Sri Lanka Permanent Residence Visa

Five groups are eligible: people of Sri Lankan descent or whose Sri Lankan citizenship ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act; the foreign spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen, married for more than five years at the time of application; the foreign spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan who has not remarried, where the marriage lasted more than five years; the foreign spouse of a person in the first group, married for more than five years; and the children, under 22, of anyone in these groups.

The first three groups can apply as main applicants; the others apply as dependants. There is no route for foreigners without a Sri Lankan family link, such as investors or long-term workers.

Every applicant provides a colour photograph and may be asked for further documents and biometrics. Foreign spouses of a citizen submit their passport, the Sri Lankan spouse's passport, national identity card or dual citizenship certificate, a police clearance from their home country, the marriage certificate (with a certified English translation from the consulate if the marriage took place abroad) and a request or consent letter from the Sri Lankan spouse.

Former citizens and people of Sri Lankan descent submit their foreign passport, a police clearance issued within the past year and proof of former Sri Lankan citizenship, such as a section 5(2) certificate, an old identity card or passport, or a Sri Lankan birth certificate. Children aged 16 or over need their own police clearance.

The PRV costs US$1,000 for a person of Sri Lankan descent or former citizen, for the spouse of a current citizen and for the widowed spouse of a citizen. The spouse of a former citizen pays US$400, and each child US$400. The PRV card costs LKR 1,000 on first issue and LKR 1,000 on renewal; it is valid for up to ten years.

Complete the PRV application form and, where required, the personal particulars form for security clearance, both on the Department's website. The Department forwards eligible applications to the PRV Committee and notifies applicants of the decision; submitting an application does not guarantee approval.

PRV holders may enter and stay in Sri Lanka, use public education, health and other services as provided by law, work in any lawful occupation, run a lawful business, and inherit, transfer or dispose of property, subject to other laws.