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,
I Am from Aurangabad Maharashtra
and I want ECNR Stamp but when I Go to Mumbai Office they tolled me that If u want ECNR Stamp then u have to fill Re-issue Form for it .
But the ? is I Have a Valid Passport then why Should I Reissue it for the Stamp.
Can u Plz Suggest What Exactly I Have to for it
@Juman
Now no stamp is affixed on existing passports, you would need to get new passport reissued for ECNR.
Dear Pankaj, I am travelling to kuwait on employment visa, i have also received my visa, now i noticed that i require ECNR, for that i will have to reissue my passport to get ECNR but i wanted to enquire if i go to the poe office with my visa and contract (i am a graduate), and do the necessary things will i then to require the ECNR on my passport, because, if i reissue my passport i will again have to send my renewed passport copy to kuwait and reissue the visa. I am bit confused and i also dont want to return from airport beacause of ECNR
Thanks
@Sunil
First, visa on your old passport would still be valid in case you get a reissued passport. You need to carry both passports together.
Second, inspite of getting ECNR status, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office. ECNR status won’t be asked in case you get this. You can also apply online for emigration clearance here: http://poeonline.gov.in/
Dear Pankaj
Thank you for your reply, so this means if i get a clearance from PoE office i won’t need to reissue my passport and also I wont have any problems at airport immigration when i get clearance from Poe office.
@Sunil
Yes, if you get emigration clearance, you won’t need ECNR stamp or reissue of passport.
Thank you soooooo much pankaj, you doing a great job by helping so many of us.
I’ve been looking at the past comments and not able to find one with my exact issue, so please help.
My passport has been issued in 2005 from Dubai, had a residence (sponsored) visa till 2006 and have been travelling to DXB on visit post that. My ECNR status reads “ECNR till the dependent minor attains the age of 24 yrs.”
I was supposed to leave to DXB on employment visa yesterday, when the immigration dept offboarded me from flying, since I’ve crossed 24 yrs of age (YOB 1986).
Can you please advise what needs to happen next? Does this mean I would need a new ECNR stamp and subsequently get the passport reissued to travel to UAE on employment – would this have any repercussions considering the passport is issued in Dubai and I’m getting this done in Bangalore?
Or is there a way around to get current stamp deleted and get any other form of clearance. Your help in this matter is much appreciated.
@Dennis
You would need to get your passport reissued with ECNR status before leaving from India. It does not matter if last passport was issued from Dubai, you can get passport issued from India now.
Another way to tackle this is to get emigration clearance from PoE office. Application can also be made online here: http://poeonline.gov.in/
Thanks Pankaj. I’m going for the PoE option for now, since the turnaround is much lesser than getting the passport re-issued.
Final doubt – my permanent address on passport is that of Kerala, does this mean I need to go Kerala PoE office to get Emigration Clearance stamp, or even the Chennai PoE can have this done for me?
@Dennis
I think Kerala PoE office only would handle clearance requests for passports issued from Kerala.
But you may try with Chennai as I am not really sure on this.
Hi Pankaj,
This is written in my passport second page and I will be travelling to UK on work permit.
emigration check required except for bangladesh, pakistan all countries in europe(excluding commonwealth of independent states (CIS), north america, japan, new-zealand and Australia)
Please let me know whether I need ECNS stamp or not.
@Vibhor
ECNR status/stamp is not required for UK. Its only needed if one is going to any of the listed 17 countries for employment.
hi sir i am waseem my passport has a ecr stamp on it
it was issued when i was a minor now i am going to germany for my masters
do i need a ecnr stamp or i can go with the same ecr stamp
@Waseem
ECNR not required for Germany.
Hi Pankaj,
I got a job in oman, but passport does not have ecnr stamp, I have to join in a week time, Pls help me what to do, how many days it takes for temporary stamping in mumbai??
Thanks
Mohammed Khalid
@Mohammed
Temporary suspension of ECR should not take more than 1-2 days. Please contact a travel agent for same.
Thanks a lot for your help
Hi Pankaj,
First of all i really appreciate to your helping nature.
I am also facing same issue for ECR on my passport as it was issued from Lucknow(UP) 2007 & currently i am working at Mumbai with my relative since last 4 months.
So Rest all required documents for ECNR i am having but what to do for address proof..
@Saurabh
If you don’t have address proof for current address or don’t want to use current address in reissued passport, it would be better that you apply from your hometown only.
For proof of address accepted, check this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/popuponline/AttachmentAdvisorSub?subDocID=7001&confirmDOB=DOBVarYes
@pankaj.
Thanks for quick turnaround 🙂
Means i don’t have any issue to have current residence address(relative’s) on my passport.
Only thing is how to get it.
1. Can Effidavite given by my relative will work ..?
2. As Point no 8 ‘Certificate from Employer of reputed companies on letter head’ :
This i can produce . Will WIPRO consider as ‘public limited companies’ ..?(i m wipro employee)
@Saurabh
I think Certificate from Wipro on their letter head would work.
Affidavit from relative would not work.
@pankaj
Thanks a lot.
Is Ecnr Stamp is Required for Visit Visa for UAE
@Juman
ECNR only required if one is traveling to UAE on employment visa.
For visit visa, its not needed.
I have to travel to kuwait within 1month as my visa is ready with me.and i have gone through medical tests. But the major problem i’m facing here about ECR.
My passport is issued in 2006 with a stamp ECR. I need to cancel ECR stamp from pp permanently. What is the procedure? And how much time it may take? Plz do reply me pankaj..
@Riyaz
You would need to apply for reissue of passport for ECNR status.
It may take 30-45 days under normal application and 7-15 days under tatkal.
But i have received my visa on this pp numbr and i gone through PCC and medical on this pp nmbr. Through which pp,i should apply for endorsement? Present pp or newly issued pp? Will be there any problem at the time of immigration.
@Riyaz
Visa on old passport would still be valid. You need to carry both passports together.
Hi, i am travelling to uk my passport is issued in 2012, but it has no ECNR. Do i need ECNR as i hv a blank 2. page only
@Sameena
1. You don’t need ECNR stamp/status for visiting UK.
2. Your passport already has ECNR status, as no ECR stamp means ECNR by default.
Sir, I have passport with ECR Stamp, I want to go to Malaysia And Dubai for holiday. Will I get any problem. Could you tell me what is the diff. between ECR & ECNR.
@Vibhor
For holiday purposes, ECNR is not required for any country.
ECR means emigration clearance required before leaving India if person is going to any of the listed 17 countries for employment purposes.
ECNR means emigration clearance is not required for any country for any visa.
If I have ECR Passport how can I Prove that I m going for holiday. How govt. will accept that I m going for holiday.
@Vibhor
Its your visa which will tell them the purpose of visit.
hi , i Live in assam but have permanent address in calcutta my passport has ECR as it expired in 2007 now i want renewal but I only have a pan card FOR ECNR STAMP. Can I get ECNR stamp only with a pan card of mine as i dont have any other papers with me at the moment but i needto apply soon!!!!!!!PLease help!!!!!!!
@Anant
You can check this page (http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html) for other proofs accepted for ECNR qualification.
my passport issued from jeddah for 10 year dated.three year ago i drop job from
gulf.and now i want to go on new visa .ple write ecr is nessery or not
@Usman
If your passport is with ECR status, you would need to get new passport with ECNR status.
Hi
I am dhrumil I just got my visa approved for Dubai but I dt have stamp in second page how can I do that if I have renew the passport will I have to change my visa as well pls help me thanks
@Dhrumil
No stamp on second page means ECNR status by default, so you don’t need ECNR stamp/status now.
I dnt have any stamp on my second page will I still need ECNR or it’s by default
I had applied for a reissue of passport. My previous passport was ECNR and now my renewed passport has ECR stamp. I have a PANCARD and I am an Engineering Graduate. How can I change that?
@Shyam
Seems like while applying for reissue you did not mention for ECNR status, so they have provided ECR. In that case, you would need to get passport reissued again with ECNR status.
In case you mentioned ECNR and still passport department provided ECR, you should visit passport office and ask them for correction.
Sir my police verification mode is post and i received my passport can i travel abroad or not before police verification plz help me
@Dipesh
Your passport is with ECR status, so if you need to go to any of the listed 17 countries for job, you first need to get ECNR status or emigration clearance.
In my passport second page is blank but last page printed ecr it means
Dear Pankaj,
I got my passport on 2008, my passport second page is blank,I got a job in uae,I have to join in a week time, Pls help me what to do, how many days it takes for temporary stamping in mumbai??
thanks
@Saud
If your passport does not have ECR stamp, its by default with ECNR status and you won’t need a temporary suspension or emigration clearance.
Dear pankaj sir i am received my reissued passport and police verification mode is post can i do the inter national travel before police verification plz ansr.
@Dipesh
You cannot travel before police verification is done. You may be stopped at airport if their system does not show positive police verification.
@ Pankaj
How much fees do i had to pay for ECR removal. As Agent is telling that a new passport will be issue to me.. so if req in 30 days the 2k if req in 1 week then 6k..
Is is correct..?
@Saurabh
New passport would be issued for ECNR.
You can calculate fees required on this link: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput
There is no need to go through an agent. Now-a-days system is faster and you can apply online.
Tatkal fees for 36 pages passport is 2500 and normal one is Rs 1000.
If you apply with a passport seva kendra, it would take 1-3 days in dispatching your passport.
Even in case of normal application, it may be dispatched in 3 days provided all documents are in order. Check this page: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqWhatHasChanged