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 my appointment at passport seva kendra tomorrow at kolkata for reissue of passport but i dont have my certificates with me at the moment for obtaining ecnr status will i get ecr status on my passport if i dont carry certificates required for ecnr status or will my pan card itself help me get ecnr status .Please help i need to know since I am not having my certificates with me at the moment.Will they stamp ecr on the passport tomorrow?
Thanks
Nirav
@Nirav
Sorry for late reply,
If no valid proof is submitted for ECNR eligibility then ECR stamp would be issued on passport.
sir i am having single entry valid visa for afghanistan and my passport ecr stamp my last passport haveing ecnr stamp and is valid till december 11.12.2012 i am working for last 16 tears in gulf catering so any problem in immegration in airport please suggest me what can i do i i want to travel as soon as possible
@Mohammad
If you are going for Job, then you would need ECNR status or emigration clearance before leaving.
If ECNR stamp is valid as on date of travel, then you won’t need any further stamping.
I PAY INCOME TAX I AM INCOME TAX PAYER CAN I GET ECNR STATUS
@Mayank
You would need following proof for getting ECNR status:
i) Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year
OR
ii) Income Tax return statement (with income tax being paid by the applicant) for last one year that is stamped by income tax authorities and a copy of the PAN card
Note: i) Proof of payment of advance tax is not sufficient. You need to submit additional documents as specified above
ii) Applicants submitting NILL income tax return statement are not eligible.
Hi Sir,
How are you?
This is Rammohan,one of the consultants send me to Oman on Express VISA, as that is valid only for 21 days ,they did not provide me proper procedure to me,told me to provide accommodation ,then I believed ,eventhough went to Oman,struggled lot there,even they did not send any person to airport and did not book Hotel room, Intially they provided me only 20K along with flight and VISA charges.I went there on 31st Oct 2012 night around and went to one of the Hotels and stayed there as it costs around 40 OMR per day,met the contact person in the next day morning,went to office when I asked about the accommodation they told that the accommodation should be provided by my parent company,I met one of the colleagues there on 1st Nov 2012 to enquire about to contactget my own accommodation as the owner of the house told that ,as to stay there should pay 100 OMR in advance,actually that is the cheapest one which I seen,so I came back to Hotel and I did not have sufficient money 100 OMR to take my own accommodation.till now my parent company did not enquire about my safety and arrival.so i took new SIm on 1st Nov night and called my parent company contact person on the Friday morning 2nd Nov,and said about my situation ,as he said that he will talk to his higher authority and then once get approval to give money to me then they will deposit.until my expenses could not wait me for right,still I need to vacate and also it is difficult me take new accommodation 100 OMR,so I had only money with me that was sufficient to my plane ticket,I intimated my problem to the person whom I contacted (Team Lead),as he said this issue will be taken care by my parent company itself,because of the poor response from my Parent Company finally decided my self to leave to India.still I waited for friday 2nd Nov night ,and checked my balance ,so any money deposited to my account by my parent company as they told that they would provide 30USD per day+ and 10000 per month in case if they not provide accommodation.so I left to India on Friday mid night around 12’O clock.once I reached to Oman Airport I informed the contact person that i was leaving to India ,because of the poor response and attitude of my parent company.
Finally my parent company threatening me to file a cheating case on me ,as they stating that i ran out from the project without informing Project Manager.
I did not meet any project manager over there ,the person whom I met is the TL,just informed and comeback.
I lost one offer in another organisation ,now I made Jobless and struggling lot.
So they are threatening me to File cheating case on me unless and until I pay their VISA + Flight charges,but it would be very difficult me to pay that amount and also I have small baby girl.to running family is very difficult to me.I mentally get tensed and the only option me to is get suicide if i don’t get any employment ,meanwhile my parent company pressurising me.
Please suggest me how to overcome above the problem.please help me it is very urgent.
They haven’t give me any mail procedure how to go to Oman.
Please let me know in case if you need any details about the issue.
I appreciate your quick response
@Rammohan
Unfortunately we won’t be able to help you in this regard. This article is only about ECNR/ECR stamping and we don’t have any legal expertise to tackle this case.
You should contact an experienced lawyer and take his opinion in this case.
I had my appointment at passport seva kendra kolkata but they said to bring proof for ecnr status but i said that they can stamp ecr if they want but they refused and said that bring proof for ecnr status or my application will get rejected . I dont have proof right now though as in form I wrote i am graduate and ecnr caption yes so they said I have to get proof what do u do i am helpless they say if i dont bring then my appointment will get deleted and then again i have to apply for reissue of passport. Can i show income tax return and get ecnr .
@Mayank
If in passport form you had mentioned ECNR status, then you will need to provide same else they may ask to re-apply for same.
You can show any of the listed documents here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
sir i am traveling to afghanistan for single valid entry visa and return ticket and my passport ecr stamp can i reqire ecnr
Dear Sir
I have been in UAE since 2008 to 2011 Three yeras, and i am presently in Doha Qatar fortunately i have again Job offer from UAE my previous three years i have immigration so do i need again immigration protector stamp on my passport.
@Mohammad
If your passport has ECR stamp, you would need to get emigration clearance from PoE or ECNR status before leaving India.
Sir recently i got passport . It has ecr category .I’m incomplete 12 & my name is printed one word wrongly on my 10’th marksheet . I have pancard so can i apply for ecnr category or i want to reissue my passport. I want to go for gulf country for job. Pls help me to me take further actions.. Give me full details sir
@Udhaya
If you have any of the ECNR eligibility proof (see this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html) then you can apply for ECNR category while reissue of passport.
@pankaj
sir i’ve ECR stamp on my passport even though i had applied for ECNR submitting necessary documents.. I’ve bokd air tickts to Bahrain on work basis for next week.. I rcntly cme 2 knw abt d ECR I’ve completed my degree i suppose it maks me elgble fr ECNR..
I cme acros temp suspnsion of ECR in ur replis nd its validatin fr 6 mnths.. Will i’ve to retrn witin 6 mnths to renw d tempry suspnsion.. If nt whn i retrn to India nxt tme probably aftr 2 yrs.. Cn i aply fr suspnsion again.. Or is it mandtory to apply fr re issue of pasprt..
And where can i find these agents?
Thank you sir..
@Melvin
Sorry for being late in responding.
You can get emigration clearance from PoE or get passport reissued for getting ECNR status.
Hi Mr Batra,
I will be traveling to Bangkok in 4 days for tourism purpose. I have a ecr passport. I have the tickets and the valid passport. However the visa is this case is on arrival. Will I be able to clear immigration in this case?
@Tracy
For tourism purposes, ECNR is not required for traveling to any country/
Hi Pankaj,
I am facing 1 issue.
I was having ECR stam on my passport for which i had already applied new 1.
So in last 1 year
June 2012 onwards : Mumbai
April-May 2012 : Pune Address A
Oct 2009- May 2012 :Pune Address B
Now problem is mistakenly in passport form i had mentioned only Mumbai & Pune Address A.
My Mumbai’s Physical verification had been done.
So will it create any problem in verification in Pune.
(Address A & B come under same Police station , means nearby society).
What can be best solution in this scenario.
@SSS
If you won’t be present on mentioned address, it would definitely go into negative verification.
Hi Pankaj,
I have been staying in dubai for more than 1 year. Basically i have come through visit visa and got employed here. Now my passport has ECR stamp. I will be going for vacation next week to india. Will i face any issues at immigration while coming back to dubai ? I have valid employment visa and my passport also has resident stamped.
@Nazeer
Your query has been answered here: http://www.socialfinance.in/questions/3870/regarding-ecnr?page=1#3880
Hi Pankaj,
I need to visit Hong Kong for 6 days and have procured the return ticket. My passport has ECR stamped. Currently I am in Delhi and plan to leave from Delhi to HK and return. My passport address is Kerala. Do I need to obtain the ECR exemption from Kerala itself or can I travel without the ECR as Hong Kong is not listed in the 18 countries where it is made mandatory. Also I have a PAN card original with me. Will this suffice to be presented at the Emigration Counter while departing? Thanks in advance
@Ajith
For Hong Kong, ECNR is not required, so you need not to do anything regarding same.
dear sir m in merchant navy my wife not have passport with ecnr stamp is she has to face any problem for further isa n travelling along with me on the basis of ecr only
@Gags
As she won’t be traveling for job, she won’t need ECNR status.
hey pankaj
This is gurneet once again, I wanted to that i might be going to Dubai on Tourist Visa this month and my passport is having ECR Stamp on it ! So is it mandatory to get it remove before i go there ?
@Gurneet
No need to get ECNR status/Emigration clearance for tourist visa for any country visit.
Ok Ok ! Then ! its jst i was having ECR stamp on it ! and just wanted to make sure if Indian/UAE authorities will create any hustle will clearing the formalities.?So !
@Gurneet
Unless you are going for employment, there would not be any issues.
Hi! I m nitin batra, had lost my 10th certificate but have pan card and ITR certificate. Am i eligible to remove ECR stamp from my passport.
@Nitin
You would need following proofs for ECNR:
i) Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year
OR
ii) Income Tax return statement (with income tax being paid by the applicant) for last one year that is stamped by income tax authorities and a copy of the PAN card.
Note: i) Proof of payment of advance tax is not sufficient. You need to submit additional documents as specified above
ii) Applicants submitting NILL income tax return statement are not eligible.
Dear Sir,
Iam a gradate in B.com and my passport is issued after 2007. My passport second page is blank, whether I need to apply for ECNR
@Manu
As there is no ECR stamp on your passport, your passport is already with ECNR status by default.
Hi Pankaj
I have ECR on my passport
I plan to travel to US (Boston) on H1B.
Do I need to apply for a ECNR for US(Boston)?
Kindly advice
@Venu
For US, ECNR is not needed.
I’m In Dubai right now (work visa), and I’m planning to travel to India for a week. My passport has an ECR stamp. Is it possible to get an ECNR stamp here, from the Embassy?
What documents would I require to have ECNR stamped on my passport?
What is the time frame for this, usually?
@Aditya
Now-a-days, no ECNR stamp is affixed on existing passports, but one has to be apply for passport renewal for ECNR status.
This page has document list which would be required for ECNR status: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
If I want to get ECNR stamp in Pune (where I will be, during my trip to India) How long would it take me there?