Indians need emigration check to visit Thailand

Indians holding passports with an ECNR stamp now have to get a clearance from the Protectorate of Emigrants before leaving for Thailand.

India on Thursday withdrew with immediate effect the exemption of "emigration check not required" (ECNR) status for Indian citizens travelling to Thailand.

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Indians holding passports with an ECNR stamp now have to get a clearance from the Protectorate of Emigrants before leaving for Thailand, an official statement said.

With the notification issued by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, 53 countries remain on the list of destinations where Indian passport holders require no emigration checks.

Apart from Pakistan and Bangladesh, these countries include mainly those in Europe, North America and some countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Certain categories of passport holders - like professionals, graduates and government officials - are exempt from an emigration check for visiting any country.