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
thank you very much for ur advice
Hi, My nephew who has ECR on his passport will be visiting Thailand as a tourist next month. He is 15 years old doing his SSC.
Does he need to change the status of ECR?
At what age would he need to change it?
Thx,
@Bryan
ECNR is not needed if one is going for tourist purposes.
i am at dubai on tourist visa i got job as accountant and my passport is ECR, and my company says need not to go India, we will issue visa, if i do job there is any problem while my return to India
@Minhaj
There is no problem in returning to India with ECR stamp.
Hi Pankaj,
I know you have responded to similar questions, but I wanted your opinion for my problem.
I came to Dubai on visit visa and fortunately I got a job, I didn’t get my educational certificates along with me. The company got me a Visa stamped on my ECR Passport and it does say Residence on the Visa Stamp.
Now I would like to visit india for a few days in August, I would like to know if I will be stopped at the Airport on the Way back to Dubai even though I have a residence Visa stamped on my ECR Passport.
@Philip
You would be stopped while leaving India as your passport has ECR status and you would be leaving for Dubai for employment.
Better get passport reissued with ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE office before leaving India.
okay thank u sir, i will come (IA) after one year
Sir My daughter having passport stamped with ECR,
She age is 20 year and study in 3rd B.E. of college
now she may be going U.S.A for experiance international programms
by gujarat technological university and kansas State University
under J-1 visa catagery
So sir she need ECNR Stamp ?
Plese answer Me
Thanks
@Vanmali
ECNR status is not required to visit USA on any kind of Visa.
hello pankaj,
I have 10th pass marksheet is it enough for ENCR status . my age is 20.pls could you tell me will i get ENCR status with 10th pass certificates.
@Jatin
You can apply for reissue of passport with ECNR status and submit 10th class certificate as proof.
Hi sir,
Sorry to disturb you again. My brother has diploma in engineering are even those certificates applicable for reciving ECNR status along with submitting 10 the result.
@Jatin
He may submit Matriculation Pass Certificate or Pass Certificate issued by the Diploma institute to get ECNR status.
HI,
Myself javed i am here in saudi, doing job here, my wife has passport without ECNR it means it is ECR, I Want to take my wife here to saudi in 3 months visit visa only.
So my question is ECNR IS Required for my wife or not?
Thanks in advance……………….
@Javed
As she is not traveling for employment/job, she won’t need ECNR stamp/status.
Thanks a lot
Hi Sir,i am working in oman as a college lecturer, i wish to bring my wife and daughter
by family joining visa this April,my wife’s passport is endosed with ECR samp.shall my wife have to get the emigrance clearence ,if yes please tell me how to get ECNR stamp.
@Sikkanthar
As they would not be traveling for employment/job, they won’t need ECNR stamp/status.
Hello Pankaj,
I have my passport with a check/tick on “Emmigration Check Not Required”.
I’m planning for dubai on tourist visa along with my wife, whose passposrt has a ECR stamp on its 2nd page.
At the time of travel I’ll have a e-Visa printed on a page with me, so is there any need for ECNR stamp on my wife’s passport?
Please help. Thanks
@Dr Ajit
ECNR stamp/status is only needed in case person is traveling on employment visa.
Since this is not the case with you and your wife, you won’t need it.
dear sir company give me a visa technician UAE my passport required ecnr how to apply ecnr not required im ssc faild company told me come withen one week what to do
@Aameer
If you are not eligible for ECNR status, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Dear sir, my i got employment visa as a Salesman, and a problem is that my ssc and passport there is small spell different, i already sent for correction the procedure is going on, and it will complete till 22nd and i have to go some early, may i obtain protector of Immigrant from the office or i should have to go along with SSC memo please give suggestion
Kindly advise, a person who is not passed S.S.L.C is eligible to get ECNR status? If he/she was note eligible to get ECNR, what are the solutions to get clear the ECNR for Labour category visa (UAE)?Yours valid advise highly helpful for us.
@Mahi
This page has all categories on basis of which ECNR can be granted: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Please check if you fit somewhere.
Hi Pankaj,
I working in Malaysia with work permit. Now i am bringing my wife to here. On her passport ECR is there. Do i need to go to POE or for new Passport. Please advise.
@Lalit
As she is not going on employment visa, she would not need ECNR status or emigration clearance from PoE office.
Thanks Pankaj
Hi! Pankaj,
I am from Mumbai and planning to get a job in Dubai. My Passport says ECR and my employer told me to get that changed/stamped as ECNR. Where can I get it done in Mumbai? Is it the POE in Mumbai?. Thanks and Regards
Akshay
@Akshay
You can get passport reissued for ECNR status.
Else you can get emigration clearance from PoE office in Mumbai. Address is: Building E, Khira Nagar, S.V. Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai-400 054, Tel No. 022-2614-7393
You can also apply online here: http://www.poeonline.gov.in/
Thank you. Pankaj.
Also wanted to know from you. Is it good to Issue Fresh ECR Passport or ECNR Passport? – This is not for me, just in general.
And how do I get my wife name on my passport and how much time does it take to do so?
Thanks and Regards
Akshay
@Akshay
Its good to get fresh ECNR status passport.
For wife name endorsement, passport reissue application needs to be made. It may take 30-45 days in normal and 7-15 days in tatkal application.
Thank you so much for all your valuable guidance. It’s really helpful.
If I shall have any further query. I know where to resolve them. Thanks again… 🙂
Sir,my passport is with ECR.now I am traveling to china in tourist visa.do I need ECNR stamp.please advice me what should I do now.
@Bala
ECNR is not required for visiting China on any kind of visa.
hi Pankaj,
I dont have ECNR stamp on my passport and I need to travel to Bahrain for a business meeting (Business Visa). Will that be a problem for me ?
Do we need to get ECNR stamping even for such visits (non-employment)
Your answer will be of great help to me ..
thanks in advance
@SM
For non-employment visa, ECNR status is not needed.
Sir
I have to travel to Dubai in two days for business meetings and have return tickets. I have ECR in my passport but in this short notice I cannot get ECNR. Please let me know if ECNR is required and if required can it be done on airport only….
@Satyam
ECNR is not required for non-employment visa.
Dear Sir,
At the immigration counter in India I found that I cannot travel though I have valid employment visa as my passport is ECR. Is reissue of passport is the only option or is there any other way to travel immediately. I was told that the immigration dept can put a ECNR stamp on my visa document which will allow me to work for this company. Is it right? What would be the consequence at the Dubai airport if I travel with the ECNR on my visa paper. Anyway my passport would expire in Feb 2014. If I renew my passport now, can I still travel with this present employment visa document which has not yet been stamped on my passport. Is police verification required for Tatkal passport in this case. Awaiting your earliest reply.
@Annette
You can get emigration clearance from PoE office. There won’t be any issue at Dubai airport because of this.
Police verification may be needed as existing passport was issued long time back.
Sir,
Would like to know what are the documents required at POE office for ECR clearance. How many days does it take. I am from Karnataka. I already have my employment visa copy. But my passport is ECR. Hence has to have ECNR urgently. Kindly advise.
@Maxim
You would need following documents:
1. Passport (valid atleast 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
Dear Sir, Thank you for your kind reply. Can you tell me how many days will it take to complete all these process, once I get all the documents ready. Thank you once again.
@Maxim
It should not take more than 2-3 days.