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, sir/madam.
My name is ramalangani iam from tamil nadu I also apply e c n r paasport sir.date on 29/10/14.but sir I worked 10years forgien country but my paasport not e c n r .now I apply sir e c n r .but my e c r paasport also stamping visa but i appply new paasport for any problem sir. My paasport stambing 1 month 20days finished.balance 2month only sir. I want new e c n r paasport .t q sir.
My file no.MD1078034203914
@Ramalan
There won’t be any issue with new passport. Visa on old passport would still be valid and you need to carry both passports together.
Hi Sir,
My Name is Anup kumar i would like to confirm one thing that when i made my passport i was single and its been almost 10 years and i am married now its almost 4 years how can i update in my passport about my married status .
@Anup
You can apply for reissue of passport and submit marriage certificate or Annexure D for spouse name endorsement on passport.
Sir I have an my employment visa for dubai with 2 months validity only..but my passport is ECR and now i am eligible for ECNR passport! So if I reissue my passport in tatkal then how much days in i get my new passport? Because my e visa valdity is only 1 month.
And there is any problem because my old passport details are mentioned in e visa copy. Like- passport number, passport issue date etc.
Pls help
@Saif Ali
Tatakal application should issue passport in 10-15 days.
Visa with old passport would still be valid and you need to carry both old and new passports.
Dear sir,
I get employment visa from Qatar. My name is Pragatheeswaran sampath. Visa passport No is OK but they mentioned my name as Paragatheeswarn sampath can I travel in that same visa please your answer.
@Pragathi
There can be issue in travel due to name mismatch. Please get it rectified before travelling.
Pankaj sir.. my wife has ECR passport in India. I am working on residence visa in Abu Dhabi. Is she can travel on Residence Visa under husband’s sponsorship?
I want to bring my family (Wife and 1.5 years old daughter) here, is there any problem in immigration since she has ECR passport. I wanted to bring them on Residence visa for 2 years under husband sponsorship in Abu Dhabi. Looking for your guidance please.
@Ravindra
As she won’t be travelling on employment visa, she won’t need ECNR status to travel.
Pankaj sir in my passport Ecr stamp is there. But I got visa for ksa. So at airport they not allowed to me coz in my passport ecnr stamp is not there.
Here at poe. What are the required documents to applied.
Pls mention
@Najumuddhin
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 Sir,
I have got my new passport and I have an my employment visa for dubai with the old passport number.
As I would be traveling to DUBAI so Is there is any problem in immigration because my old passport number is mentioned in e visa copy.
Please help me on this.
@Silky
If you carry old passport also, there should not be any issue.
Dear Pankaj,
I have ECR stamped in my passport issued by Hyderabad Passport Office. I am eligible to ECNR status and wanted to update the same in my passport. At present I am in New Delhi for short trip for 15 days and wanted to change ECR to ECNR in Delhi passport Office. Is it possible to get that in New Delhi or I need to apply for the same at Hyderabad Passport office. Please advice.
Thanks
Mohd.Faiaz
@Mohammed
ECNR status would require reissue of passport and it should be done from local passport office of your main address.
So, once you are back to Hyderabad, you should apply there only.
I am having ecr once I have gon to sharjah I want to now I an having my visa of dubai jow will I ger ecnr
@Danish
If you are eligible for ECNR (check this page: passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html), then you can get ECNR status by apply for reissue of passport after submitting ECNR eligibility proof.
I pass 18 month in sharjah how will I get ecnr
@Danish
Passing 18 months in sharjah does not make you eligible for ECNR.
You should have spent total 3 years outside India for ECNR.
Can I get my temporary ecnr from poeo office
@Danish
Yes, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office.
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, I am a resident in uae for last 5 yrs. now I am planning to bring one of my distant relative in Dubai on tourist visa for one month. She is 42 yrs of age and not coming in uae for employment. Is she need a ecr from Poe office before her travel? Pleas clarify sir.
@Jinu
As she won’t be traveling on employment visa, she won’t need ECNR status or emigration clearance.
All she needs are return tickets, valid visa and passport.
Hello I would like to ask one of my friend went to Dubai on visit visa and he got job in Dubai without exiting he got visa and residence his passport has ECR stamp on last page of passport now my question is can he go for vacation after 1yr if in case he comes for vacation can he go back to Dubai without going for ECNR clearance plz suggest
@Arun
He may be stopped at the airport as now he would be traveling with employment visa with ECR status.
So he should either get passport reissued with ECNR status or get emigration clearance from PoE before leaving India.
Dear Pankaj sir
First time i am going to dubai in december on emplyment visa.5.but one problem here taht my passport is ECRstamped.how can deleted ecr stamp from PoE & HOW many times it will take.
@Lallan
If you are eligible for ECNR (10th class passout/income tax payer/professional degree holder etc), you can get passport reissued for ECNR.
Else, you can get emigration clearance from PoE office. It should not take more than 2-3 days.
sir i am going qatar an employment visa my passport having ecr but i already went in employment visa and before I have al ready emigration done two years ago same country now require again emigration please send me answer as soon as possible
@Shekhar
If employer has changed, you would need to get emigration clearance again.
I HAVE LOST MY 10th MARKS LIST AND NOW I GOT MY DUPLICATE MARKS LIST FORM SSC BOARD AND HOW CAN I APPLY ECNR STAMP ON MY PASSPORT
@Satya
You need to apply for reissue of passport by submitting an eligibility proof (http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/onlineHtml/NonEcrDocuments.html)
Sir I have compelete my intermediate so what should I apply ecnr or non ecnr….
@Sameer
You should apply for ECNR (Non-ECR) category.
Dear sir my passport verification is done in banglore by police but my file is not sent to mumbai for verifying my permanent adress.i asked police person he said its gone to comissioner office..if u can help me with any contact number of comissioner office passport section pls..its very urgent
@Zeba
We don’t have much information in this matter.
Dear sir,
I applied for Ecr deletion on takkal basic they want to change into normal basis. Now my application status is post pv basis when I will get my passport please answer..
@Pragathi
Post PV means, your passport would be issued after police verification and it may take 25-30 days.
@Pankaj Batra
I am in the Qatar. I have change my company(Sponsor) in the qatar without leaving the country . Do I need to emigration clearance again for qatar. If yes what documents required for that.
@R.Mukerew
If you visit India, then you would need to get clearance again for new employer.
Thank you sir.
Please let me know the documents name for emigration clearance. As I have RP visa pasted in the passport.
@R.Mukerew
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,,i need a emigration clearance for Saudi Arabia employment…my agent tel me emigration is closed for unskilled person….tell me sir office is really closed or not ?
@Mominul
PoE office is not closed but clearance for unskilled persons have been discontinued for time being.