If you hold an ECR (Emigration Check Required) passport and are flying to a job in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain, you must buy Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) cover before your emigration clearance is issued. It costs less than a meal at the airport, yet many workers do not know what it covers, or that their family can claim it.
This guide explains Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana in simple words: who needs it, the premium, the benefits, how to buy it on eMigrate and how to make a claim, based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) scheme rules.
Please note: this article is general information, not professional legal or insurance advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked below or speak to a qualified professional before you decide. Read our disclaimer.
Table of contents
What is Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana?
PBBY is a compulsory insurance scheme run by the MEA for Indian emigrant workers in the ECR category going to the 18 ECR countries, which include all six Gulf states. The current version is PBBY 2017. It is sold by Indian public and private general insurers through the eMigrate portal, and it protects the worker, and their family in India, against accidents, illness, job loss caused by the employer and legal disputes.
Workers with ECNR passports, and those going to non-ECR countries such as the UK, Canada or Australia, are not required to buy it, but they should arrange their own insurance.
Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana premium and benefits
The figures below are from the MEA PBBY page and the Embassy of India, Riyadh PBBY 2017 notice.
| Item | PBBY 2017 |
|---|---|
| Premium | Rs 275 for 2 years, Rs 375 for 3 years (including GST at the time) |
| Accidental death or permanent disability | Rs 10 lakh |
| Medical treatment abroad (injury or illness) | Up to Rs 1 lakh, max Rs 50,000 per hospitalisation |
| Family hospitalisation in India (spouse and two children up to 21) | Up to Rs 50,000 |
| Maternity benefit for women workers | Up to Rs 50,000 |
| Legal expenses in employment disputes | Up to Rs 45,000 |
| Repatriation airfare | One-way economy fare home if the job ends early for covered reasons; fare for an attendant in case of death or serious injury |
The policy also continues if you change employer or location within the cover period, which matters in Gulf countries where job changes are common.
Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana eligibility
- You hold an ECR passport.
- You are going for employment to one of the 18 ECR countries.
- You are applying for emigration clearance through eMigrate.
The policy should run for at least the length of your employment contract. If your contract is three years, choose the three-year option.
How to apply for Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana online
- Your recruiting agent or employer registers your job on eMigrate, or you start your own application if you are a direct recruit.
- In the eMigrate application, open the PBBY section and choose an insurer from the list.
- Pay the premium online; the policy is issued electronically and linked to your emigration clearance.
- Download and save the policy document. You can download the policy from the insurer and your eMigrate account.
- Share a copy with your nominee at home, and keep one on your phone.
Our sister blog explains the full clearance process: emigration clearance for Gulf jobs.
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How to make a Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana claim
Claims are filed with the insurer that issued your policy. The MEA notes that claims can also be submitted through eMigrate ("PBBY Policy" then "Submit claim"). Typical documents:
- Policy copy and passport copy
- Claim form from the insurer
- Medical bills, hospital discharge summary, or death certificate and post-mortem report, as relevant
- Employer letter or labour court papers for legal expense or repatriation claims
- Bank details of the claimant or nominee
If a claim is delayed, contact the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your country, or the insurer's grievance cell. Keep copies of everything you send.
Practical tips for families at home
Most PBBY claims are made by family members in India, not the worker, so prepare them before you fly:
- Write the policy number, insurer name and helpline on a card at home.
- Make sure the nominee named in the policy matches the name on their Aadhaar and bank account.
- Keep a copy of your employment contract, visa and employer contact details with the family.
- Save the phone number and email of the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your work country.
- Renew or buy a fresh policy if your contract is extended beyond the cover period.
These small steps can save weeks when the family needs the money most.
What PBBY does not do
PBBY is a small safety net, not complete protection. Rs 1 lakh of medical cover will not pay for a long hospital stay in the Gulf, which is why employers there must provide health insurance under local law. It does not replace life cover for your family either. Consider a separate term insurance for NRI plan, and learn your end-of-service rights in our UAE gratuity calculation guide. If parents visit you abroad, see visitor insurance for parents, and if you own property at home, read power of attorney for NRI owners.
FAQ: Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana
Is Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana compulsory?
Yes, for ECR passport holders going to work in the 18 ECR countries. Emigration clearance is not issued without a valid PBBY policy.
What is the premium for Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana?
Under PBBY 2017 the premium is Rs 275 for two years or Rs 375 for three years, as listed by the MEA.
How much cover does PBBY give?
Rs 10 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability, plus medical, family hospitalisation, maternity, legal and repatriation benefits up to set limits.
Can I buy Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana if I have an ECNR passport?
It is designed for ECR emigrants; ECNR workers are not required to buy it and should arrange their own cover.
Where do I file a Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana claim?
With the insurer that issued the policy, with help from eMigrate or the Indian mission in your country if needed.
Read next
- UAE gratuity calculation with worked examples
- Term insurance for NRI buyers: how to buy from abroad
- Visitor insurance for parents visiting the US, Canada, UK or Australia
- Power of attorney for NRI property and banking
- More PBBY guides
- About Expat Insurance & Law
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Looking for your next hotel job, or hiring hotel staff? ðŸ¨
✅ The latest hotel jobs in India, the Gulf and Europe
✅ Hire skilled hospitality candidates fast
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👉 Register free at https://www.hospitalityvacancy.com/register/candidate
About the author: Sumit Manwal
Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy, the job site built for the hotel industry. He is passionate about helping hotel management students and hospitality professionals build successful careers, and connects talented people with hotel jobs across India, the Gulf and Europe. On Expat Insurance & Law he writes clear, practical insurance and legal-paperwork guides for NRIs and expat workers in the Gulf, US, UK, Canada and Australia, so every reader can make confident decisions about their work and life. He is not a legal or insurance professional, so every guide here links to official sources and he encourages readers to confirm details with a qualified expert before acting.
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