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
Hello Mr. Pankaj,
Hope you are fine. My question is that I am working in oil & gas sector in Saudi and want to bring my family here with me as my company will help me to get their residence visa, but my wife is having ECR status in her passport, so is it required to stamp it to ECNR as I am not bringing them on visitor visa but bringing my family to stay permanently with me here.
Another question is my wife is studied only till 5th standard so if it required to stamp for ECNR on her passport will POE stamp ECNR status on her passport without metriculation certificate.
Please help me to solve my query and thanks in advance.
@Jignesh
Your wife won’t need ECNR stamp as she is not going for employment.
Thank you very much for your advise Mr. Pankaj.
Dear sir,
I am working in Dubai and my family in India, my children passport need to be renewed ,is there any online facility available so that i can do from here.
@Vasukumar
You can only fill application forms online (http://passportindia.gov.in/). Somebody will have to take appointment and visit passport office to get passport renewed.
dear sir,
iam from tamil nadu,i am a travel agent,which agency best for poe service in delhi,you know please tell me,
@Saravanan
We don’t have any idea about travel agents in Delhi.
sir, please give any number for poe at nampally and i got employment visa and what documents are required for Protector of emigrant, only visa itself enough or other and what fees, they will give on the same day passport or any delay, i have all documents for applying ecr but if the authority not handed over my passport i will put to mental agony so i am choosing to go with protector of emigrant please give right suggestion
@Minhaj
PoE Office address in Hyderabad: 8th Floor, Chandra Vihar Complex, Opp. Exhibition Ground, M.J. Road, Hyderabad.
You would need following documents for emigration clearance at PoE office:
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
It should not take mroe than 2-3 days.
Hello pankaj, wanted to ask you that how much time it takes to get POE clearance at Mumbai and only passport and visa will work to get stamp. and is it safe to go thru agents.
Its great that you are helping each and everyone. god bless you
@Firoz
It should take 1-3 days max to get PoE clearance.
You can also apply online here: http://www.poeonline.gov.in/
Apart from passport and visa, you would also need job contract from employer, Pravasi Bhartiya Bima and affidavit from candidate declaring genuineness of documents.
hello sir ”
i am the DJ i got the job approval in (K.S.A) but i don’t have ECNR status on my passport and i studied till 10 so how do i get the ECNR seal on my passport ? thank you !
@Shafin
If you fit into any eligibility conditions mentioned on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html you can apply for ECNR while applying for reissue of passport.
If you are not eligible you should get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Dear pankaj,i’ve got the work visa for kuwait but my passport has ecr status and the only way i’ve been told to resolve the issue is by reissue of my passport,I wanted to ask that if i reissue the passport,will my visa remain valid as it has the old passport no.?And i am a B.COM graduate so when i give my passport for reissue with my pass certificates do i need to get a emigration clearance certificate too?if i do then where do i get the bima policy and affidavit done as you have mentioned in your previous comment?
@Moiz
Visa on old passport would be valid. You need to carry both passports together.
While applying for passport reissue, you should give matriculation certificate and B.Com degree copy. Emigration clearance certificate is not needed.
Bima policy and affidavit is needed in case of emigration clearance from PoE. This is one time clearance for those who cannot get ECNR status on passport (because of time or eligibility issue)
Alright thanks alot,
1 more thing, should i reissue the passport before all the procedures(pcc,medical,stamping) or after completing it
@Moiz
It would be better to get passport reissued before procedures.
sir i have applied ecnr my previous passport is from 2008 to 2018, here at passport office they collected 3,500/- for passport in tathkal, my first passport is 1997 after expire i got 2nd passport and the same was renewed in the year 2008 and the same time i got the same under Tathkal, and now after completion of all formalities at C counter saying that your previous data is not available, TL department written as clear and said to me to pay 3,500/- for which i paid the same, now C counter saying that apply in normal way (Not tathkal) i have visa i have no time explained the same, i will loose my job, they advised me to bring Special Verification Certificate from concerned Dist. for which i approached Superintendent of Police, Karimnagar, he is not agreed to listen to me and finally advised me he will not issue the same (in time) and said come with formalities. Due to act of the passport office i paid earlier also tathkal fee, passport office didn’t sent enquiry.
Contd….due to the acts of passport authority i suffered a lot and chances to lost my job, i completed all formalities and if the normal way it will take much time, however they collected excess amount from me under tathkal fee, please guide me and suggest me what will do
Hi,
I am holding a professional degree (Chartered Accountant) and have got an ECR stamp on my passport. The problem is that Date of birth on my 10th CBSE certificate does not match with the same on passport. I am going on an employment visa to Dubai to work with deloitte.The profession mentioned on visa is ‘Auditor’. Is there any alternative procedure to remove ECR stamp without submitting 10th certificate??
@Nikhat
You can also submit any of the following documents to get ECNR:
1. Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year
2. Certificate of the professional degree held (CA in your case).
Check full list on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Dear Pankaj,
Thanks a lot for ur response.
As i told u earlier my DOB on 10th certificate does not match wid passport and the officers in Hyd are not accepting my CA Certificate as a proof of my education qualification. I also met Labour commissioner officer and he says i need to get my original employment contract attested by indian consulate in Dubai, which again is not possible as m not married and hav not crossed the age of 30yrs. Please help wid any alternate process since my visa expires in 2 weeks and there is no agency which is ready to help me.
@Nik
You can also get date of birth on passport updated by submitting 10th class certificate.
Hi Pankaj,
It’s great that you are responding to everyone. Thanks a lot. I do have a query.
Today I received my passport, but with ECR status. If I apply for deletion of ECR status, will it be just a stamping in the passport itself or will a passport be reissued with new passport number and different validity?
Thanks,
Arun
@Arun
A new passport would be issued in case of ECR removal. It would have new passport number and validity.
@Pankaj, So, if I’m travelling only to US for work, I assume I need not worry in removing ECR right now, isn’t it? And any idea what I need to fill for ECNR status in immigration forms while travelling?
@Arun
For US, ECNR/ECR does not matter for any kind of visa.
Respected Sir
Hope you are doing well! I got a job offer from sharjah islamic bank from uae and I was supposed to reach there today i.e 24th May 2013( even though my employment visa is valid until 7th july 2013). But my passport had ECR stamp and I was asked to return from Lucknow airport. Now I have applied for re-issue of the passport and the passport officer has told me that he will endorse the details of my previous passports in the new one.
Sir, I just have one query, in my employment visa the passport no of my old passport is mentioned, so I am fearing that they will stop me again either at lko airport or at dubai airport. Kindly guide. I will be greatly obliged. Take Care!
@Wajeeh
Visa in old passport would remain valid. You need to carry old and reissued passports together.
Sir, i got visa on my old passport which is ecr and now i got new passport with ecnr, is there any problem for immigration time? please solve my problem as soon as possible, i am ready to fly pls.
@Sufiya
Visa in old passport would remain valid. You need to carry old and reissued passports together.
Good evening Sir, please advise as my 3-1/2 year son want to comes with his Grand-father to UAE on visit visa, is there any another formality for that. it is possible for him to come without his mother. Thanks and Best Regards
@Sandeep
We don’t have much knowledge on this subject.
This post only contains questions on ECR/ECNR.
Hi Sir,
I am having my passport before 2007 and I have to travel for Dubai for job purpose and It has ECR required on the second page except for some countries but UAE was not mentioned in that.
I want ECNR. What to do in that case.
Regards,
Amit
@Amit
For ECNR status, you will have to get your passport reissued by submitting eligibility proofs.
my mother is travelling to dubai, singapore malaysia and thailand for tourist visit. she has ECR stamp oh her passport. DO we need to get her passport reissued. Will it pose problems?
@Gaurav
On a tourist visa, ECNR status is not needed for any country.
For DUBAI, SINGAPORE MALAYSIA and Thailand, for tourist visit, does a passport with ECR stamp pose any problem. Please help
Hi Mr Pankaj,
I am working in Libya my passport is ECR ,my qualification is intermediate can i eligible for ECNR stamp and how I can change ECR to ECNR Passport in Libya
@Md. Asad
Anybody with matriculation certificate can get ECNR status.
You can apply for reissue of passport for ECNR status.
Sir,but I am know days working in libya, I will go vacation after 3 month but I have only 15 days live.Is its possable in 15 days,
and my passport Issued in 2010
how much time it’s take
@Md Asad
If you apply in Tatkal, you may get passport in under 15 days.
Sir, but its possable becouse my passport expire in 2020
if I apply tatkaal than passport number changed or Same number new passport.
no affect my work visa,
Sir ECNR stamp is not possable.
Here no any solution in libya.
@Md Asad
Visa on old passport would be valid. You need to carry both old and new passports.
Thank you Mr Pankaj
Hi Pankaj,
I had a query reqarding the ECNR. I got the employment visa for Dubai. My passport was issued in 2006. I dont have the ECNR stamped on my passport but I do have ECR mentioned on it. Kindly advise what is the procedure now to travel to dubai. Is it compulsory to have the ECNR stamped on passport to travel?. In the last few years I have travelled to dubai almost all the years for visit.
@Mudassir
As you are on employment visa, its mandatory to get ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE office.
You should apply for reissue of passport with ECNR status if you have time, else get clearance from PoE.