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
Yes Vivek,
You may get Visa on arrival in Thailand.
Passport holders from India may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.
The applicant must possess means of living expenses 10,000 Baht per person. The applicant must produce full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry.
Visa on arrival is provided at 23 designated international checkpoints and applicants should produce the application form to which his/her recent photograph (2 ½ inches) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht.
Read the link below for more details:
http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/faqs.html#7
Thanks a lot Pankaj!
Hi,
Iam touring Malaysia next week along with my friends.I have got the toutist VISA also. But i have not got ECNR in my passport. Will it create any problem if i travel to Malaysia without ECNR.
Karthik,
For Tourist visa, ECNR is not required for any country.
I have a passport which is issued in 2001 and has ECNR cancelled by pen.
Please advice should I go for ECNR stamp
Walid,
If you are going to any of the above listed country for employment, you should get your passport ECNR stamped.
Hai Sir
I have a passport which is issued in 2001 and has ECR & ECNR both were strike-off by pen. I can’t remember that i have submitted my degree cer. at the time of application.
Please advice should I go for ECNR stamp
Ravi,
ECNR is not required until you are going in some countries for employment (list of those countries can be found up on the page).
Dear Pankaj,
My son holds an Indian Passport issued in Mumbai and is doing his postgraduate studies in France.He will be visiting Mumbai from 20 Dececmber until 25 December 2008.His passport has a ECR stamp duly deleted but the deletion states that it is valid until 06 December 2008.
(a)-Will he have problems at the airport departure immigration in Mumbai when he departs from Mumbai to return to France ?
(b)-Does he have to get a fresh endorsement from the RPO in Mumbai ? And if so,how long will it take as he only has a few working days in Mumbai.
(c)-Can he complete the neccessary endorsement from the Indian Embassy in France ?
Your thoughts on the above three queries will be highly appreciated.
With regards
Siddhant
Siddhant,
For visiting France, ECNR was never a requirement.
a) There won’t be any issue at the airport while departure immigration.
b) No need to get fresh ECNR endorsement.
c) ECNR endorsements can not be done from Indian embassies in other countries, It can only be done from passport offices in India. However, In your case its not required to get.
Enjoy your time with your son.
-Pankaj
Dear Pankaj,
How can I thank you ? It was really kind of you to address all my queries so completely.
With best regards
Siddhant
Sir this is my first quote
I have a passport which is issued in 2001 and has ECR & ECNR both were strike-off by pen. I can’t remember that i have submitted my degree cer. at the time of application.
Please advice should I go for ECNR stamp
2nd quote
I am going to kuwait on employment. Then as per your advices, I have to obtain ECNR. But, in my passport that ECR & ECNR were strike-off by pen. Should I go for ECNR stamp.
Ravi,
Please get your passport stamped with ECNR as its required for employment in Kuwait. On your passport, as its strike off, that’s ECR (emigration check required).
Just tumbled upon ur blog while searching for ECNR/ECR status that needs to be filled as I need to renew my passport.
I must say u r a doing a great job, and have immense patience.
Kudos!!!
I have to get my passport renewed as its 10-year period will expire in June 09.
I have a masters degree in business (PGDBM). I need some clarifcation on what to fill in the passport application form regarding ECNR status. Should it be “YES”?
and what is to be mentioned in the “eligble criteria” (if yes)?
Also, by any chance, do I need to fill EAP-2 form? I dont have any plans to visit the sad 18 countries.
In my old passport, there was a page on ECR, but a stamp of “DELETED” was affixed on that page.
Please advice!
Thanks
NJ,
You should fill YES in ECNR status as you are eligible for getting this status. Your are eligible because you have a professional degree. You are also eligible If you have PAN card.
I have no idea about EAP-2 form, where did you see that in passport form.
Hi Pankaj – I must congratulate you for the amazing help you are doing by replying and contributing remarkably to the queries posted by people like us who are not sure on the guidelines on these issues. I have read thru this blog and some of my queries are already answered, however have couple of questions and would appreciate your help. It will be great if you can please clear doubts on my mind point wise.
1. My passport was issue on 29/11/2008 by Kolkata passport office with 2nd page blank. So it means a default ECNR right?
2. I am presently on Work permit in Canada (but still on payroll of co in India) & we had our baby in Mumbai on 11th Dec 2008. I want to get the passport done for my baby girl and want my wife and my kid to join here. Can i get the passport of my baby done from India i being here? I understand that passport of both parents are required to be produced in original for a minors passport? is this correct??
3. My wife is at her parents place in mumbai and somone advised that to get my kids passport I can get a NOC from my wifes father and submit his residential proof and get my kids passport done from Mumbai passport office although my and my wifes passport were issue from Kolkata regional office. Can i get her passport done this way?? I have all my residentail proof for Kolkata residence.
Thanks a lot in advance. God bless you!
Wish you and your loved ones a wonderful New Year ahead!
Kind regards,
Manish
Hi pankaj,
I am a Nepalese citizen married to an indian woman. I work in Dubai, UAE and recently got residence visa issued for my wife. She has indian passport stamped with ECR on 2nd page. The passport was issued from lucknow. Does she require ECNR? She has completed +2… I believe according to new Act, ECNR is only required for people going on employment visa and NOT on Residence visa?
Excellent , Hats of for your doing……..i strongly feel that many indian brothers have benfited from your blog……..keep it up………
Hi Manish,
1. Yes, blank second page means passport with ECNR stamp.
2. Passport details for Either of parent can be provided and needs to be submitted along with Annexure-H (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/ANNEXUREH_minor.htm)
3. I am not sure about the 3rd question. You may contact passport office in India and ask them about it.