries.So what can I do, to stamp ECNR in my passport.from where

    Reply to ajay