Difference between ECR and ECNR stamp.

This is often asked by our readers.One can find many stuff about ECR or ECNR but people are still in confusion. Given below is a brief description about these two terminology used in Passports.

ECR
It stands for, "Emigration check required" status.

It is endorsed in passports in case if a person is leaving from his/her native country to another country for job/employment.

The ECR stamp is endorsed to the passports of those people who have no educational qualifciations or who have educational qualification below 10th standard.

It is required for the safety of our Indian citizens in abroad due to the legal conditions of other countries and is based on different conditions or situations.

ECNR
It stands for, "Emigration Check NOT Required" status.

It is endorsed to the passports of people from following categories:

1. All holders of diplomatic/official passports.
2. All Gazetted Government servants.
3. All income tax payers.
4. All professional degree holders e.g. Graduates or post graduates in any discipline, Doctors, Economists, Nurses, Journalists, Chartered Accountants etc.
5. Spouses and dependent children up to the age of 24 persons listed in point no. 2 to 4 above.
6. All persons having educational qualifications of 10th standard or above that.
7. Persons holding permanent immigration visas or green cards of countries like UK, USA or Australia.
8. Persons having atleast 2 years or 3 years diploma from a government/national recognized institutes.
9. All persons above the age of 50 years.
10. All persons living in abroad for more than three years (regular or irregular - both considerable) with their spouses.