Passport

General Information 

Eligibility: 

A Sri Lankan citizen by descent or by registration can apply for a Sri Lankan Passport. Sri Lankan citizens who have applied for, and gained, refugee or asylum status in another country are not entitled to a Sri Lankan passport, in accordance with Sri Lankan Immigration Laws. However, they are eligible to apply for temporary travel documents for the sole purpose of returning to Sri Lanka.

Important to Note: 

• Applicants are advised to apply for the new passport in advance with all required documents below. The applications are processed by the Overseas Missions Branch at the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Colombo.
• Please note that all supporting documents should be submitted in originals with 01 set of photocopies of each, on one side of A4 size paper along with the duly completed passport application.
• The applicant must sign the application form in the presence of the Consular Officer at the Embassy OR at the Honorary Consul/Notary public in your country of residence.
• Please ensure that a dark-colored pen (preferably black) is used to place the signature.
• Please refrain from making any payment until you receive an email communication from the Consular Section of the Embassy requesting payment, as applications with deficient documents will not be accepted for payment.
• If the applicant is currently in the process of visa extension/renewal, a letter/status of the visa application from the resident country’s Migration Agency should be submitted. The letter must be in English/an English translation, counter-attested by the Foreign Ministry of the country of residence.
• If you are renewing your Sri Lankan passport for the purpose of extending or renewing your visa/residence permit, you are strongly advised to apply for passport renewal at least six months before your current visa/residence permit expires. At the time of processing your passport application in Colombo, a valid visa/residence permit or proof that you have applied for its renewal/extension is mandatory.
• We advise you to book separate appointments for each of your applications if you are submitting more than one application.

Passport Processing Letters: 

• Applicants may request Passport Processing Letters after one month of submission of their application  the Department of Immigration and Emigration through an email to consular.stockholm@mfa.gov.lk  Please also mention the following
• The application Reference No. (STO/CON/PPT/20XX/XXX) 
• The applicant’s Full Name. For a minor’s application, include both the child’s full name and the parents’ full names.
• It is also mandatory to mention the reason for requesting a passport processing letter and attach supporting documents ( e.g. deadline notices for visa renewal or work permit process.)
• Once the Embassy receives and reviews the above information, the Passport Processing letter will be issued to the applicant via email.

Authorization Letters to collect passports from the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo:

Applicants may request to collect their passport after two months from submission of the application to the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Applicants are advised to make such requests ONLY in cases of emergency.  

Required Information:

• Reference No. of the Embassy: (STO/CON/PPT/20XX/XXX)
• Applicant’s Full Name: (e.g., Mr./Ms./Mrs./Master/Miss) For a minor’s application, include both the child’s full name with title and the parents’/applicant’s full names.
• Reason for the urgency to collect the passport from Sri Lanka. Please attach supporting documents to prove the emergency, (e.g., deadline notices for visa renewal or work permit process.)
• Full Name and Identification Details of the Authorized Representative: Full Name of the Representative include his/her Passport or NIC No.
• Attach a copy of the NIC or Passport of the authorized representative Once the Embassy receives and reviews the above information, an acknowledgment will be sent to you via email and the request will be forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

•  Your representative should not visit the Department of Immigration &  Emigration until an acknowledgment of your request is received from the Embassy.
• After collection of the passport from Sri Lanka, please:
  

- Send a scanned copy of the observation page of the new passport to the Embassy.

- Ensure that the previous passport is cancelled by the Embassy within one month after collection.

Submission of Biometric Data in Sri Lanka

As per Section 35(a) of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No 20 of 1948 as amended in 2015, the Department of Immigration and Emigration is required to collect Biometrics from passport applicants. The Department has introduced a new procedure to collect the fingerprints of passport holders whose passport has been issued through Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions after 01st November 2017. The procedure requires every passport holder aged 16- 60 years to provide biometrics (fingerprints and digital face image) to the Department upon their first entry to Sri Lanka. You are advised to arrange your travel in a way that allows sufficient time to provide your biometrics to the department. Biometrics can only be submitted at the locations below on any working day between 8am-2pm except public holidays).

Biometrics cannot be provided at the airport. You are advised to provide your biometrics prior to departure from Sri Lanka, as failure to do so will prevent you from leaving the country.

Biometric  data acquisition is conducted free of charge. No payments are required

• New Passport for Adult
• New passport for a Minor (under 16 years)
• Lost passport
• Temporary/Emergency Passports
• Amendments to the passport