Your passport is the first item that comes to mind if you wish to leave the country. It is a legal document that the government issues to attest to the holder’s identity and nationality. Additionally, passports are issued based on a variety of criteria, including age and educational background. It is a crucial travel document, and understanding the two types of Indian passports is even more crucial. In this blog, we are going to talk about the ECR and Non-ECR category means and understand the difference between the same.
The Indian Emigration Act of 1983 specifies that there are two types of Indian passports. To learn more about the sorts and different documents needed to apply, keep reading.
- ECR
- Non-ECR
1. ECR Category means
ECR Category means the emigration Clearance Required. The candidate must go through an immigration check if they haven’t completed their 10th grade or don’t have a certificate proving it. It was put in place to give people who wanted to work in other nations, such as Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, etc., that freedom. It is believed that Indian nationals with low educational levels are more likely to experience domestic abuse abroad. In order to safeguard Indians who are residing abroad and assist them in dealing with such circumstances, the Indian government has put forward very rigorous regulations.
Who Can Apply For an ECR passport?
ECR passports are automatically available if the passport applicant has not completed, or has completed, his or her tenth standard but does not have all the necessary documentation for SSC and children under the age of fifteen. Additionally, by choosing the ECR option when completing the online passport application form, those who are entering any other nation on a visa other than an Indian work or employment visa are also eligible to apply under the ECR category.
2. Non-ECR category
The non-ECR category means Immigration Clearance Is Not Needed. It is for those with the necessary educational credentials who wish to travel for either business or pleasure. Passports bearing the ECNR can be used to travel anywhere in the world without requiring emigration clearance. Indian citizens who have completed the 10th grade can apply for ECNR and won’t have to go through the emigration counter. Even if you have finished the SSLC but need the certificate, you fall under the ECR category.
Who Can Apply for ECNR/Non-ECR Passport
Applicants for passports who possess the secondary school graduation certificate as a requirement for enrollment are automatically qualified to receive an ECNR passport. When submitting an online passport application, the applicant has various options if they do not particularly need ECNR.
Conditions for applying under the ECNR category
- The following groups fall under ECNR/Non-ECR by default:
- Indian nationals with at least a 10th-grade education and the necessary documentation
- People 50 years of age and older who have a polytechnic diploma from a recognized institute
- Those who have lived abroad for three years
- holders of a nursing diploma under the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947
- Listed public officials, their partners, and their kids
- individuals with visas for permanent residence in the US, UK, or Australia
- Taxpayers, especially agricultural taxpayers, who hold official or diplomatic passports, as well as their spouses and children (below 18 years)
Difference Between the Passports
Are you curious to know which of the two kinds of Indian passports yours belongs to? If so, turn the passport’s final page to see if it is an ECNR passport or an ECR passport. If the last page is blank, your passport automatically falls into the ECNR category. This indicates that you are qualified to visit any nation without having to go through immigration.
Can You Convert Your ECR Passport Into Non-ECR?
Consider the following situations where you can change your ECR passport to an ECNR:
In the event that a person’s age, education, marital status, or any other factor changes in a way that qualifies them to switch from the ECR classification to the Non-ECR classification.
There have also been instances where candidates unknowingly applied earlier for ECR passports despite being eligible for ECNR. As a result, each time they travel, they must pass through an immigration check.
ECR passport holders who are traveling for job prospects overseas will be impacted because the emigration clearance process is not that straightforward and the issuance of certificates is entirely dependent on the immigration authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs does, however, permit the conversion of ECR passports to ECNR passports in order to avoid such situations, provided that the passport holder satisfies specific criteria.
How Do You Convert Your ECR Passport Into ECNR?
It is simple for you to convert your ECR passport to an ECNR one if you fall under the ECNR category but currently hold an ECR passport. Apply to have your ECR status removed after confirmation. You will then need to go through the complete passport application process. You will receive the updated passport once you have met all the requirements.
I trust you are aware of the qualifications for the two types of Indian passports as well as the application procedure. There is nothing to worry about if you currently hold an ECR passport and are seeking employment overseas. You can now convert it to ECNR because you know how. You’re one step closer to starting your international travels now that you are aware of all your passport tricks.
Conclusion
in this blog, we get to know about the type of passport which is a crucial document for any candidate and we also get to know about what ECR and Non-ECR Category means. and we also understood the concept of who can apply for these passports and what are its eligibility criteria to apply.