Office Hours – Head Office, Battaramulla
The main office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration is located at “Suhurupaya”, Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla.
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Application submission | 8:30 am – 2:00 pm (queue tokens issued until 2:00 pm only) |
| Same-day visa collection | 2.5 hours after your submission time |
| Collection on assigned date | 9:00 am – 12:00 noon |
| Payment (shroff) counters | Close at 3:30 pm |
The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and all Public Holidays. Plan your visit accordingly, especially if you have a time-sensitive application.
Contact: 1962 / +94 112 101 500 | controller@Immigration.gov.lk
What Is a Sri Lankan Visa?
A visa is an official endorsement placed in your passport (or equivalent travel document) by the Sri Lankan government. It confirms that you are authorised to enter the country, and it sets out exactly how long you are permitted to stay and what activities you are allowed to undertake during that time. Without a valid visa, foreign nationals cannot legally enter or remain in Sri Lanka.
Types of Sri Lankan Visas
There are three main categories of visa that allow a foreign national to enter and/or remain in Sri Lanka: the Visit Visa, the Residence Visa, and the Transit Visa.
1. Visit Visa
A Visit Visa is an entry permit that reflects the Sri Lankan government’s consent to allow a foreign national into the country for a short, defined period under specific conditions.
There are two types of Visit Visa:
Tourist Visa
Issued to genuine tourists and short-stay visitors. You can apply for a Tourist Visa if you are visiting Sri Lanka for any of the following reasons:
- Sightseeing, leisure, or holidays
- Visiting friends or family
- Receiving medical treatment
- Attending or participating in arts, music, or dance events
- Taking part in sporting events
Tourist visas are issued as either single entry or double entry. This means you can enter Sri Lanka once or twice within the validity period of your visa, depending on which type you have been granted.
Business Purpose Visa
Issued to foreign nationals who need to visit Sri Lanka for business-related activities over a short period. This could include attending meetings, negotiating contracts, or representing a company.
Business visas are available as single, double, or multiple entry, giving more flexibility for frequent travellers with ongoing business commitments in Sri Lanka.
Extending Your Visit Visa
If you need to stay longer than your original visa allows, you can apply for a Visit Visa extension. Extensions are single entry only — once you leave Sri Lanka after an extension has been granted, the extension is automatically cancelled. Extensions can be applied for:
- In person at the Department of Immigration & Emigration
- Online via the official extension portal
Note: Business visas cannot currently be extended online. You must apply in person.
2. Residence Visa
A Residence Visa is a longer-term permit granted to non-Sri Lankans who have a specific and approved reason to reside in Sri Lanka. Unlike a Visit Visa, a Residence Visa is a multiple entry visa, meaning you can leave and re-enter the country freely during its validity period.
There are 13 sub-categories of Residence Visa. You should identify which category applies to your situation before applying:
1. Employment
For those who are professionally employed in Sri Lanka. This includes:
- Skilled professionals whose expertise has been requested for a government-approved project
- Expatriates employed by companies operating under the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, including their dependants
- Staff employed at banks operating in Sri Lanka, along with their dependants
- Employees of registered private companies or institutions
- Workers employed in the Colombo Port City development zone
2. Investor
For those who have a financial stake in Sri Lanka:
- Individuals who wish to invest capital in Sri Lanka
- Individuals who are actively engaged in business activities within the country
3. Religious
- Members of any recognised clergy
- Individuals formally engaged in religious work or activities in Sri Lanka
4. Student
- Students enrolled at a recognised Sri Lankan university
- Students attending an educational institution approved by the government
- Volunteers working with approved organisations
5. NGO / INGO
For personnel attached to non-governmental or international non-governmental organisations registered and operating in Sri Lanka, along with their dependants.
6. Registered Indians (Extension Only)
This category is reserved exclusively for Indians covered under the 1954 Indo-Lanka Agreement. New applications are not available under this category — extensions only.
7. Ex-Sri Lankans and Their Dependants
Former Sri Lankan citizens who have taken up foreign nationality, and their dependants, may apply for residency under this category.
8. Family Members of Sri Lankan Citizens
- Spouses of Sri Lankan citizens and their dependants
- Children of Sri Lankan citizens who hold foreign nationality
9. Diplomatic and Official Visa
- Diplomats and officials stationed at a foreign embassy, high commission, or other diplomatic mission in Sri Lanka
- Their spouses and dependants
10. My Dream Home Visa Programme (Extension Only)
This programme is no longer open for new applicants. Extensions are available only to those who currently hold a My Dream Home Visa.
11. Resident Guest Visa Programme (Extension Only)
Similarly, this programme is closed to new entrants. Extensions are available only to current Resident Guest Visa holders.
12. Medical Visa
For individuals who are in Sri Lanka specifically to receive medical treatment, as well as:
- Medical assistants who are accompanying and caring for the patient
- Dependants of the main medical visa holder
13. Court Visa
For foreign nationals who have an active legal case before a Sri Lankan court and are required to appear in person. This visa is granted to ensure the individual can remain in or re-enter the country for the duration of proceedings.
3. Transit Visa
A Transit Visa is granted to foreign nationals who are passing through Sri Lanka as part of a journey to another country, and need to remain in the country briefly between connecting flights or other transport.
Key rules:
- If your stopover is 24 hours or less, you do not need a transit visa
- If your stopover exceeds 24 hours, you must obtain a transit visa. You can do this:
- On arrival at the port of entry, OR
- In advance from a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission abroad before you travel
- Transit visas are valid for 48 hours only — you cannot extend them
Visa Exemptions – Who Doesn’t Need a Visa?
The following individuals are fully exempt from requiring a Sri Lankan visa:
- Sri Lankan dual citizens — those who hold Sri Lankan citizenship alongside citizenship of another country
- Children up to 21 years of age whose birth has been officially registered under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act of 1948
- Children under 21 years of age who were born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents and currently hold a foreign nationality
If you fall into any of the above categories, you do not need to apply for a visa to enter Sri Lanka.
Gratis (Fee-Free) Visa – Who Qualifies?
Holders of a Diplomatic or Official Passport, or a standard passport that carries a valid Diplomatic or Official endorsement, are entitled to a visa at no charge. This waiver is subject to a recommendation from the relevant Line Ministry.
This applies to qualifying individuals travelling in an official diplomatic or governmental capacity.
Visa Exemption Agreements for Diplomatic & Service Passport Holders
Sri Lanka has entered into bilateral agreements with a number of countries, allowing holders of Diplomatic, Official, or Service passports from those countries to visit Sri Lanka for short-term official or diplomatic purposes without requiring a visa.
The list of countries covered and the permitted duration of stay for each can be found on the official Diplomatic & Official Visits page.
General Eligibility Requirements for a Sri Lankan Visa
Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration will consider your visa application if all of the following conditions are met:
- You are considered suitable to enter Sri Lanka based on immigration assessment
- Your stated purpose of visit is approved by the Department of Immigration & Emigration
- Your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of arrival in Sri Lanka — if your passport expires sooner than this, you will need to renew it before applying
- You have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses while in Sri Lanka and to pay for your return journey to your home country
- You hold proof of onward travel — this means either a return ticket to your country of residence, or a valid visa for your next destination (this applies specifically to Visit Visa holders)
Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in your visa being refused or your entry being denied at the port of entry.
General Conditions of a Visit Visa
If you hold a Visit Visa (Tourist or Business), you must comply with the following conditions throughout your stay:
Business visas cannot be extended online — if you hold a business visa and need to extend it, you must attend the Department in personGeneral Conditions of a Visit Visa
No unauthorised work — you are not permitted to take up any form of employment, whether paid or unpaid, nor engage in any trade or business beyond what is explicitly stated in your visa
Use your visa before it expires — your visa must be activated (used to enter Sri Lanka) before the expiry date shown on your approval notice
Respect the entry period — entry into Sri Lanka is only valid during the specific window shown on your visa approval notice
Entry type matters — check whether your visa is single, double, or multiple entry, and do not attempt to use it beyond its permitted number of entries
Extensions are single entry — if you extend your visa and then leave Sri Lanka, your extension is automatically cancelled. You would need to apply for a new visa to re-enter
Business visas cannot be extended online — if you hold a business visa and need to extend it, you must attend the Department in person
General Conditions of a Residence Visa
- You must only engage in activities that fall within the scope of your specific visa category — doing anything outside of those conditions could result in your visa being cancelled
- Residence visas are multiple entry, meaning you can travel outside Sri Lanka and return freely during the validity of your visa
General Conditions of a Transit Visa
- A transit visa is required if your stay in Sri Lanka exceeds 24 hours
- It can be obtained on arrival or from a Sri Lankan mission abroad before you travel
- It is valid for a maximum of 48 hours and cannot be extended
For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official Department of Immigration & Emigration website: www.immigration.gov.lk
