Sri Lanka work visa (employment residence visa)

The Department of Immigration and Emigration groups employment visas into four streams: professionals working on projects approved by the Government; expatriates employed on Board of Investment (BOI) projects; staff of banks; and personnel of private-sector companies. In each case the visa extends to the employee's dependants.

Each stream has its own recommending authority: the BOI for BOI projects; the relevant line ministry or the Department of External Resources for government projects; the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for banks; and the line ministry responsible for the sector for private companies. Without that recommendation the Department does not process the application.

For a private-sector company the file contains a request letter, the company registration, the list of board members, the articles or memorandum of association, the line-ministry recommendation, the employee's passport data page and the HPP. BOI companies add their BOI certificate and agreement; banks add the Central Bank recommendation; government projects add the project agreement and ministry recommendation.

Most residence applicants must also buy the Health Protection Plan (HPP) of the Ministry of Health through health.gov.lk/IHU, and may be asked for a police report from their home country for security clearance. Residence visas are issued for one year, or the period recommended by the sponsoring authority, and are renewed annually; a renewal should be filed in good time and at least two months before the passport expires.

Sri Lankan missions describe the route: 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.

The Embassy stresses that visas for residence and work are issued only by the Controller General; it cannot approve them itself, but it delivers the entry visa once authorised.

The employment visa falls into Residence Visa-1, which costs US$200 for each year or part of a year, for the employee and for each spouse or dependent child. Private-sector renewals need a fresh recommendation from the line ministry. Working on a tourist or business ETA is prohibited and can lead to removal.