Sri Lanka investor visa

Qualifying options are voting shares in a company incorporated under the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 (at least 10% of the voting capital, subject to the exclusions and limits of Foreign Exchange Regulation No. 02 of 2021); opening a place of business as a registered overseas company; rupee or foreign-currency debt securities of at least five years' maturity issued by the Government or the Central Bank; term deposits with a licensed commercial bank; and immovable property, subject to other laws.

Some sectors are closed or capped for foreign shareholders, for example pawn broking, coastal fishing and small-scale retail trade, while sectors such as education, mass communication and travel agencies are limited to 40% foreign ownership unless the Board of Investment approves more.

The Department's guideline (October 2025) sets two levels: at least US$100,000 for a five-year visa and at least US$200,000 for a ten-year visa. The visa is endorsed for five years at first; investors at the higher level receive an official letter from the Department extending it for another five years. The investment project is reviewed every two years by the Department's Investigation Division.

The visa fee is US$200 per year for the main applicant, the spouse and each dependant. Holders must notify the Department in writing of material changes, such as investment or personal details, within two months, comply with immigration, tax and other laws, and avoid political activity. Ending the investment requires two months' written notice, leaving Sri Lanka permanently requires 14 working days' notice, and repatriation of funds follows the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017.

Sri Lankan missions describe the route for residence visas: the sponsor in Sri Lanka files the residence application with the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration at least 45 days before the planned arrival; once it is approved, the Controller General authorises the Sri Lankan embassy or high commission concerned to issue an entry visa; after arrival the residence visa itself is issued by the Department in Sri Lanka.

First open an Inward Investment Account (IIA) and a Visa Programme Foreign Currency Account (VPFCA) with any licensed commercial bank in Sri Lanka; the Central Bank publishes the list of licensed banks. Funds are credited to the IIA from an account abroad or from the offshore banking unit of a licensed bank, and existing IIA balances may be used. The investment itself is then made through the VPFCA, and the bank must issue a letter confirming the applicant's name, the VPFCA number and its balance.