Overseas Birth Registration
Statutory citizenship registration of children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents under the Citizenship Act for the confirmation of citizenship and issuance of Birth Registration Certificate.
To Whom is This Applicable?
To Whom is This Applicable?
Children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents (At least one of the parents should be a Sri Lankan) needs to be registered at this Department within one year of birth for the confirmation of the child’s citizenship. A certificate for the Registration of Birth is issued to the applicant.
What happens if I fail to register the birth within one year?
An extra fee will be imposed in the event of failure to register the birth of a child within a period of one year from the date of birth.
Documents Required with Completed Application Form
Please ensure all supporting documents are handed over with original certificates and clean photocopies.
Child’s Foreign Birth Certificate
Birth Certificate of the child issued by the competent authority of the country where the birth took place. If the original Birth Certificate is not in English, an authenticated English translation must be attached.
Consular Birth Certificate
Consular Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar General's Department of Sri Lanka through the relevant Sri Lankan Overseas Mission.
Parents’ Original Birth Certificates
Original Birth Certificates of both the father and mother, confirming parentage and nationality heritage.
Citizenship Registration Certificate (If Applicable)
If the applicant parent (father or mother) is a Sri Lankan citizen by registration rather than descent, the relevant statutory citizenship certificate must be produced.
Parents’ Original Marriage Certificate
Original Marriage Certificate of parents. If married abroad, authenticated consular marriage certificate or official translation.
Travel Documents & Residence Visas at Time of Birth
Original Travel Documents (passports) and Visas held by parents to prove legal residence abroad at the time of the child's birth.
Dual Citizenship Certificates (If Applicable)
Dual Citizenship certificates, if either of the parents holds dual citizenship status.
Mandatory Diplomatic Attestation Rule
When submitting applications through overseas Sri Lankan Missions, all supporting documents must be attested by an authorized diplomatic officer from the Mission, bearing the official signature and rubber stamp of the attesting officer.
Where Can I Obtain an Application Form?
Head Office (Citizenship Division)
Citizenship Division, Department of Immigration and Emigration Head Office, "Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla.
Sri Lankan Overseas Missions
At any accredited Sri Lankan Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate General in the country of residence.
Online Printable PDF Download
Download the official printable birth registration application form directly from our portal to prepare prior to lodgement.
Institutional Processing & Dispatch Protocol
The Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo processes the received applications and securely mails the issued certificates to the respective Sri Lankan Mission for onward transmission to the applicant, or directly to the applicant's specified Sri Lankan address.
How Can I Submit the Applications?
Route A: In-Person at Head Office (Colombo)
Hand over duly completed applications together with the originals of necessary supporting documents with copies thereof to the Citizenship Branch at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo (Battaramulla).
Route B: Via Sri Lankan Overseas Diplomatic Missions
Duly completed applications can be forwarded through the accredited Sri Lankan Mission in the country where the child's birth occurred with the required supporting documents along with copies thereof.
Citizenship Registration Fee Schedule
Application Within Prescribed Period
Submitted within the first year of birth
Delayed Application (Per Each Lapsed Year)
Per each year delayed beyond the 1-year threshold
Issuance of Duplicate Certificate
Fee for issuance of a duplicate citizenship registration certificate
Payment Procedure & Official Receipt
Payments must be made at the time of tendering the application. The official payment receipt must be safely kept by the applicant for tracking and certificate collection.
How to Collect the Certificate?
Upon formal request to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the certificate may be obtained through three authorized channels:
Collection from Relevant Overseas Embassy
Applicant can collect the finalized certificate directly from the relevant Sri Lankan Embassy or Mission abroad.
Postal Delivery to Sri Lankan Address
Certificate can be safely dispatched to the verified Sri Lankan residential address provided by the applicant in the application.
In-Person at Head Office (Strict Parental Rule)
Only the biological parents of the applicant can obtain the certificate in person from the Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (Suhurupaya, Battaramulla). Third-party collection is strictly prohibited.