Sri Lanka: Increases in Residence Visa Validity Forthcoming
November 19, 2021
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At a Glance
The Sri Lankan government will be introducing new rules that will result in increased visa validities and relaxed requirements for Residence Visas. The changes include:
- Residence Visa applicants will be able to apply for visas with a validity of up to five years, up from two years.
- Ministers in charge of applications will have the discretion to grant Residence Visas valid for more than five years but not exceeding ten years, up from the current five-year limit.
- Applicants already in Sri Lanka who did not enter on an Entry Visa will no longer be required to exit and re-enter Sri Lanka on an Entry Visa before they can convert to a Residence Visa, as currently required.
The government has not provided an effective date for the changes.
The situation
The Sri Lankan Parliament introduced amendments that will result in increases to the current visa validity periods available to foreign nationals and certain relaxed application requirements.
A closer look
Although the government has not provided an effective date, the following changes are forthcoming:
| CHANGE | DETAILS | IMPACT |
| Increased duration of standard Residence Visa validity | The standard Residence Visa issuance period will be increased to five years, up from only two years currently. | Applicants will benefit from an increased duration of validity to stay and work in Sri Lanka. |
| Increased duration of Residence Visa validity for applications with Minister’s Approval | Ministers in charge of applications will be given the discretion to grant Residence Visas with validities of over five years up to a maximum of 10 years, up from the current five-year limit. | Applicants will benefit from an increased duration to stay and work in Sri Lanka if granted by the minister in charge of the application. |
| Waiver of Entry Visa status requirement |
Applicants already in Sri Lanka who did not enter on an Entry Visa will no longer be required to exit and re-enter Sri Lanka on an Entry Visa before they can convert to a Residence Visa, as currently required. Currently, potential applicants who did not enter Sri Lanka using an Entry Visa must exit the country first, obtain an Entry Visa and then re-enter Sri Lanka before applying for the Residence Visa. |
Applicants will benefit from a relaxed entry rule which will result in possibly fewer steps and a faster lead time. |
Background
- Benefits for foreign nationals. The amendments mark the second time this year that the Sri Lankan government introduced changes that benefit foreign nationals. The first changes implemented in October extended visa validities and created new visa options, including a digital nomad visa.
- Attracting foreign investment. The government aims to provide socio-economic benefits for foreign nationals and foreign businesses, including a more flexible environment for foreign investors to do business in Sri Lanka
Looking ahead
It is likely that the Sri Lankan government will introduce more benefits for foreign nationals seeking to stay and work in Sri Lanka such as longer durations for visas, and relaxed rules that would attract more foreign businesses to invest in Sri Lanka.
The government is expected to announce the effective date of the changes soon; we will report on related developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
