Emigration abroad for employment ECR/ECNR Status o Emigration Act, 1983 provides that no citizen of India shall migrate unless he obtains emigration clearance from Protector of Emigrants. Similarly, it has been recognized that certain countries (currently 18) do not have strict laws regulating the entry and employment of foreign nationals. They also do not provide avenues for grievance redr essal. Thus these have been categorized as Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. Hence, all persons, having ECR endorsed Passports and going to any of the 18 ECR countries fo r taking up employment require emigration clearance. However, ECR passport holders going to any ECR country for purposes other than employment do not require emigration clearance. No specific mention of ECNR is made on the Passports and the ones not endorsed as ECR, automatically belong to ECNR category. Offices of the Protectors...