1. Short title, extent, application and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Emigration 
Act, 1983.
(2) It extends to the whole of India and applies also to citizens of India outside India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date1
as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint and 
different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such 
provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of that 
provision

2. Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “certificate” means a certificate of registration issued under section 11;
(b) “conveyance” includes a vessel, vehicle, country-craft and an aircraft;
(c) “dependent” means any person who is related to an emigrant and is dependent on that 
emigrant;
(d) “emigrant” means any citizen of India who intends to emigrate, or emigrates, or has emigrated 
but does not include—
(i) a dependent of an emigrant, whether such dependent accompanies that emigrant, or 
departs subsequently for the purpose of joining that emigrant in the country to which that 
emigrant has lawfully emigrated;
(ii) any person who has resided outside India at any time after attaining the age of eighteen 
years, for not less than three years or the spouse or child of such person;
(e) “emigrant conveyance” means any conveyance specially chartered for conveyance of 
emigrants or for conveying emigrants exceeding such number as may be prescribed:
Provided that the Central Government may, by notification, declare that any conveyance 
conveying emigrants to such place as may be specified in the notification shall not be deemed to be 
an emigrant conveyance;
(f) “emigrate” and “emigration” mean the departure out of India of any person with a view to 
taking up any employment (whether or not under an agreement or other arrangements to take up such 
employment and whether with or without the assistance of a recruiting agent or employer) in any 
country or place outside India;
(g) “employer” means any person providing or offering to provide, employment in any country or 
place outside India;
(h) “employment” means any service, occupation or engagement (not being service, occupation 
or engagement under the Central Government or a State Government), in any kind of work within the 
meaning of clause (o), for wages or for reward, and all its grammatical variations and cognate 
expressions shall be construed accordingly;
(i) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(k) “Protector of Emigrants” means a Protector of Emigrants appointed under section 3 and 
includes a person authorised under section 5;
(l) “recruiting agent” means a person engaged in India in the business of recruitment for an 
employer and representing such employer with respect to any matter in relation to such recruitment 
including dealings with persons so recruited or desiring to be so recruited;
(m) “recruitment” includes the issuing of any advertisement for the purpose of recruitment, the 
offering by advertisement to secure or assist in securing any employment in any country or place 
outside India and the entering into any correspondence, negotiation, agreement or arrangement with 
any individual for or in relation to the employment of such individual in any country or place outside 
India;
(n) “registering authority” means the officer appointed under section 9 to be the registering 
authority for the purposes of this Act;
(o) “work” means—
(i) any unskilled work, including any form of industrial or agricultural labour;
(ii) any domestic service;
(iii) any service, not being a service in a managerial capacity, in any hotel, restaurant, teahouse or other place of public resort;
(iv) work as a driver of a truck or other vehicle, mechanic, technician or skilled labourer or 
artisan;
(v) work as an office assistant or accountant or typist or stenographer or salesman, or nurse or 
operator of any machine;
(vi) work in connection with, or for the purposes of, any cinema, exhibition or entertainment;
(vii) any such work of a professional or of any other nature as the Central Government may, 
having regard to the need for the protection of citizens of India who may be employed in such 
work outside India and other relevant circumstances, specify by notification:
Provided that the Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary so to do having regard 
to the conditions of service applicable with respect to employment in any of the aforementioned 
categories of work or any sub-category thereof, whether generally or in relation to any particular 
country or place and other relevant circumstances, declare by notification that such category of work 
or sub-category of work shall not be deemed to be work within the meaning of this definition.
(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any area shall, in relation to that area, 
be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.

1. 30th December, 1983, vide notification No. S.O. 940(E), dated 30th December, 1983, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, 
Part II, sec. 3 (ii).
 

3. Protectors of Emigrants.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification, appoint a Protector 
General of Emigrants and as many Protectors of Emigrants, as it deems fit, for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Central Government may, by general or special order, define the area to which the authority 
of a Protector of Emigrants so appointed shall extend and, where two or more Protectors of Emigrants are 
appointed for the same area, also provide, by such order, for the distribution and allocation of the work to 
be performed under this Act in relation to such area.
(3) The Protectors of Emigrants shall perform the functions assigned to them by or under this Act 
under the general superintendence and control of the Protector General of Emigrants.
(4) The Protector General of Emigrants may, in addition to the special function assigned to him by or 
under this Act, perform all or any of the functions assigned to any Protector of Emigrants.
 

4. General duties of Protectors of Emigrants.—Subject to the other provisions of this Act, every 
Protector of Emigrants shall, in addition to the special duties assigned to him by or under this Act—
(a) protect and aid with his advice all intending emigrants and emigrants;
(b) cause, so far as he can, all the provisions of this Act and of the rules made thereunder to be 
complied with;
(c) inspect, to such extent and in such manner as may be prescribed—
(i) any emigrant conveyance, or
(ii) any other conveyance if he has reason to believe that any intending emigrants or 
emigrants are proceeding from, or returning to, India to or from a place outside India by such 
other conveyance;
(d) inquire into the treatment received by emigrants during their voyage or journey to, and during 
the period of their residence in the country to which they emigrated and also during the return voyage 
or journey to India and report thereon to the Protector General of Emigrants or such other authority as 
may be prescribed;
(e) aid and advise, so far as he reasonably can, emigrants who have returned to India.

5. Power to authorise persons to exercise functions of a Protector.—The Central Government 
may, if satisfied that it is necessary so to do in the interest of emigrants or intending emigrants, authorise 
any person to perform all or any of the functions of a Protector of Emigrants under this Act.

6. Emigration check-posts.—(1) Where the Central Government considers that, with a view to 
preventing or checking the contravention of the provisions of this Act, it is necessary so to do, it may, by 
notification, set up such number of emigration check-posts at such places as may be specified.
(2) The Central Government may, by general or special order made in this behalf, appoint an officer 
of the Central Government or of a State Government to be an officer in charge of an emigration checkpost set up under sub-section (1).
(3) An officer in charge of an emigration check-post shall be subject to the general control and 
supervision of the Protector of Emigrants within the local limits of whose jurisdiction that emigration 
check-post is situated.

7. Other emigration officers and staff.—The Central Government may appoint such other officers 
and employees (hereinafter referred to as the emigration officers and emigration employees), as it may 
think fit, to assist the Protector General of Emigrants and the Protectors of Emigrants in the performance 
of their duties under this Act.

8. Emigration officers to be public servants.—The Protector General of Emigrants, Protectors of 
Emigrants, the officers in charge of emigration check-posts, emigration officers and emigration 
employees appointed under this Act shall be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the 
Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

9. Registering authority.—The Central Government may, by notification, appoint the Protector 
General of Emigrants or any other officer of that Government of a rank higher than that of a Protector of 
Emigrants to be the registering authority for the purposes of this Act.

10. No person to function as recruiting agent without a valid certificate.—Save as otherwise 
provided in this Act, no recruiting agent shall, after the commencement of this Act, commence or carry on 
the business of recruitment except under and in accordance with a certificate issued in that behalf by the 
registering authority:
Provided that a person carrying on the business of recruiting agent immediately before the 
commencement of this Act may continue to carry on such business without such a certificate for a period 
of one month from such commencement, and if he has made an application for such certificate under this 
Act within the said period of one month and such application is in the prescribed form and contains the 
prescribed particulars, till the disposal of such application by the registering authority.

11. Application for registration.—(1) An application for registration shall be made to the 
registering authority in such form and shall contain such particulars as to the applicant’s financial 
soundness, trustworthiness, premises at which he intends to carry on his business, facilities at his disposal 
for recruitment, his antecedents (including information as to whether any certificate had been issued to 
him under this Chapter earlier and if so, whether such certificate had been cancelled) and previous 
experience, if any, of recruitment and other relevant matters as may be prescribed and shall be 
accompanied by a receipt evidencing the payment of the prescribed fee and an affidavit giving his current 
financial standing and an undertaking in the form prescribed to the effect that in the event of any 
information furnished in or along with the application for registration being found to be false or incorrect 
in any respect, the certificate shall be liable to be cancelled at any time in accordance with the procedure 
prescribed:
Provided that no application shall be entertained under this sub-section from a person disqualified 
under sub-section (6) of section 14 till the expiry of the period of such disqualification.
(2) On receipt of such application, the registering authority shall,—
(a) if the application is not in the prescribed form or does not contain any of the prescribed 
particulars, return the application to the applicant;
(b) if the application is in the prescribed form and contains the prescribed particulars, inform the 
applicant that he is eligible for the grant of the certificate applied for and, after giving the applicant an 
opportunity to be heard, determine, under sub-section (3), the amount of the security which the 
applicant shall furnish.
(3) The registering authority shall, for securing the due performance of the terms and conditions of 
the certificate proposed to be issued by it under sub-section (2) to an applicant and for securing 
compliance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder and for meeting expenses which 
may have to be incurred in the event of the repatriation to India of any of the emigrants who may be 
recruited by the applicant determine, in accordance with the rules made in this behalf, the amount of 
security (not being in any case less than one lakh of rupees) which shall be furnished by the applicant.
(4) If an applicant furnishes in the prescribed manner the amount of security determined under 
sub-section (3) within a period of one month from the date on which the registering authority requires him 
to furnish such security, he shall be issued the certificate applied for by him together with an endorsement 
thereon to the effect that the security required has been furnished by him.
(5) If an applicant fails to furnish the security required to be furnished by him within the period 
specified in sub-section (4), his application shall be deemed to have been rejected by the registering 
authority on the date of expiry of that period

12. Terms and conditions of registration.—A certificate issued under section 11 shall be—
(a) in such form as may be prescribed;
(b) valid for such period not exceeding five years as may be prescribed:
Provided that a certificate may be issued for a period shorter than the prescribed period—
(i) if the person to whom it is issued so desires; or
(ii) if the registering authority, for reasons to be communicated in writing to the applicant for 
the certificate, considers in any case that the certificate should be issued for a shorter period;
(c) subject to such other terms and conditions, including in particular, the maintenance by the 
holder of the certificate of the prescribed records containing details of his financial transactions in 
regard to recruitment, persons recruited or assisted to emigrate by him, employers concerned, 
contracts and other arrangements entered into in connection with recruitment, as may be prescribed:
Provided that a certificate may contain, in addition to the prescribed terms and conditions, such 
other terms and conditions as the registering authority may, for securing the purposes of this Act, 
impose in any particular case

13. Renewal of registration.—A certificate may be renewed from time to time and the provisions of 
this Act and the rules made thereunder (including provisions as to fees) shall apply to the renewal of a 
certificate as they apply to the issue thereof:
Provided that no certificate shall be renewed unless, the application for its renewal is made not less 
than three months prior to the date on which the certificate, would, but for such renewal, cease to be 
valid:
Provided further that the registering authority may entertain an application for the renewal of a 
certificate which has been made at any time during the period of three months prior to the date on which 
the certificate would, but for such renewal, cease to be valid if the applicant satisfied the registering 
authority that he had sufficient cause for not making such application before the said period.

14. Cancellation, suspension, etc., of a certificate.—(1) The registering authority may cancel any 
certificate on any one or more of the following grounds and on no other ground namely:—
(a) that having regard to the manner in which the holder of the certificate has carried on his 
business or any deterioration in his financial position, the facilities at his disposal for recruitment, the 
holder of the certificate is not a fit person to continue to hold the certificate;
(b) that the holder of the certificate has recruited emigrants for purposes prejudicial to the 
interests of India or for purposes contrary to public policy;
(c) that the holder of the certificate has, subsequent to the issue of the certificate, been convicted 
in India for any offence involving moral turpitude;
(d) that the holder of the certificate has, subsequent to the issue of the certificate, been convicted 
by a court in India for any offence under this Act, the Emigration Act, 1922 (7 of 1922), or any other 
law relating to passports, foreign exchange, drugs, narcotics or smuggling and sentenced in respect 
thereof to imprisonment for not less than six months;
(e) that the certificate has been issued or renewed on misrepresentation or suppression of any 
material fact;
(f) that the holder of the certificate has violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate;
(g) that in the opinion of the Central Government it is necessary in the interests of friendly 
relations of India with any foreign country or in the interests of the general public to cancel the 
certificate.
(2) Where the registering authority, for reasons to be recorded in writing, is satisfied that pending 
the consideration of the question of cancelling any certificate on any of the grounds mentioned in 
sub-section (1) it is necessary so to do, the registering authority may, by order in writing, suspend the 
operation of the certificate for such period not exceeding thirty days as may be specified in the order and 
require the holder of the certificate to show cause, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of such 
order, as to why the suspension of the certificate should not be extended till the determination of the 
question as to whether the registration should be cancelled.
(3) A court convicting a holder of a certificate for an offence under this Act may also cancel the 
certificate:
Provided that if the conviction is set aside in appeal or otherwise, the cancellation under 
sub-section (3) shall become void.
(4) An order of cancellation of a certificate may be made under sub-section (3) by an appellate court 
or by a court exercising its powers of revision.
(5) Before passing an order cancelling or suspending a certificate the registering authority or the 
court, as the case may be, shall consider the question as to the provisions and arrangements which should 
be made for safeguarding the interests of emigrants and other persons with whom the holder of the 
certificate had any transactions in the course of his business as recruiting agent and may make such orders 
(including orders permitting the holder of the certificate to continue to carry on his business with respect 
to all or any such emigrants and other persons) as it may consider necessary in this behalf.
(6) Where a certificate issued to any person has been cancelled under this section, such person shall 
not be eligible to make any application for another certificate under this Chapter until the expiry of a 
period of two years from the date of such cancellation.

15. Competent authority.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification, appoint the Protector 
General of Emigrants or any other officer of that Government of a rank higher than that of a Protector of 
Emigrants to be the authority (hereinafter referred to as the competent authority) for issuing permits under 
this Chapter.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, by 
notification, authorise any person who is employed under that Government in any country or place 
outside India to exercise the powers of the competent authority, and issue permits under this Chapter to 
employers who are not citizens of India for the purpose of recruiting any citizen of India for employment 
in such country or place and a person so authorised shall endorse a duly certified copy of every permit 
issued by him under this Chapter to the Protector General of Emigrants.

16. Recruitment by employers to be through recruiting agent or under permit.—Save as 
otherwise provided by or under this Act, no employer shall recruit any citizen of India for employment in 
any country or place outside India except—
(a) through a recruiting agent competent under this Act to make such recruitment, or
(b) in accordance with a valid permit issued in this behalf under this Chapter

17. Procedure for obtaining permits.—(1) An employer desiring to obtain a permit under this 
Chapter may make an application in that behalf in the prescribed form to the competent authority.
(2) On receipt of such application, the competent authority shall, subject to any rules made in this 
behalf, make such inquiry as he may deem necessary and grant the permit applied for or reject the 
application:
Provided that before granting a permit the competent authority may require the applicant to comply 
with such conditions as may be prescribed, including conditions as to furnishing of security and such 
other conditions as that authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, deem necessary in the 
interests of the citizens of India likely to be recruited by the applicant.
(3) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the competent authority may reject an application 
under sub-section (1) on any one or more of the following grounds and on no other ground, namely:—
(a) that the application is not complete in all respects or that any of the material particulars 
furnished in the application are not true;
(b) that the terms and conditions of employment which the applicant proposes to offer to persons 
recruited or proposed to be recruited by him are discriminatory or exploitative;
(c) that the employment which the applicant proposes to offer involves work of a nature which is 
unlawful according to the laws of India or offends against the public policy of India or is violative of 
norms of human dignity and decency;
(d) that having regard to the antecedents of the applicant, his financial standing, the facilities at 
his disposal, the working and living conditions of persons employed by him in the past, it would not 
be in the public interest or in the interests of the persons who may be recruited by him, to issue a 
permit to him;
(e) that having regard to the prevailing circumstances in the country or in the place where the 
applicant proposes to employ the persons recruited by him, it would not be in the interests of any 
citizen of India to emigrate for taking up such employment.
(4) Where the competent authority makes an order under sub-section (2) rejecting an application, he 
shall record in writing a brief statement of his reasons for making such order and furnish the applicant, on 
demand, a copy of the same:
Provided that if the competent authority is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the 
interests of friendly relations with a foreign country or in the interests of the general public so to do, he 
may refuse to provide such copy or, as the case may be, furnish a copy of only such parts of the statement 
as he may deem fit.

18. Period of validity of permit.—A permit issued under section 17 shall be valid till the expiry of 
such period, not exceeding one year, as may be prescribed, from the date of issue thereof, or till the 
recruitment or the persons for whose recruitment such permit is issued is completed, whichever is earlier:
Provided that where the holder of the permit has been unable for sufficient cause, to complete such 
recruitment before the expiry of the prescribed period, the prescribed authority may, subject to rules made 
in this behalf, extend the period of validity of the permit by such further period or periods, not exceeding
three months at a time.

19. Registration of certain permits.—Any permit obtained from a person authorised under 
sub-section (2) of section 15 shall not be valid unless a certified copy thereof is filed in the prescribed 
manner with the Protector General of Emigrants.

20. Cancellation or suspension of a permit.—The provisions of section 14 relating to cancellation 
and suspension of a certificate referred to therein shall, subject to such modifications as may be necessary 
(including modifications for construing the references in that section to registering authority as references 
to competent authority under this Chapter), apply for the cancellation or suspension of a permit.

21. Power to exempt.—The Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so 
to do in the public interest, by notification and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in 
the notification, exempt any class or classes of employers from the requirement of obtaining a permit 
under this Chapter.

22. Requirement, etc., as to emigration clearance.—(1) No citizen of India shall emigrate unless he 
obtains under this Chapter from the Protector of Emigrants authorisation in the prescribed manner and 
form (such authorisation being hereinafter referred to as emigration clearance) for emigration.
(2) An application for emigration clearance shall be in the prescribed form, shall contain the 
prescribed particulars and shall be made by the emigrant concerned to the Protector of Emigrants:
Provided that such application may be made through the recruiting agent, if any, through whom the 
emigrant has been recruited or through the employer concerned.
(3) Every application under sub-section (2) shall be accompanied by—
(a) a true copy (verified and authenticated in the prescribed manner) of the agreement with 
respect to the employment for the taking up of which the applicant proposes to emigrate and where 
such agreement does not provide for all or any of the prescribed matters, also a statement (verified 
and authenticated in the prescribed manner) setting out the particulars with respect to such matters;
(b) a statement (verified and authenticated in the prescribed manner) as to the provision by way 
of security for meeting the expenses which may be incurred in case it becomes necessary to arrange 
for the repatriation to India of the applicant;
(c) a receipt evidencing the payment of the prescribed fee;
(d) such other relevant documents or copies of relevant documents as may be prescribed.
(4) The Protector of Emigrants shall, after satisfying himself about the accuracy of the particulars 
mentioned in the application and in the other documents submitted along with the application, authorise 
in the prescribed manner and form, the emigration of the applicant or intimate by order in writing the 
applicant or, as the case may be, the recruiting agent or employer through whom the applications have 
been made about the deficiencies and required him to make good such deficiencies within such time as 
may be specified in the order or reject the application.
(5) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Protector of Emigrants may reject an application 
for emigration clearance under this section on any one or more of the following grounds and on no other 
ground, namely:—
(a) that the terms and conditions of employment which the applicant proposes to take up are 
discriminatory or exploitative;
(b) that the employment which the applicant proposes to take up involves work of a nature which 
is unlawful according to the laws of India or offends against the public policy of India or is violative 
of norms of human dignity and decency;
(c) that the applicant will have to work or live in sub-standard working or living conditions;
(d) that having regard to the prevailing circumstances in the country or place where the applicant 
proposes to take up employment or the antecedents of the employer under whom the applicant 
proposes to take up employment or any other relevant circumstances, it would not be in the interests 
of the applicant to emigrate;
(e) that no provision or arrangement has been made for meeting the expenses which may be 
incurred in case it becomes necessary to arrange for the repatriation to India of the applicant, or that 
the provisions or arrangements made in this behalf are not adequate for the purpose.
(6) Every order rejecting an application for emigration clearance shall set out clearly the ground or 
grounds on which the order has been made and the facts or circumstances on which such ground or 
grounds are based.

23. Appeals.—(1) Any person aggrieved by—
(a) an order of the registering authority rejecting his application for registration or requiring him 
to furnish any security or to comply with any term or condition (not being a prescribed term or 
condition) specified in the certificate issued to him or suspending or cancelling or refusing to renew 
the certificate issued to him; or
(b) an order of the competent authority rejecting his application for a permit or requiring him to 
comply with any terms or conditions (not being a prescribed term or condition) specified in the permit 
issued to him, or suspending or cancelling or refusing to extend the period of the validity of the 
permit issued to him; or
(c) an order of the Protector of Emigrants rejecting his application for emigration clearance; or
(d) an order of the registering authority or the competent authority or the Protector of Emigrants 
or the prescribed authority requiring him to furnish any security, additional security or fresh security 
under this Act, or forfeiting or rejecting his claim for refund (whether wholly or partly in either case) 
of the security, the additional security or the fresh security furnished by him;
may prefer an appeal against such order to the Central Government within such period as may be 
prescribed.
(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor if the 
appellant satisfies the Central Government that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within 
that period.
(3) The period prescribed for an appeal shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of the 
Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), with respect to the computation of periods thereunder.
(4) Every appeal under this section shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and shall be 
accompanied by a copy of the order appealed against and by such fee as may be prescribed.
(5) The procedure for disposing of an appeal (including remand of the matter for further consideration 
to the authority whose order has been appealed against) shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the appellant shall be given a reasonable opportunity of 
representing his case.
(6) Every order made on an appeal under this section confirming, modifying or reversing the order 
appealed against shall be final.

24. Offences and penalties.—(1) Whoever—
(a) except in conformity with the provisions of this Act emigrates; or
(b) contravenes the provisions of section 10 or section 16; or
(c) by intentionally furnishing any false information or suppressing any material information 
obtains a certificate or a permit or an emigration clearance under this Act; or
(d) without lawful authority makes or causes to be made any alteration in any certificate or permit 
or in any document or endorsement by way of emigration clearance issued or made under this Act; or
(e) disobeys or neglects to comply with any order of the Protector of Emigrants under this Act; or
(f) collects from an emigrant any charges in excess of the limits prescribed under this Act; or
(g) cheats any emigrant;
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which 
may extend to two thousand rupees:
Provided that in the absence of any special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in 
the judgment of the court, such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such fine shall not be 
less than one thousand rupees.
(2) Whoever attempts to commit any offence under sub-section (1) shall be punishable with the 
punishment provided for such offence under that sub-section.
(3) Whoever contravenes any term or condition subject to which any emigration clearance has been
given under this Act, shall, if no other punishment is provided elsewhere in this Act for such 
contravention, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine 
which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.
(4) Whoever abets any offence punishable under this Act shall, if the act abetted is committed in 
consequence of the abetment, be punishable with the punishment provided for that offence.
(5) Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under any provision of this Act is again convicted 
of an offence under the same provision, shall be punishable, for the second and for each subsequent 
offence, with double the penalty provided for that offence.

25. Offences by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a 
company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was 
responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall 
be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished 
accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any 
punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised 
all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been 
committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or 
connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other 
officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of 
that offence, and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; 
and
(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

26. Offences to be cognizable.—Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal 
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), all offences under this Act shall be cognizable.

27. Previous sanction of Central Government necessary.—No prosecution shall be instituted 
against any person in respect of any offence under this Act without the previous sanction of the Central 
Government or such officer or authority as may be authorised by that Government by order in writing in 
this behalf:
Provided that no sanction shall be required when an offence has been committed in respect of an 
emigrant or an intending emigrant and the complaint is filed by such emigrant or intending emigrant, or 
on behalf of such emigrant or intending emigrant, by the father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, 
brother, sister or guardian of such emigrant or intending emigrant, or if such emigrant or intending 
emigrant is a member of a joint Hindu family, by the manager of that family.

28. Punishment to be without prejudice to any other action.—The award of punishment for an 
offence under this Act shall be without prejudice to any other action which has been or which may be 
taken under this Act with respect to such contravention.

29. Determination of question as to whether a person is an emigrant.—Where a question arises 
before a Protector of Emigrants as to whether a person intending to depart from India is or is not an 
emigrant, the Protector of Emigrants shall decide the question after holding an inquiry in such manner and 
upon considering such evidence as may be prescribed and such other evidence as may be relevant, and 
communicate the decision to such person in the prescribed manner.

30. Power to prohibit emigration to any country in the interests of the general public, 
etc.—(1) Where the Central Government has reason to believe that sufficient grounds exist for 
prohibiting emigration to any country, having regard to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security 
of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country or the interests of the general public, it may, 
by notification, prohibit emigration to that country.
(2) A notification issued under sub-section (1) shall have effect for such period not exceeding six 
months as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that if the Central Government has reason to believe that the grounds mentioned in 
sub-section (1) continue to exist, it may, from time to time, by notification, prohibit emigration to that 
country for such further period, not exceeding six months on each occasion, as may be specified in the 
notification.

31. Power to prohibit emigration due to outbreak of epidemics, civil disturbances, etc., in a 
country.—(1) Where the Central Government has reason to believe—
(a) that intending emigrants if allowed to emigrate to any country would be exposed to serious 
risk to life on arrival there by reason of—
(i) outbreak of any disease or grave pollution of environment in such country, or
(ii) outbreak of hostilities or civil war or civil commotion or political disturbances;
(b) that by reason of India not being in diplomatic relations with that country it is not possible to 
protect the emigrants from discrimination, maltreatment and exploitation,
it may, by notification, prohibit emigration to that country.
(2) A notification issued under sub-section (1) shall have effect for such period not exceeding six 
months as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that if the Central Government has reason to believe that any ground mentioned in 
sub-section (1) continues to exist, it may, from time to time, by notification, prohibit emigration to that 
country for such further period, not exceeding six months on each occasion, as may be specified in the 
notification.

32. Power to prohibit emigration of any class or category of persons.—(1) Where the Central 
Government considers that in the interests of the general public, immigration of any class or category of 
persons, having regard to their age, sex or other relevant factors, to any country should be prohibited, it 
may, by notification, prohibit the emigration to such country of such class or category of persons as may 
be specified in the notification.
(2) A notification issued under sub-section (1) shall have effect for such period not exceeding six 
months as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that if the Central Government has reason to believe that any of the grounds mentioned in 
sub-section (1) continues to exist, it may, from time to time, by notification, prohibit emigration of such 
class or category of persons to that country for such further period, not exceeding six months on each 
occasion, as may be specified in the notification.

33. Provisions as to security.—(1) Any security or other financial provision which may be required 
to be made under this Act shall be reasonable having regard to the purpose for which such security or 
other financial provision is required to be made.
(2) The prescribed authority may, after giving notice in the prescribed manner to a person who has 
furnished any security for any purpose and after giving to such person an opportunity to represent his 
case, by order in writing, direct that the whole or any part of such security may be forfeited for being 
utilised for such purpose and in such manner as may be specified in the order.
(3) Where it appears to the prescribed authority that the security furnished by any person under this 
Act for any purpose has, for any reason, become inadequate, or has ceased to be available for any reason 
whatsoever, the prescribed authority may, after giving him an opportunity to represent his case, by order 
in writing, require such person to furnish such additional security or, as the case may be, such fresh 
security as may be specified in the order.

34. Refund of security.—Any security furnished under this Act shall be refunded or, as the case may 
be, released, when no longer required for the purpose for which it has been furnished and the other 
circumstances in which and the manner in which any security furnished under this Act may be released or 
refunded shall be such as may be prescribed.

35. Power to search, seize and detain persons, conveyance, etc.—All the powers for the time being 
conferred by the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), on officers of customs with regard to the searching and 
detention of persons, vessels or aircraft or any other conveyance, or seizure of any document or thing or 
arrest of any person or otherwise for the purpose of prevention or detection of any offence under that Act 
or for apprehending a person suspected to have committed any offence under that Act may be exercised,
for the purpose of prevention or detection of any offence under this Act or for apprehending a person 
suspected to have committed any offence under this Act, by—
(a) any such officer of customs, or
(b) the Protector General of Emigrants or a Protector of Emigrants, or
(c) an officer in charge of an emigration check-post.
 

36. Returns and registers.—(1) Every recruiting agent shall maintain such registers and other 
records and shall submit to the prescribed authorities such periodical or other returns as may be 
prescribed.
(2) The Protector General of Emigrants, the registering authority, the competent authority or a 
Protector of Emigrants may, by order, call for any other return or information from a recruiting agent.
(3) The Protector General of Emigrants, the registering authority, the competent authority or a 
Protector of Emigrants or an officer in charge of an emigration check-post may inspect any register or 
other record maintained by a recruiting agent under sub-section (1) and for the purpose of such 
inspection, enter, at any reasonable time, the business premises of a recruiting agent.

37. Authorities and officers to have certain powers of civil court.—(1) The Protector General of 
Emigrants, the registering authority, the competent authority and every Protector of Emigrants shall, for 
the purpose of discharging their functions under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a court 
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following 
matters, namely:—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
(d) receiving evidence on affidavits; and
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

(2) Every proceeding before the Protector General of Emigrants, or the registering authority or the 
competent authority or a Protector of Emigrants shall be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of 
sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the Protector General of Emigrants, the 
registering authority, the competent authority, and every Protector of Emigrants shall be deemed to be a 
civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 
of 1974).

38. Power to give directions.—The Central Government may give directions to the Protector 
General of Emigrants, the registering authority, the competent authority or any Protector of Emigrants as 
to the carrying into execution of any provision of this Act.

39. Effect of other laws.—(1) The provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder shall have 
effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any enactment other than this Act or 
in any agreement or other instrument having effect by virtue of any enactment other than this Act.
(2) Save as provided in sub-section (1), the provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in 
derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.

40. Delegation.—The Central Government may, by notification, direct that any power or function—
(a) which may be exercised or performed by it under this Act, or
(b) which may be exercised or performed by a registering authority, a competent authority or a 
Protector of Emigrants under this Act,
may, in relation to such matters, and subject to such conditions, if any, as it may specify in the 
notification, be also exercised or performed—
(i) by such officer or authority subordinate to the Central Government, or
(ii) by any State Government or by any officer or authority subordinate to such State 
Government, or
(iii) in any foreign country in which there is no diplomatic mission of India, by such foreign 
consular office,
as may be specified in the notification.
 

41. Power to exempt.—(1) Where the Central Government, on a reference made to it or otherwise, is 
satisfied that having regard to—
(a) the friendly relations with any foreign country; or
(b) the known reputation of any foreign employer or class of foreign employers, for providing to 
emigrants standard conditions of living and working, and their methods of recruitment and conditions 
of employment; or
(c) the methods of recruitment followed and the conditions of employment provided by a public 
undertaking or an approved concern for the execution of its projects abroad; or
(d) the facilities and conditions of service provided by Government officers posted abroad to their 
domestic servants accompanying such Government officers, where the expenditure in respect of the 
passage of such domestic servants is borne by the Government; and
(e) all other relevant considerations,
it is necessary or expedient in the public interest so to do, the Central Government may, by notification, 
and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, exempt from the operation 
of all or any of the provisions of this Act, such foreign dignitary or class of foreign employers, public 
undertaking, approved concern or Government officers.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section—
(a) “public undertaking” means—
(i) an undertaking owned and controlled by Government; or
(ii) a Government company as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 
1956 (1 of 1956); or
(iii) a body corporate established by or under any Central, Provincial or State Act;
(b) “approved concern” means such company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 
1956) or partnership firm registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932), or society 
registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or any other law relating to 
societies for the time being in force in any State, or co-operative society registered under any Central, 
Provincial or State law, as the Central Government may, by notification, approve for the purposes of 
this section.
(2) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary for implementing any treaty, agreement 
or convention between India and a foreign country or foreign countries so to do, it may, by notification, 
and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, exempt from the operation 
of all or any of the provisions of this Act, recruitment by such authorities, agencies or persons as may be 
specified in the notification either generally or for such purposes as may be specified in the notification.

42. Act not to apply to certain emigrants.—Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to apply 
to—
(a) the recruitment or emigration of any person who is not a citizen of India;
(b) the control of recruiting in India for the service of foreign States to which the Foreign 
Recruiting Act, 1874 (4 of 1874) applies

43. Power to make rules.—(1) The Central Government may, by notification, make rules to carry 
out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the powers and duties of officers and employees appointed for the purposes of this Act and the 
terms and conditions of their service;
(b) the form of—
(i) a certificate to commence or carry on the business of recruitment, and of an application for 
the issue or renewal thereof;
(ii) a permit for the recruitment of persons for employment outside India, and of an 
application for the issue thereof;
(iii) an application for emigration clearance;
(iv) an appeal to be preferred to the Central Government;
(c) the manner and form in which an authorisation by way of emigration clearance may be given;
(d) particulars to be contained in an application for a certificate or a permit or for an emigration 
clearance;
(e) the manner in which different inquiries required to be held under this Act may be held;
(f) the manner in which the amount of security for securing the due performance of the terms and 
conditions of the certificate or permit or for compliance with the provisions of this Act shall be 
furnished;
(g) the manner of verifying or authenticating documents and copies of documents for the 
purposes of this Act;
(h) the procedure to be followed in hearing an appeal preferred to the Central Government;
(i) the fees to be paid in respect of applications and other matters under this Act;
(j) the charges which a recruiting agent may recover from an emigrant in respect of services 
rendered and the scales and limits of such charges;
(k) the terms and conditions subject to which a certificate or a permit or an emigration clearance 
may be issued under this Act;
(l) the period of the validity of a certificate or a permit issued under this Act;
(m) the authority competent to extend the period of validity of a permit or to forfeit security or to 
require any additional security or fresh security under this Act;
(n) the accommodation, the provisions, the medical stores and staff, the life saving and sanitary 
arrangements and other provisions and arrangement for the well-being, security and protection of 
emigrants which shall be provided and the records which shall be maintained in any emigrant 
conveyance.
(o) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

44. Notifications and rules to be laid before Parliament.—Every notification issued under 
clause (o) of sub-section (1) of section 2, section 30, section 31 or section 32 and every rule made under 
section 43 shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is issued or made, before each House of Parliament, 
while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or 
more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the 
successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the notification or the 
rule or both Houses agree that the notification or the rule should not be issued or made, the notification or 
the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, 
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything 
previously done under that notification or rule

45. Repeal of Act 7 of 1922.—The Emigration Act, 1922 is hereby repealed.