Passport Services

General information about the issuance of Passports

The issuing authority of new passports is the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka, Battaramulla and the total processing time for a new passport varies depending on the vetting process of the Department of Immigration & Emigration. The Embassy forwards the applications received to the Overseas Mission Division of the Department of Immigration & Emigration through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy cannot guarantee the issuance of passport within a specific time period.

When the Embassy receives the new passports from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, a notice will be posted on the website of the Embassy and the Facebook page. As the notice contains only the Reference Number, applicants are advised to carefully check the numbers. If the applicant is a child below 16 the parent who applied could collect the passport.

Photocopies of all supporting documents made on single side of A4 sheets must be submitted with all applications.

If any of the certificates/documents submitted as support documents have been issued in a country other than Sri Lanka, the original certificate / its English translation (if original certificate is not in English) attested by the relevant diplomatic Mission in Havana or Sri Lankan Mission accredited to the country where the certificate has been issued is required to submit along with the original certificate.

The holders are responsible for applying to renew their passports well in advance before the expiry of the current passport or before the pages for visa endorsements run out.

Passport applications must be submitted in person.

For minor Applicants who are unable to sign the passport application, parents can write a part of the child’s name in the signature cages. (Parents must not place their signature or write their name on the child’s passport application).

Declaration of the applicant: Applicant must fill and sign the declaration. If the applicant is unable to sign (Minors), a parent can sign the declaration.

Detailed instructions to fill the Passport application (K 35A) and all forms and formats are available for download from this link

Validity Period of a Passport

Currently, issuing N series passports are valid for 10 years unless otherwise specified. Validity period of passports for minors below 16 years of age are for 03 years. Inclusion of children in parents’ passport will NO longer be allowed and separate passports will be issued for children.

Specifications of photos accepted with Passport Applications

• Photos should have been taken within 3 months
• The background and the dress should not be in same colour.
• The face must be clearly visible without any makeup and other effects.
• The ears and forehead must be clearly visible.
• The photo should show the applicants’ eyes clearly without spectacles.
• Applicants who are required to wear caps and scarves may do so, but the photographs should have the forehead and ears clearly visible. Shadows of the scarves should not reflect on the face.

Procedure for biometric collection upon arrival in Sri Lanka

Applicant who has been issued a new passport by the Embassy after 01/01/2018, following procedures are required to be followed at the Port of entry to validate the Biometric. There are no facilities at port of arrival or departure to provide biometrics.

1. Passenger must report to the primary Immigration counter or Report directly to the Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) at the port of entry
2. Biometric Data Acquisition (BDA) form will be issued to the passenger with a unique reference number
3. The BDA should be signed in two copies by the passenger
4. One copy of the BDA is given to the passenger to produce at the Department of Immigration & Emigration at the time of biometrics enrollment
5. Other copy will be retained at the airport
6. Passenger could reserve date/time using the online appointment scheduling system at the website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka. The contact details of the Department is mentioned below.
7. Passenger may report to the Department of Immigration and Emigration Head Office or any regional office (Matara/ Kandy/ Vavuniya/ Kurunegala)
8. Fingerprint is captured at a special counter arranged at the Overseas Missions Division of the head office and regional offices.
9. Upon providing biometrics, Department will issue a system generated receipt to confirm completion of biometrics acquisition process. Approximate waiting time is 30-45 minutes for this event.
10. Border control system will be updated to allow the passenger departure from Sri Lanka. Recommend the Passenger to retain the receipt until departure from Sri Lanka Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka Overseas Missions Division “Suhurupaya”,

Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka

Overseas Missions Division
“Suhurupaya”,
Sri Subhuthipura Road,
Battaramulla,
Sri Lanka.

Tel +94 11 5329230 Ext 9230
Fax +94 11 2879213
Email acom@immigration.gov.lk
Web: http://www.immigration.gov.lk