Residence Visa
A Residence Visa is a permit for a non-Sri Lankan to obtain residence facilities for special purposes. It is issued to persons of non-Sri Lankan nationality to whom it has been decided to extend residence facilities for the purpose that mentioned in the particular residence visa category, in circumstances where the prescribed authority is satisfied that their stay in Sri Lanka and the pursuit of their vocations are not prejudicial to the best interests of the population.
Overview — Residence Visa
Visa ServicesHead office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo Head Office.
You can submit your visa application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo.
Please click here for information about Visa Fees
Your residence visa is valid for one year or time period recommended by the respective authority. It can be renewed annually
Applications for the extension should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla.
Your intended stay in Sri Lanka should end at least two months before the expiry date of your travel document.
Visa Categories
Categories 1 to 161. Employment Category
BOI
- •BOI certificate
- •Request Letter from the representing Company/Institute
- •BOI Agreement
- •Company Registration certificate
- •Details of the Board of Directors of the Company
- •Article of Association of the Company
- •Recommendation from BOI
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
Project
- •Project Office Request
- •Recommendation of Line Ministry OR Recommendation of Dept. of External Resources
- •Agreement of Project
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of Your passport
- •Passport/s
Personnel employed at Banks and their dependents
- •Bank Request
- •Recommendation of Central Bank of Sri Lanka
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
Personnel employ in a Private Sector Company and their dependents
- •Request Letter from the representing Company/Institute
- •Company Registration certificate
- •Details of the Board of Directors of the Company
- •Memorandum of association & Article of association
- •Recommendation from the Line Ministry
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
2. Investor Category
Investors, Directors and Senior Management level expatriates and their dependents under the official Board of Investment (BOI) guidelines.
3. Religious Category
Members of the Clergy / Religious Workers
Required Documents
- •Request letter from Religious Organization
- •Recommendation from the Line Ministry
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
Submission & Application
Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo Head Office.
You can submit your visa application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo.
4. Educational Category
University Students
- • Recommendation from Ministry of Higher Education.
- •Letter from the university
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
For Other Students & one guardian of student under 16 years of age
- •A request letter from the Academic institution
- •Duly filled DIE Form (download here)
- •Recommendation from the relevant Embassy / High Commission
- •Bank Encashment receipts to the value of US$ 1500/- for a year per person
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
For volunteers
- •A request letter from the volunteer organization
- •Recommendation from the Line Ministry
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
5. Personnel attached to Non-Governmental Organizations/International Non-Governmental Organizations
Personnel attached to Non-governmental Organizations
- •Request of the organization
- •Recommendation of the Non- Governmental Organization Secretariat (NGO Secretariat) through the Ministry of Defence
- •work permit issued by the Ministry of defence if applicable
- •A Certified copy of the agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Sri Lanka and the relevant country.
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
International Non-governmental Organizations
- •Request of the organization
- •Recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Department of External Resources through the Ministry of Defence
- •work permit issued by the Ministry of defence if applicable
- •A Certified copy of the agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Sri Lanka and the relevant country.
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
- •Passport/s
6. Registered Indians covered by the 1954 Indo –Lanka Agreement.
Required Documents
- •Request letter
- •Registration certificate
- •Marriage certificate
- •Birth certificates of children under 16 years of age
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Passport/s
Submission Location & Validity
Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Battaramulla.
You can submit visa application to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla.
Your residence visa is valid for one year. It can be renewed annually
7. Ex - Sri Lankan and dependents
Required Documents
- •Original Birth certificates or Birth registration under section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act
- •Citizenship certificates if citizen by registration
- •Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- •Birth certificates of dependents (if applicable)
- •Passport/s
Renewal & Validity
Your residence visa is valid for one year. It can be renewed annually
Applications for the extension should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla.
8. Family Members of a Sri Lankan (Spouse & Dependants)
Spouse Visa Granting Procedure| # | Spouse Visa Category | Visa Period | Visa Fee | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen whose marriage is subsisting for more than six months at the time of making the application; and Each of dependent children of the non Sri Lankan spouse referred to in item (i). |
First Issuance: 01 Year. Extensions: * 02 years at a time, until completion of 05 years of Spouse Visa * 05 years at a time, after completion of 05 years of Spouse Visa |
Free of charge | *Visa fee will be applicable for the dependent children at the age of 16 years or above until reach the age of 22 years. |
| 2 | For a non Sri Lankan spouse of a demised Sri Lankan who has not remarried.(with the approval for employment) | 01 Year | USD 100 per year | * Visa period will be depended on the Employment Contract |
| 3 | For a non Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen who is living in Sri Lanka continuously for not less than ten years. (with the approval for employment) | 01 Year | USD 100 per year | * Visa period will be depended on the Employment Contract |
| 4 | For a non Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen who has children below eighteen years and living separately.(with the approval for employment) | 01 Year | USD 100 per year | * Visa period will be depended on the Employment Contract |
- •A. Visa granting period will be depended on the validity period of the passport.
- •B. The discretionary power of granting visa is vested with the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.
- •C. The above procedure could be changed due to the requirement of obtaining security clearance report from the Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka.
Spouses
- •Marriage certificate attested by a competent authority in Sri Lanka or abroad in support of the marriage
- •Birth certificate of Sri Lankan spouse and if the person is citizen by registration, documents to prove Sri Lankan citizenship.
- •Passport or National Identity Card of Sri Lankan spouse.
- •If divorced, divorce decree and if ex-spouse deceased, death certificate
- •Consent of Sri Lankan spouse
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Passport/s
Children if not Sri Lankan
- •Birth certificates of children (English translation attested by a competent authority in Sri Lanka or abroad)
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Passport/s
9. Diplomatic and Official visa
Diplomats and Officials attached to the Diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka and their dependents
Required Documents
- •Recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Passport/s
Submission & Renewal
You can submit visa application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Your residence visa is valid for time period recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
10. Medical Visa
Required Documents
- •Recommendation letter of the doctor or medical officer (Including Ayurvedic or homeopathy)
- •Medical report
- •Bank Encashment receipts to the value of US$ 1500/- for a year per person to support your medical expenses
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Passport/s
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
Submission Location & Validity
You can submit your visa application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Bththaramulla
Your residence visa is valid for one year or time period recommended by doctor/medical officer. It can be renew annually.
Applications for the extension should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla.
11. Court Visa
Required Documents
- •Request letter
- •Latest court proceedings indicating the next hearing date of the case
- •A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
- •Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)
Submission & Validity
You can submit your visa application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo.
Your residence visa is valid 14 days from the next hearing date of the court case. It can be renewed depending on the court proceedings
Applications for the extension should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla.
12. My Dream Home Visa Programme (Extension only for existing visa holders)
Long-term residence facility for senior foreign nationals wishing to reside in Sri Lanka (Extension only for existing visa holders).
13. Resident Guest Scheme Visa Programme (Extension only for existing visa holders)
Special residence investment scheme for foreign investors and professionals (Extension only for existing visa holders).
14. Digital Nomad
Residence visa framework for remote workers, tech professionals, and digital nomads residing in Sri Lanka.
15. Port City Commission
Residence facilities extended under Colombo Port City Economic Commission jurisdiction for authorized persons and their dependents.
16. Relation of Sri Lankan citizen
Residence facilities granted to certified relatives of Sri Lankan citizens in accordance with statutory guidelines.
Important notices to all residence visa holders
Statutory Compliance & Health DirectivesHealth Protection Plan
All residence visa applicants are requested to undergo Health Protection Plan (HPP) introduce by the Ministry of Health before submitting residence visa (New/Renewal) application to the Department of immigration and Emigration with effect from 03/06/2019.
For more details please visit the official website of the Ministry of Health through the following link: www.health.gov.lk/IHU
Following categories are exempted from the above plan/obtain HPP free of charge:
Exempted categories- Personnel having Diplomatic passports and their families
- Personnel attached to international organizations and their families coming under the purview of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UN agencies, ICRC etc)
- Personnel attached to organizations such as USAID, KOICA, JAICA, US Peace Corps etc.
- Personal who are attached to government Ministries/ Departments/ Agencies and Projects at the invitation of GOSL
- Personnel who are employed as consultants in government to government projects.
- “Investor Category” of residence visa applicants including Investors, Directors and Senior Management level expatriates and their dependents.
- Overseas students under Presidential Scholarship Scheme (Should provide a medical report from Government Hospital for disease condition include in HPP)
Application should be submitted with the endorsement by the relevant Ministry, justifying the applicant as for providing free services in Sri Lanka
Except Ex-Sri Lankan visa holders, all other residence visa holders may request to submit a police report obtained from their Home/Domicile country by the authority as may be necessary.
Official Documents & Application Hub
Direct printable forms and official institutional links for Sri Lanka Residence Visas.