𝑵𝒐𝒏-𝑬𝑪𝑹 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕: Know How To Check Non-ECR Status?

In India, if you’re eligible, you can obtain a non-ECR passport that allows you to travel to certain countries without the need for emigration clearance from the government. The best part? No more long waits for clearance, no more cumbersome paperwork, and no more delays! That’s when, Non ECR category of passport comes in handy, whereby you don’t have to wait in long queues and in the tedious process of immigration check. 

Let’s dive down in the article below pertaining everything about a Non ECR passport, its eligibility, required documentation and much more. 

What is a Non ECR Passport?

If an Indian citizen wants to work abroad, in some cases, the country asks about the ECR category in the passport from the individual. The Emigration Act 1983 makes it crucial for the authentic passport holder to obtain emigration clearance from POE (Protector of Emigrants) Office in order to work in several countries. 

If there is mention of the ECR category in the passport, it means that the passport doesn’t have any notice mentioning that it pertains to passports issued before January 2007. And any passport issued after January 2007 without any addendum or notice is referred to as Non-ECR or Emigration Check Not Required Passport.

What Does the Non-ECR Category Mean?

Passport becomes a generic document when you wish to visit other countries as an identity proof issued by the country’s government to support the citizenship of a candidate. In the same manner, the Government of India has enabled two categories of passports, an ECR and ECNR passport where ECNR is Non-ECR passport. The bare minimum eligibility to get any kind of passport depends upon education, age and marital status of the individual. And in such a scenario, when you carry a non ECR category /ECNR passport, then the need to get an emigration check becomes null and void. 

If you have a matriculation certificate or higher degree than that, then that automatically qualifies for the category of having a ECNR passport. This non ECR category of passport is strictly mandatory for Indian citizens who want to work abroad or want to go for any vacation. If you have verified the criteria and are sure that you are very qualified to have a Non ECR category of passport with you, then must carry all the necessary documents with you to the respective Passport office.

After complete verification of documents and crucial certificates through the Passport office, you will be eligible to acquire a Non ECR passport. And with that, the liability to get an emigration check before boarding a flight will be eliminated. 

Difference Between ECR and Non-ECR Passports

After getting detailed insight about ECR and ECNR passports, let’s examine their fundamental differences.

• You can still work abroad if you possess an ECR passport, but you will require an emigration clearance, which you won’t require if you have a Non-ECR passport. The emigration clearance will fall under the purview of the POE officer (protector of emigrants).
• A Non-ECR passport allows you to travel and work in numerous nations without undergoing an emigration check, which is the first notable difference. If you intend to travel for business, however, you will need an ECR passport and will need to pass through an immigration check.

You might want to know, why do you need such a Non ECR category of passport for traveling or working abroad? The answer to that is to safeguard you from any kind of exploitation in case you lie in the unskilled working community of the country. Emigration clearance for the same is handled by agents that are duly certified. You mainly need a Non ECR category of passport in the following mentioned 17 countries across globe namely, Lebanon, Oman, Malaysia, Qatar, Libya, Sudan, UAE, Thailand, Jordan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Indonesia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

What is the Eligibility for Non ECR/ ECNR Passport?

If you are cautious and worry whether you might qualify for a Non ECR/ ECNR passport, then below are the following eligibility requirements one needs to meet to attain the ECNR passport:

• To obtain a Non-ECR passport, you must first and primarily possess a matriculation certificate.
• The Non-ECR passport is available to all children under the age of 18, but after they become 18, they must show proof of their age in order to be eligible.
• Candidates for Non-ECR passports include sea and deck cadets.
• For non-ECR passports, all government employees are eligible, as well as their spouses and kids.
• The purchase of Non-ECR passports is open to all taxpayers, including agricultural taxpayers. Passports without the ECR are also available to the taxpayers’ spouses and kids.
• Non-ECR passports are available to holders of professional degrees, permanent visas, and diplomas from polytechnic institutes.

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What are the Necessary Documentation Required for Non-ECR passport

Below are the necessary documents mentioned that you require when you want to apply for a Non ECR category of passport:

• A birth certificate from the Indian government and a diploma from one of the country’s accredited universities are required for everyone over 50.
• All holders of permanent immigrant visas for Australia, the UK, or the USA will require a copy of their PR or immigration visa.
• Nursing credentials will be necessary for all nursing graduates.
• No further paperwork will be required of any diplomats or holders of diplomatic passports other than their official diplomatic passport.
• Everyone who has only completed matriculation will want a copy of their matriculation certificate.
• Identity documents and a certified copy of the marriage licence must be shown by all government employees and their spouses. Additionally, the children of government employees will be required to submit copies of their parents’ passports, birth certificates, identification certificates, and school transcripts.
• All minors under the age of 18 must present their birth certificates, which were issued by the Indian Registrar of Births and Deaths. To demonstrate eligibility for Non-ECR beyond the age of 18, a new passport must be issued.
• All of the professionals in India who hold degrees in MBBS, engineering, MBA, lectureship, science, journalism, law, and other fields would be able to show their credentials.

And if you still feel the need to know more about the documentation and related process, then you can visit the official website of Passport India.

In a Nutshell

The above article pertains to a detailed guide about a Non ECR category of passport, eligibility, documentation, and the major difference between ECR and ECNR passports. You can go through it, and you’ll be intrigued by every minute detail that’s covered in the article. Hopefully, this article will suffice for each and every query. Indian citizens with foreign-based passports, also referred to as NRIs, can turn to SBNRI.com for a variety of online banking, investing, legal, and other financial services. Download the SBNRI App from the Google Play Store or App Store if you’re interested in NRI services including NRI investments in India, NRI accounts, NRI taxation, etc. Click the button below to ask any inquiries. 

FAQ’s about Non-ECR Passport