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, for taking ecnr, if all documents clear how many days will take or they give direct hand to hand tell me speedy process
@Sufiya
Now passport are reissued for ECNR status. Minimum time would be same as passport issue.
For speedy process you can apply in Tatkal.
Dear Pankaj,
I have an offer to work in egypt since my date of travel is on 21st feb and i have an ecr required stamp in my passport. Is it required for travelling egypt please reply me as soon as possible
sharu
@Sharu
ECNR is only required if you are traveling to any of the below 17 countries for job:
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.
Dear Pankaj,
My question is very different,but it seems you will be able to help. I got an offer to work in an oil company based in Sharjah, U.A.E . Now the company is saying that your work visa is being denied by UAE authorities only on a ground that your passport is made from Lucknow. I am really surprised as i cannot understand this crieteria ( Passport from Lucknow ) of rejecting my Visa. Just wanna know can this be a crieteria for denying me work visa.
@Sachin
We don’t have any idea on such cases, so won’t be able to advise you anything on same.
Dear pankaj,
my mom passport carrying ECR stamp and she comming for DUBAI on Tourist visa
she requier ECNR stamp for Tourist visa ,………?
Please reply me soon
@Jignesh
She won’t need ECNR stamp on tourist visa.
sir, how many days will be take for obtaining ecnr, if the documents are sufficient pls. at hyderabad any tathkal procedure is there? and fee? pls. for which, i shall ever thankful to you
@Shabbir
Check fees and time on these pages: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput and
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/online/faqWhatHasChanged
I m salaried person working UAE; i m having ECNR stamped passport. I m planning to shift my family from india to here. My wife and daughter passport has been issued on sept’2013 without ECNR stamp. Does this ECNR stamp required on both passports.
@Gaurav
First, if their passport does not have ECR stamp, their passport is already with ECNR status.
Second, they would need ECNR status if they are not going to UAE for job.
Do I need a ECNR Stamp specifically for working in Dubai? My Employer is asking for one. I am a Graduate and my New Passport doesn’t have the ECNR stamp (which I understand means it is ECNR). Nevertheless, They have requested me to procure the ECNR Stamp to process my visa? Do I have to go to the PSK which issued my passport or the POE office?
@Siddharth
Your employer may be living in old world. Now-a-days no ECNR stamp is affixed on passports. No ECR stamp means ECNR status on new passports.
People who have ECR status can get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Hi Pankaj,
My passport was issued on Nov 2006, I could not find anything ECR or ECNR. I got work permit VISA from Malaysia. So pls let me know do i need to get ECNR stamp on my Passport. It’s single entry VISA.
@Sundeep
Your passport is already with ECNR status by virtue of not having an ECR stamp.
@Pankaj
Thanks a lot
Dear Pankaj,
This is Swathi.my husband is having onsite offer to USA and we are planning to fly in the month of June.In my passport(Issued from Visakhapatnam passport office) ECR stamp is there.I am B.Tech holder and not working.What procedure should i follow to cancle the stamp??
@Swathi
For visiting US on any kind of visa, ECNR is not needed. One may fly even with ECR status.
Thankyou very much for your earliest response pankaj.But i want to cancle my ECR stamp?so.Please guide me about the procedure.
@Swathi
You would need to apply for reissue of passport for getting ECNR status.
Documents required for ECNR status are listed on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Dear Friend, I am going to job in Dubaii, I have no ECNR, am graduated, what I do
@Khajasaleemuddin
If your passport has ECR stamp, then get ECNR status by applying for reissue of passport before leaving for Dubai.
sir where shod i apply and how much fees i have to pay
@Khajasaleemuddin
You will have to apply in passport office and It would cost Rs 1500 for 36 page booklet under normal application.
thanks sir
Hello,
Firstly thanks for this amazing site and you are wonderful for helping others. God bless you.
I have a new passport that is in the process of being issued. While i went for my appointment i did not have my school leaving certificates with me. So i believe they will b creating a passport with ECR status.
I go to Dubai at least 4-5 times a year to meet family for a day or 2 sometimes for an event performance. (i work in events) – Will they stop me at the indian or dubai airport? What is the best way to go about things….? Is it possible to get a ECNR per trip basis? And how long does it take to get that?
right now i have some travel coming up in march 1st week so any advice will be much appreciated.
Thanks and regards,
John
@John
In case you asked for ECNR status and provided any of the proof mentioned on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html, you should be getting ECNR passport.
Also, if you are not going to Dubai for job, you won’t need ECNR status. Only return tickets and valid visit/travel visa would be sufficient.
Temporary ECNR stamp can be obtained on per trip basis and it may take 1-3 days.
Dear sir,
I am presently employed in UAE since 7 years and changed three companies .i donot have ECNR to my passport .each and every time whenever changing a company for immigration with employment visa and coming due to not having 30 days time for me .
So now in this april am going for 30 days vacation and planning to apply for re issue of new passport with ECNR .So if i get a new passport with ECNR what about my Visa on old passport .Airport officers can allow me to go dubai with that ? bcoz visa issued through the old passport no.If any one stops at emigration to whom i have to meet there?
please advice me on the same very clearly.
@Rajan
Visa on old passport would remain valid and you would need to carry both old and new passport together all time.
Dear Sir,
I would planning to bring my family for 2 month on tourist visa to dubai. My wife having ECR status on her passport. Do she need to get ECNR status on her passport?And My son having Blank page on his passport and he is not completed age 18. so do he need to get ECNR status
@Abby
First, people traveling on tourist visa do not need ECNR status, so your wife won’t need it.
Second, your son already has ECNR status by virtue of not having an ECR stamp.
Hi Pankaj,
I have ECR on my passport and i hold bachelor’s degree. Now my query about adding spouse name and clearing ECR stamp at one shot. Will i be able to do this both at once ? Please advice..
@Nazeer
Both requires passport reissue so all such passport changes can be done in single application.
You may even get other changes like address change etc in same application.
Dear Pankaj, I am from bangalore, I studied only till middle school, I got a small job offer in Dubai, ECR is in my passport, agent is asking INR 7000, and he will do it in two weeks, but can i go and do it by mysely and from where, I will be very gratefull to you if you could guide me Step by step—–Thanks in advance God Bless You, Regards–Raja
@Raja
I am not sure how agent would get ECNR stamping done in case you are not eligible to get ECNR.
You should get emigration clearance from PoE office. Application can be made online here: http://www.poeonline.gov.in/
Dear Sir,
i have a indian passport issued in the year 2004 with ECR stamp marked and i am travelling to USA on 11 March 2013, it is necessary to delete the ECR stamp from my passport. can i travel with ECR stamped on my passport.
@Yogesh
ECNR is not needed for traveling to USA on any kind of visa.
I have myself traveled to USA thrice with an ECR status passport.
DURING THE IST WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2013 MY WIFE GOT HER NEW PASSPORT. HOWEVER, ECNR STATUS COULD NOT GET DUE TO NON AVAILABLITY OF EDUCATIONAL RECORDS.
NOW, I WANT THAT HER PASSPORT TO AFFIX ECNR STAMP BASED ON MY ECNR STATUS IN OMAN (I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS AND EMPLOYED IN VARIOUS COMPANIES).
SO KINDLY INFORM ME WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW.
@Elamannil
You need to get her passport reissued for ECNR status.
You can submit any eligibility document as listed on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Hello,
Sorry if I am posting my question in wrong category.
My mother already has a savings account in SBI. She recently transferred her Pension account from another state. Her total source of income is less than 1 lakh INR. In this case –
1. Is it mandatory to have PAN card to get the pension under recent Income Tax rules? Earlier she had submitted form 60 or may be 15 c as an alternative for Pan card in banks. The bank is telling that Pan card is mandatory.
2. The bank official said that they cannot give the pension amount (arrears transferred from another bank) during financial year end i.e in March.
Is there any rule for this?
Thanks for your help on this.
@Prasad
We don’t have any idea PAN card requirement for getting pension and about year end amount transfer.
In case of fixed deposits, Bank need PAN to avoid deducting TDS at 20% rate.
Please help,
I have a passport with ECR stamped and I need ECNR as I have got employment visa and need to travel within a day time to Dubai, so I need to know the process, so unable to understand…
@Dhiraj
You would need to get your passport reissued for ECNR status.
In case you don’t have much time, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office or get temporary suspension of ECR.
Hi Pankaj,
My wife will be travelling with me on dependent VISA to malaysia. But she has ECR stamp issued on her passport.
Do we need to get the ECR deleted or nowdays the passport is re-issued without the ECR stamp.
Please also let me know what all documents i need to submit for tatkal application.
Do we need Annexure F and I also in this case.
@Sukesh
She won’t need ECNR status as she is not traveling on employment visa.
If you want you can get her passport reissued for ECNR status by providing any of the eligibility proof as mentioned on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Dear Pankaj,
My wife will be travelling to Kuwait. But there s no ECR/ECNR stamp in her passport. It is issued in the year 2008. I worked in UAE for 3yrs and currently working in Kuwait from past 2.5yrs as an Engineer. Please guide us what we have to do… should we get ECR stamp or ECNR stamp. Is any of these mandatory.
Thanks for your guidance.
@Manoj
Your wife’s passport is already with ECNR status by virtue of not having an ECR stamp.
She won’t need any further stamping on passport for ECR/ECNR.
Dear Sir,
I am working in Bahrain for last 1 year. I don’t have ECNR on my passport and I am 10th Class failed. So I am not eligible for getting ECNR. I didn’t faced any problem because of ECR when I came to Bahrain first time on a visit visa and later converted into work visa. Now the work visa is stamped on my passport. So my query is does it cause any problem when I am returning from India to Bahrain after vacation because of ECR. I heard ECR will cause problems only when you travel on a new visa. Is it correct or not? Please Clarify
Also please note, I don’t have any embassy attested contract letter. So getting temporary ECR suspension is out of option.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Ramkumar
@Ramkumar
As now you have a employment visa on your passport, emigration officer may stop you at airport if you don’t have ECNR status or emigration clearance.
I would advise you to get emigration clearance from PoE office before leaving India.
Hello Pankaj. I have seen you are helping with your advice regarding ECNR.
I have employment visa for UAE and my passport has ECR stamp. my employer is saying there is no need of ECNR stamping and I can enter UAE and will get resident visa after reaching. According to them ECNR is required for lower lever workers like driver, maids etc and as I am an Engineer degree holder so NO need of ECNR status in my case. Please advice and thanks for your help in advance.
Satish
@Sat
ECNR status is required if you are going out of India on employment visa to any of the listed countries.
UAE comes in this list of countries. You may be sent back by emigration officer from Airport. So I would advise you not to take a risk and get ECNR status by applying for reissue of passport.
Or if you don’t have much time, atleast get emigration clearance from PoE office. You can apply online on: http://www.poeonline.gov.in/