Meaning of ecr stamp on arrival card of India?

Answer 1

ECR stands for Emigration Check Required as opposed to ECNR which stands for Emigration Check NOT Required. All Indian passports fall into either of these categories.

The Emigration Check (EC) system provides assistance for people stranded in foreign countries who need help. As such, people who are likely to face such conditions have to pay a certain amount to the government which acts as a sort of insurance. People who can take care of themselves need not pay this amount (they fall into ECNR category) . In which category one falls, is determined (among many other criteria) is whether one has enough educational qualifications (SSC or Grade 10 equivalent).

If the passport was issued before January 2007, no notation on the passport meant that EC was Required while an endorsement was included to mention that ECNR. Whereas, if the passport was issued after January 2007, no notation on the passport meant the ECNR whereas if EC was required, there would be such a notation on the passport.

EC is not required for all the countries and for all the type of visits. It is required only if one is emigrationg for the purpose of employment mainly to the middle eastern countries and some far eastern countries.