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
Dear Sir,
I want to change my passport ECR to ECNR how many days maximum how many days take
@Sajid
You would have to apply for reissue of passport for it and it would take 30-45 days under normal application.
Emigration clearance hpw to do
Sir,
I have ecr stamp and i am going to canada on study visa.
now, will i face any difficulty if i take a flight via the middle east?
Because etihad and gulf air are cheaper than other airlines.
@Vijay
Unless, you go to these middle east countries on a employment visa, there is no need of ECNR status.
Hello,My brother want to change ECR to ECNR in passport,So what is the procedure for it?and which documents are required?ECNR is required for gulf countries or uae? How much time passport office take for it?
@Tasneem
He would need to apply for reissue or passport for ECNR status. It would take 30-45 days under normal application.
Check documents required on this page: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
ECNR is required if one is going to one of the listed countries (including gulf countries and UAE) for employment.
I have a passport which i got it when i was minor with expiry year of 2019. However i am major now and want to visit Dubai. I will be going on for tour with travel visa. So do i have to update my visa from Minor to Major. Please reply asap. Need it urgently
@Jiyan
If your passport expiry date is in 2019, there is no need to get passport reissued with major status.
I am a retired Professor of Physics. I want to go to Ethiopia for job. I need a passport. How to get it easily.
Earlier I got it in 2001 for 10 years for visiting Portugal to take up post-doctoral research work in Coimbra University there.
W. H. Ansari
[email protected]
I am in India (Mumbai) currently, I have a UAE employment visa. My passport has ECR in it. I need to go UAE very urgently. What is the best option?
Going to POE office in Mumbai – How long would it take to apply and get back passport with clearance? Also how long paperwork take, need attestation and all on docs?
Is it possible to go on visit to another country like Thailand and then travel to UAE on Employment Visa to UAE from there? Would there be any issues?
Urgent help needed. Pls reply.
@SS
Emigration clearance from PoE office should not take more than 3-4 days. You can also apply online here: http://poeonline.gov.in/
sir,
i am a seamen. now docked in Thai port for last few days. and i lose my passport. Indian embassy asking me for work permit Thai. and i ask to my immigration agent he said , seamen don’t have work permit. i don’t know how to deal with it. please help me…
@Yugal
We don’t have much idea about your case. Please consult a visa/passport expert.
hai.
i am residing in uae, abu dhabi.
my passport is having ecr status.
i want to change it to ecnr here in abu dhabi.
what will be the procedure.
do i have to apply for new passport or i can get it done on my old passport itself..
@Sameer
You would need to get passport reissued for ECNR status.
Dear Sir,
I want to apply for Passport of My Wife & My child (5 Months Old).
I had my passport without ECR stamp (i am eligible for Non-ECN having done my graduation)
I want to know while applying passport for my wife & child i should select Eligible for Non-ECR for both or not???
Based on my Non-ECR catogory passport can i apply for my wife’s passport under Non-ECR cateogry (b’coz she is not eligible for Non-ECR category)
@A.P.
Your wife can get non-ECR status because of your status if you hold a professional degree, or you have been staying abroad for more than three years (the period of three years could be either in one stretch or broken) Or on basis of your income tax returns. Also spouse’s name needs to be endorsed in the applicant’s passport.
All children upto 18 years of age are automatically provided non-ECR status after submitting their birth certificate.
First of All Heartiest Thanx for your quick & clear reply ….
I had following doubts:
(1) I had my Diploma then completed my AMIE (equi. B.E.) in Corresponence from Insti. of Engineers (india) kolkata
While applying i have shown SSC certificate as a Non-ECR proof.
In above case, can i apply my wife’s passport with Non-ECR??
(2) I am salaried person filling my regular ITR since 2007
However, while applying my passport i have shown address of my native city in stead of my present place of service/job due to unavailibilty of rent agreeement and present residence proof…. i am also going to apply my wife’s passport with my native permanent address only eventhough she is residing with me at my present service job address in another city.
In this case can i apply for my Wife’s passport with Non-ECR ??
@A.P.
1. As its a professional degree, it can work.
2. Proof of assessment of income tax and actual payment of income tax for last one year would be enough
For spouses, following certificate signifying relation needs to be submitted
i)An attested copy of marriage certificate issued by the Marriage Registrar needs to be submitted. For verification, spouse’s name needs to be endorsed in the applicant’s passport. OR
ii) Joint Affidavit as per Annexure D
Its not a good idea to mention address of a place where you are not staying. It may create issue while police verification.
Please check the address proof documents: http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/popuponline/AttachmentAdvisorSub?subDocID=7001&confirmDOB=DOBVarYes&minorFlag=2
And see if you can submit any of these for current address
Dear Sir,
As per above reply, I need to select YES against “Is applicant eligible for Non-ECR category?*” in Passport application for my Wife.
At Same time what is to be selected in “Educational qualification *” ??
Being a 9th std. pass, can I select “Between 6th And 9th Standard”?? (while same time selecting Yes in eligible for non-ECR category)
Regards,
A.P.
@A.P.
In educational qualification, just write whatever maximum education she obtained, in your case it would be primary education.
Yes, non-ECR can also be selected along with it, if any other proof of eligibility is provided, other than education qualification.
Check proof list here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Hi ,
I have ECR stamping on my passport (since it was issued in 2006).
Do i need to get a new passport (to get ECNR status)to apply for MISSION VISA in Dubai?
I understand it is required for employment Visa in dubai, but does it apply for mission visa as well?
Thanks
Manjul
@Manjul
As Mission visa is also for work, emigration officer may ask for ECNR status.
So to be on safer side, you should get passport reissued with ECNR status or get clearance from PoE office.
Thank you for this. Your post has been most helpful, sir.
I am a 22 year old.
My passport was issued by the Passport Office in Trivandrum, Kerala in 2007, when I was 15 (still a minor). There was an ECNR stamp on the passport which said I didn’t require clearance until I turned 18
I have a residence permit in Kuwait and had no trouble traveling to kuwait. Even after I turned 18, I was never asked to produce any documentation. In fact, I traveled quite frequently between India and Kuwait especially the past four years. However, today, for the first time, I was not allowed to board my aircraft because of the fact that I didn’t have the ECNR stamp.
What could be the reason for this? And what is the quickest way for someone staying in Kerala to get ECNR stamp?
I now live in ernakulam, about 300 Kms from thiruvananthapuram, the city where my passport was issued. However, EKM has its own regional passport office. Will it be possible for me to get ECNR stamp from there itself? And how soon will I be able to get it? I appreciate all your help 🙂
@Agrim
You would need to get your passport reissued for getting ECNR status. You can get it done from local regional passport office.
It would take 30-40 days under normal application.
Another solution is to get emigration clearance from PoE office, but that’s applicable only for people who have employment visa and have employer job offer documents.
hai sir iam riyaz my passport has expired on 2013 December and I already done my ECNR by submitting my 10th certificate , now I want to renewel my passport should I want ECNR this time and should I sumit my 10th certificate 2nd time ?md riyaz
@Md Riyaz
Yes, you should submit 10th copy while renewal also to get ECNR status on new passport.
sir shal I submit original 10th or photo copy. last time I submit original
@Riyaz
They would need photo copy only. You need to carry originals only at the time of document checking there.
sir present my tenth memo is in my office they don’t give me at present after leaving the job they issue my memo, so plz tel mel what to do.
@Riyaz
You can also show any other eligibility proof for ECNR.
Check list here: http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html
Hello Sir,
Thank you for you reply.You give me a link of required documents,but I don’t understand which specific documents are required for ECNR stamp? My brother is a Mechanical Engineer.
@Tasneem
He can submit Certificate of the professional degree held or 10th class certificate to get ECNR.
Hello Mr. Pankaj,
I’m going to Netherlands to study for a two year course and my passport (issued in 2006) has an ECR stamp that reads “Emigration Check Required Except for Bangladesh, Pakistan, and all European countries (excluding Commonlwealth of Independant States)”
Do I require an ENCR stamp separately? If so, can it be done at Mumbai Airport itself?
My flight is on 18th and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to get it done via any PoE! (I have been recommended that an ENCR is required)
Kindly advice.
Thanks,
Anand
@Anand
First, ECNR is not required for Netherlands.
Second, ECNR is not required for student visa for any country.
sir iam shebin iam not passed 10nth iwant go to saudi emigration pls replay
@Shebin
Please get emigration clearance from PoE office.
Immigration Rules have changed overnight. I had a valid visit visa copy and a return confirmed ticket. But due to ECR on the passport the immigration officers did not allow . During discussion , i got different versions from different immigration officers. They do not have anything in writing and informed that they got a verbal info that if ECR , one cannot travel on a visit visa….One said, get the original visa and we can allow u to travel on ECR passport . Another officer informed that only way to travel is to cancel ECR .
To cancel ECR , a new passport needs to be issued.
If anyone is travelling abroad regardless to the destination, i would suggest one does ECNR to avoid disappointement at the Airport….
A re-issue of passport needs to be done for ECNR.
If the current address is the same as per existing passport , it can be done in a 1 week time by selecting Taatkal Scheme ( 1500 rupees for taatkal booking and 2000 rupees for payment at the passport counter )… else one may contact any travel agent ( who will charge in addition to the above another 3,000 to 3,500 rupees as their Service fees )..
If one has enough time , its better to do the ECNR as its a permanent solution regardless to the destination one travels.
I have indian passport but i can’t go qatar because of chek immigration required printed on my passport but my work visa for qatar is valid for other 3 month. Will after re-issue of passport visa will still be valid.
@Shaman
Yes, visa would be valid even after reissue of passport.
My visa validity is 3 Month and staying validity there is for 1 month and last date for staying there is 24 august in Qatar.. is it any problem if i go after 24 with my new reissued passport
@Shaman
If last date of entering into Qatar is 24 Aug, it would create issue.