The new rule applies to all passport holders, irrespective of their emigration status such as ECR or ECNR. (Reuters file photo)
DOHA: Come January next year, Indians on employment visa in 18 countries including Qatar will have to register with a government website, at least 24 hours prior to their journey, if they don’t want to be offloaded. This applies to all passport holders, irrespective of their emigration status vis-à-vis ECR or ECNR.
“All the Non Emigration Check Required (Non-ECR) passport holding Indian emigrants are hereby advised to note that in pursuance to Ministry of External Affairs' mandate to provide protection and welfare to the Indian emigrants abroad, it was decided by the Competent Authority that Non-ECR passport holding Indian emigrants, going for “overseas employment” to 18 notified Countries, are required to register online through the website (www.emigrate.gov.in),” the advisory said.
The countries are: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
“The above provision has been made operational from December, 2017 on pilot basis and it is observed that the registration process is running smoothly,” the advisory noted.
“Registration can be done by visiting the website of emigrate.gov.in and key in their details at the link "ECNR Registration" & follow the steps to fill the Registration Form. On successful completion of registration, the emigrant would receive a confirmatory SMS/email.”
“The said registration of Non-ECR passport holders will be mandatory and required to be completed at least 24 hours prior to actual departure. Starting 01.01.2019, no Indian emigrant holding Non-ECR passport, would be allowed to go to these 18 ECR countries for employment, without prior registration in eMigrate, as a measure of extending protection and ensuring their welfare overseas,” the advisory said.
“Off-loading of unregistered Non-ECR emigrants at the airports, would be effected by the appropriate authority after 15 January 2019. For all other visa categories there is no change in existing procedures.”
About a dozen questions were posed to the Twitter handle of the Indian Embassy in Qatar seeking clarifications in realtion with those already working in Qatar and elsewhere.
The Embassy’s reply to these questions was “It is advisable that your register in order to avoid any last minute hassle.”
— India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) November 15, 2018
