Permanent Residence Visa
A Permanent Residence Visa is a Visa Status issued to a person of Sri Lanka descent or whose Sri Lankan citizenship has ceased under section 19, 20, 21 of citizenship act or to a non-Sri Lankan spouse of Sri Lankan citizens and their children.
Who is eligible for the PRV?
(a) a person of Sri Lankan descent or whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20, or 21 of the Citizenship Act (Chapter 349);
(b) a non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen whose marriage is subsisted for more than five years at the time of making the application;
(c) the non-Sri Lankan spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan citizen who has not remarried at the time of making the application and whose marriage has subsisted for more than five years at the time of the death of the Sri Lankan citizen;
(d) the non-Sri Lankan spouse of the person referred to in subparagraph (a), whose marriage has subsisted for more than five years at the time of making the application; and
(e) a child of a person referred to above.
Those falling under the categories (a), (b), and (c) can apply as the primary applicant under this scheme
Applications
APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT, ISSUANCE OR EXTENSION OF A PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISA
PERSONAL PARTICULAR FORM FOR THE SECURITY CLEARANCE
Documentary Evidence
For the category (a)
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Valid foreign passport
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Police Clearance Report obtained from the present country of citizenship (obtained within one year)
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Proof of document to confirm the Sri Lanka citizenship held previously
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Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
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The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card
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Available Sri Lanka Passport(s)
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Sri Lanka Birth Certificate
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A color photographs of the applicant
Additional Requirements & Biometrics
I. In addition to documentary requirements of the above categories of PRV the prescribed authority shall call additional documents deemed necessary to ascertain identity, citizenship, Relationship and security clearance of the applicant
II. Biometric features of the applicants should be furnished when the prescribed authority requests the same.
Committee Scrutiny & Evaluation
I. PRV application and documents submitted by eligible applicants will be forwarded for scrutinizing by the PRV Committee. After committee approval granted, it will be notified to the respective applicant of the decision.
II. In any circumstances, submission of a PRV application with necessary documents shall not be treated as a qualification to consider for the award/issue of PRV in Sri Lanka.
Fee Schedule
For the category (a) where Sri Lanka citizenship ceased
For the category (b) foreign spouse of the Sri Lankan citizen
For the Subcategory (c) foreign spouse of a Sri Lanka citizen not remarried
Subcategory I (d) Foreign spouse of a person’s Sri Lanka citizenship ceased
For the subcategory (e) children (per person)
PRV Card Validity Period & Fee
Every permanent residence visa shall be substantially issued a card valid for a maximum period of 10 years which is renewable. The prescribed fee for the initial issue of the card is Rs. 1000.00. After the period expires as stipulated on the card a renewal fee of SL Rs. 1000.00 should be paid as renewal fee for the PRV Card.
Statutory Entitlements
A person granted or issued a permanent residence visa shall be entitled to
(a) enter and remain in Sri Lanka;
(b) have access to education, health, and other public services in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law;
(c) engage in any lawful occupation in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law
(d) engage in any lawful business or commercial activity; and
(e) inherit, transfer, or alienate any property in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law.
Cessation of Visa Validity
A permanent residence visa granted or issued to a non-Sri Lankan spouse shall cease to be valid
(a) Where the marriage contracted between such non-Sri Lankan spouse referred to in 1(d) and the primary applicant referred to in 1(a) is legally dissolved before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the marriage;
(b) Where the marriage of the non-Sri Lankan spouse referred to in 1(b) and the Sri Lankan citizen is legally dissolved before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the marriage; or
(c) Where a person referred to in 1(c) enters into another valid marriage before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the original marriage, to a person who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Sri Lanka;
Grounds for Cancellation
The prescribed authority may cancel a permanent residence visa granted or issued to any person under the following situations.
(a) the permanent residence visa has been obtained using fraud, false representation, or by concealing of any material fact;
(b) the permanent residence visa holder has acted in contravention of the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka;
(c) the permanent residence visa holder has, during any civil strife or war in which Sri Lanka is a party, assisted or associated with the adversary party, in any manner against the interests of Sri Lanka;
(d) after granting the permanent residence visa, the holder has been sentenced to imprisonment by any court in Sri Lanka or any other country for a term exceeding two years;
(e) the permanent residence visa has ceased to be valid under regulation 8; or
(f) it is necessary to do so in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka, or the interests of the national security of Sri Lanka, and
(g) When and where a request was made in the prescribed form to cancel the PRV by the person already granted a Sri Lanka PRV or issued a Sri Lanka PRV under the sub-categories I (a), (b), and (c).