Now, travel Dubai without updating OTB status

In a recent development, OTB for Dubai is not required now for Indians holding a ‘Non-ECR’ or ‘ECNR’ passport and intending to visit Dubai on a Tourist Visa. Till now all Indian passport holders visiting Dubai were supposed to update the OTB (Ok to Board) status before boarding the flight. There are reports when airlines did not allow the passengers to board the flight at the Indian airports despite having a valid visa and passport, just because the passengers did not update the OTB status with the airlines. Although even after the recent change, there are few conditions attached. Check this article for more details before you board the flight for Dubai.

Read: How to get OTB for Dubai

Difference between ECR and Non-ECR passport

ECR means ‘Emigration check required’. Indian citizens who are not literate are issued an ECR category passport. Indian Government does this to prevent the citizens from being exploited in the name of the job in the overseas. Such passport holders have to get clearance from the office of Protector General of Emigrants (PGE), Ministry of External Affairs, GoI before leaving India for employment purpose.

Basically, citizens not having Matriculation/ not passed 10th standard will come under ECR category.  Such passport holders will have ECR printed on their passport. If you do not have ECR mentioned on your passport, then you have the Non-ECR or ECNR (Emigration check not required) status. So Non-ECR status will not be printed on passports. I hold a Non-ECR passport as I submitted the 10th standard’s passing certificate while applying for the passport. For details, please refer – boi.gov.in/content/encrecr

Primarily these people are eligible for Non-ECR status:

1. Indians having educational qualification of matriculation (pass) and above
2. Indians above the age of 50 years
3. All Gazetted Government servants, their spouse and dependent children
4. Indians holding Diplomatic/Official passports
5. There are few more categories, please refer – passportindia.gov.in

OTB in ‘Fly Dubai’ airlines

• OTB not required 
  1. for all Non-ECR passport holders with a valid UAE’s Tourist visa & flying anywhere from India
  2. for all ECR passport holders flying from Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad & Chennai
  3. for all Non-ECR passport holders having the Employment visa stamped in the passport (not a paper visa)
• OTB required:
  1. for all ECR passport holders with employment visa & flying from Delhi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram & Cochin (Kerala)

The conditions keep changing regularly, so call ‘Fly Dubai’  for specific queries.

'Fly Dubai', Delhi customer care phone number -  01141504441

OTB in Indigo

• OTB not required 
  1. for all Non-ECR passport holders with a valid UAE’s Tourist visa
• OTB required:
  1. for all ECR & Non-ECR passport holders with Employment or Work visa

Call ‘Indigo’  for updated information & specific queries.

Indigo, customer care number 9212783838 (India)

OTB in Emirates

• OTB not required 
  1. for all Non-ECR passport holders irrespective of the visa type
• OTB required:
  1. for all ECR passport holders

Call Emirates for updated information & specific queries.

Emirates, customer care number 022 40974097 (India)

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