How to get Emigration Clearance for Nurses from India to Work Abroad

Some times I ask myself why I chose to be a nurse? Of course I do have an answer with me. I never knew what was in store for me , until I entered the field😉. I was in a fantasy  world, thought of giving injections, medications and assisting procedures like surgery or delivery is the only job I do. But I was completely wrong, not only me - at least 90 % of the nurses around the world must had the same impression. I cant stop smiling, thinking how silly I was that time. Intended to share few things which will make you mad because of the profession you chose to be. I had started writing this post one year back but could not  publish (I must say I was lazy 😞), and decided to do as one of my friends told me that the issue is getting worse in Kerala now a days.

Nursing Recruitment  Thorough NORKA Roots , ODEPC , Overseas Manpower Corporation Limited (OMCL) for Nurses

Nursing is India is the most 'put down' profession in every aspects like work load, long duty hours, stress and very low salary . Above all, the recruitment scams in India added an extra burden on us, by narrowing the foreign recruitment only through government agencies like NORKA and ODEPC in Kerala and through Overseas Manpower Corporation Limited (OMCL), in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. On top of that the government has issued an order which requires nurses to undergo an emigration clearance before taking up an overseas employment in 18 Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. Some of the ECR countries include UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen and likewise. There are two more government agencies has opened, Uttar Pradesh Financial Coperation and Telangana Overseas Manpower Company.

After NORKA Roots and ODEPC has taken charge of immigration of nurses from India for overseas employment, nurses are facing great difficulties in getting immigration clearance to fly abroad . As very a few hospitals have registered with this agencies, the recruitment flow came down to a level where hardly  50 nurses going abroad in a month. Although you get a job in any of these  countries, it is difficult for you to get through the immigration clearance unless that hospital is registered with NORKA. Many of you are  familiar with the things that  to be done to get an immigration clearance, but there some asking around for it . As per my knowledge the following things you have to  do to get an emigration clearance from India , if you are nurse .


With the new development,  the Indian government has given permission to some private agencies/agents for the nursing recruitment, because countries like Saudi and Oman were not ready for  direct recruitment through the NORKA or  ODEPEC. Agents can register in e- migrate , once they are approved by the authority they can conduct recruitment  in India based on the terms and conditions.

Protector of Emigrants ( POE ) Clearance for Nurses

With Protector of Emigrants (POE), Kochi, and Trivandrum you can get a clearance certificate to pass through the airport. It used to take more than a month for the emigration clearance, as the jurisdiction of POE Kochi spans from Kollam to Kasaragod. As per the latest information from POE Trivandrum on 13/01/17, all the process can be done online. Before you apply for  the emigration clearance, make sure that your employer is registered in the e migrate system. Employer should enter the Job Id, job code, employment offer, so and so.  The candidate also can apply for an emigration clearance through online application, once the application is approved, the candidate will get an electronic emigration clearance, and an email confirmation stating the same. Here is the link:e migrate

The above scenario can bring you trouble . Though you are holding an offer letter, if your employer is  not registered in e migrate you will not be able to get an emigration clearance, if you are in India. In the gulf, especially in UAE, it is possible for you to find a job in a visit or tourist visa. But some of the well paying  hospitals there are there are not registered in e migrate. In that case, if you are already in gulf ,  it is better to take an exit to Oman or nearby country to convert your visa into employment visa.

For More details , on Emigraton Clearance for Nurses , you can contact

Protector of Emigrant office Cochin
3RD Floor,  Putherickal Building
Market Road, Ernakulam
Kerala - 682035. Tel. No. 0484-2360187

Protector of Emigrant office Trivandrum
Norka Building, Thycaud P.O
Trivandrum-695014
Telephone - 0471-2336625, Fax-0471-2336626

The stringent norms in India  have affected the career dream of  of nurses to work abroad .Nurses from other countries like Philippines and Nepal  are benefiting . It is high time Indian government come up with a simplified  process for a hassle free Emigration Clearance  System for the nurses in India.