Whenever you start making any travel plan in any country, you first think about your passport. The Indian government issues this document to certify your nationality and identity. The passports are generally issued as per your educational qualification, age, and other factors. Besides having a passport, you should understand the 2 categories: non-ECR passports and ECR passports. The non-ECR category in the passport was given by the Indian immigration act 1983.
Whenever you hear about the nonemigration check required passport, you think about some of your cpolleagues or friends traveling abroad without an immigration check. You might have wondered why some people do not have to stand in the queue. There are several advantages of non ECR passport, and you can find all the details here. But before you go for either of the categories, you need to know the documents required for ECR or non ECR passport.
What is ECR?
The ECR passport category means an emigration check is required. It is required for certain countries where you are traveling for work. It mainly applies to job class people or workers falling in the unskilled category.
In simple terms, it is a category of passport where you have not cleared your 10th class examination or cannot provide higher education certificates. You must go through the emigration check if you want to work as an employee in some countries. It is ideally a verification process to ensure you get a secure and safe job in the new country.
The government came up with the ECR passport category for the safety of Indian citizens due to some legal conditions of other nations and based on some situations and conditions. This check mainly depends on your education, medical status, etc. You can either qualify for the non-ECR category or the ECR category; there is no hanging in between.
The eligibility criteria for an ECR passport?
You are eligible for this passport if you have not completed your 10th grade, or even if you have completed it, you don’t have all the relevant documents for SSC. You can also get an ECR passport by default if you are under 15 years old. You can also apply for this passport if you are traveling to any other country on a visa that is beyond a job or employment visa. While filling out the passport application form, you can choose the ECR option.
Countries that require clearance
There are at least 17 countries that need immigration clearance. The emigration protractor of the ministry of overseas Indian affairs gives the clearance. Some of the countries that need clearance include Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Qatar, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen. You need to clear the emigration if you are traveling to any of these countries for work or employment basis. For another type of visa, including a tourist visa, this clearance is not required. You just need to show the valid passport tickets and a valid visa and get entry at the airport for immigration.
Some of the documents that you need to submit for an ECR passport are as follows
Some of the important documents that you need to submit are valid proof of address and, if required, an annexure. While applying for a passport, don’t forget to carry these documents. Don’t forget either all the guidelines or the policies of the Government of India. To get the ECR passport, you do not have to submit any of the educational qualification certifications.
What is non-ECR?
For a NON-ECR passport, you don’t need to go for any emigration check. NON-ECR passport was earlier known as ECNR as this passport indicates no checking. It means that even if you want to want to work in some countries as an employee, you don’t have to go through any checking. Your passport will automatically be placed under the non-ECR category, provided you have cleared your 10th-grade examination or have a higher education degree.
The passport is especially for all the citizens of India who are qualified for education and looking forward to traveling for business or work-related purposes. You are most likely to fall in this category if you have completed your SSE and do not have proper certificates.
Can you apply for the non-ECR passport?
You can apply for this passport if you have all the documents regarding your educational qualification. You can go for other options if you do not need ECNR and check the non-ECR category in your passport.
Some conditions for applying for the non emigration check require a passport
- If you are an Indian applicant whose education is more than 10th grade and have all the relevant documents.
- Applicants can apply for this passport provided they are more than 50 years old.
- You can apply for this passport if you have a diploma in Polytechnic from a reputable institute.
- You can also apply for this passport if you have spent at least 3 years in any foreign country.
- Under the Indian nursing council act 1947, if you hold a diploma in nursing, then you can apply for this passport
- If you hold visas for any permanent resident ship in countries like the UK, and the US in Australia, then you can apply for this passport
- This passport is also available for official and diplomat passport individuals
- Income tax payers like agricultural income taxpayers can apply for this passport.
Which countries are likely to accept the non-ECR category?
Not all countries generally demand immigration certificates. The majority of the countries generally allow the ecnr passport holders without having any clearance. Additionally, other visa types mainly include medical student job business.
Some of the documents required for non ECR passport
You need to submit all the compulsory proof of address for applying for this passport. If you are applying for this passport, don’t forget to attach your educational certificates.
Can you convert your ECR passport into Non-ECR?
- You can do it easily if there is any change happening in your life related to your education, age, etc. That makes you eligible to change the category.
- There are also some cases when you can apply for the ECR passport without being aware that you are eligible for the non-ECR one. Due to this, you can undergo the emigration screw whenever you travel.
- As the process of this clearance is challenging, the certificate issuance mainly depends on the immigration officer. At the same time, if you hold an ECR passport, then the job opportunities for you in foreign countries are likely to be affected. But to overcome such cases, the external affairs ministry allows you to change the ECR passport to the ecnr passport if you meet some eligibility criteria.
Difference between ECR and NON-ECR
Learn about the Documents required for ECR or NON-ECR Passport and also learn about the difference between ECR and non ECR passport. If you want to know which category of passport you fall into, then you just need to move to the last page of your passport, and you will get the category. If you do not find anything, then you must know that you fall under the default passport category of ecnr. It means that you can travel to any country without stressing about immigration checks.
You can apply for the ecnr passport and convert your ECR into that, provided you are eligible for that category. You can follow some steps mentioned above to change your passport status. You just need to apply for the reissue of your passport to change the status. You have to click on the option yes when you are asked the question of whether you are eligible for the non-ECR category or not. Upload all your proof while you visit the passport office. Don’t forget to submit the relevant documents like the eligibility criteria proving that you have your 10th certificate or income tax statement.
Faqs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What does non ECR category mean?
The non-ECR category means an immigration check is not required
Are there any disadvantages of the ECR passport?
No, there are no disadvantages of an ECR passport.
What does your ECR passport look like?
On the last page, you can find the ECR endorsement or the notion rest of the passport looks the same.
