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 Sudhir,
You need not to do anything regarding that “ECR” stamp on my passport. For USA ECR/ECNR is not applicable.
I myself have visited US on Intra-company transfer on L1 visa.
Have a great stay in US, Enjoy!
-Pankaj
Hi Pankaj,
Next month i am going to japan for tecnical training,In my passport there is no ECR stamp,whether the ECNR stamp is required for going to Japan
John,
ECNR is not required for Japan.
You may go there without any worry.
Hi Pankaj,
I’m working in Oman and want to bring my wife on family joining visa. Her passport is under ECR stamp. Will I have to make it ECNR for family joining visa if yes plz tell me the procedure, how to get ecnr stamp for family joining Visa
KHALIL RAHMAN
Hi Khalil,
Getting ECNR is quite easy.
To apply for ECNR stamp in the passport, the applicant is required to fill a Application form . The duly filled-in application form may be submitted personally. An all inclusive fee of Rs.300/- is to be paid along with the application form either in cash or by bank draft drawn in favour of Passport Officer. In case of bank draft, full name of the applicant and application number should be written on the reverse of the bank draft.
Valid Passport in original.
Attested 2 photocopies of the proof that the applicant is entitled for ECNR(PAN card, Degree certerficate, 10th class cretficate etc). Also carry the original along with you. 2 photocopies of the first 4 and last 4 pages of the passport.
Go to nearest passport office and you will get pasport with ECNR stamp back on same day evening.
Hi Pankaj,
Thanx 4 your previous information but I’m asking the procedure of ECNR for family joining visa (some people use to say immigration for particular visa). Somebody told to me that I’ll have to go to the ministry of immigration to get ECNR for that visa. Plz advise.
Thanx
Khalil,
ECNR stamping has to done thru passport office.
Hi Pankaj,
Kudos to u for the grr888 job.
I am a graduate and gonna apply for passport next week.What documents sud i attach so as to make sure it come with ECNR stamp already on it.
Thanks in advance,
Priya
Priya,
Currently all new passports are issued with default ECNR. They won’t have any stamp for ECR, which makes them ECNR by default.
If you submit PAN card copy, Degree certificate or even 10th class certificate. You will get ECNR.
Dear Pankaj,
The date of issue of my passport is 09/10/2006, how can I know if it has ECNR already with it. Because it has no stamp anywhere on it, also I was undergoing my graduation during the period I applied for my passport, so I declared I was class 12th pass, will it make any difference now. Does going to Oman still need ECNR or ECR?
I would be grateful for your reply.
Pritish,
If on the 3rd page, something is written like “Emigration check required (ECR) except for Bangladesh, Pakistan and all countries in Europe (excluding common wealth of independent states (CIS), North America, Japan, new Zealand, Australia, S.Korea, S.Africa, Singapore)”. Then your passport is under ECR stamping and you need a ECNR stamping if you are going for employment to some countries.
Yes, Going to Oman for employment need a ECNR stamp.
Hi Pankaj,
My passport was issued in Jun-06. On the 2nd page, its written Emigration check required except for Bangladesh, Pakistan all countries in Europe (excluding commonwealth of Independent States CIS), North America, Japan, New-Zealand and Austrialia. Then they have cut ECNR. Also South Korea, South Africa , Singapore & Thailand.
I am planning to get H1 visa for US. Now, Do I required ECNR check before Visa interview or before leaving India? Thanks in advance
Preeti,
For USA, there is no requirement for ECNR stamping. You may go for Visa interview and then for USA without any worry.
Thank You So Much
Dear Pankaj,
I am employeed in KSA, and my wife and kids
are joining me on resident visa, in my wife passport ECNR is not endorsed,please advice before living She should get ECNR endorsed because I am confused as per my knowledge ECNR is not required for nonemployment.
My wife passport is issued from Surat regional office at present she is in mumbai, can she can get ECNR endorse from mumbai passport office and what are the documents required for it.
thanks,
Regards,
Ravi
Yes Ravi, Your wife can get ECNR stamp from mumbai passport office. She should go there with address proofs, identity proofs, PAN card copy (if available), degree certificates copies. You will get the passport back on same day with ECNR stamp.
Hi Pankaj i am an employee of unilever and have to travel to thailand for an official meeting with unilever Thailand. my passport was issued in 2002 and the Emigration check not required line is striked off (as you have mentioned it is not stamped). i will be staying there for 13 days and i have to get an on arrival visa. do i need to go to poe and get the ECNR stamped or can i manage for one trip. what are the documents required i i have to allowance for one trip in the airport itself.
Mohan,
You may get temporary suspension of ECR for your duration of stay. This can be easily done by your visa/travel agent, in case there is any. I also got the same for Malaysia thru the visa guy.
Moreover, If you want a permanent one, then you will have to go to any passport office with valid documents (in duplicate as well) such as address proofs, degree certificates, PAN card, employer certificate/card.
All the best for your trip abroad.
Hello Pankaj,
I got my passport this month via tatkal, and the second page has a stamp saying “regional passport office” sgned by the passport issueing officer. Does that mean My passport is endorsed with “Immigration check required”?
Deepak,
Your passport is ECNR by default as all passports issued now-a-days do have that even if you submit even a 10th class certificate. Also in case of ECR, on second page of passport, It should have been clearly mentioned as ECR, which is not in your case.