At a glance
Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa allows a renewable one-year stay for adults working for foreign employers or clients, or running a qualifying foreign business. The main applicant must transfer at least USD $2,000 a month from foreign income to Sri Lanka.
- Minimum age
- 18
- Monthly transfer
- At least USD $2,000 from foreign income to Sri Lanka
- Larger families
- Add USD $500 a month for each dependent beyond the first two
Summary
Sri Lanka's Digital Nomad Visa is for applicants age 18 or older whose work and income remain outside Sri Lanka. It requires at least USD $2,000 in monthly remittances for the main applicant, plus USD $500 for each dependent beyond two, as well as health insurance, medical and police clearances, and a recommendation from the Ministry of Digital Economy. The visa lasts one year and can be renewed, but it does not allow local employment in Sri Lanka.
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Check your foreign work and household income Calculate the required transfer: USD $2,000 a month, plus the applicable amount for larger families.
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Prepare the recommendation and documents Arrange ministry support, insurance, police and medical checks, and personal and family records.
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Apply and keep the required evidence Use the Residence Visa Division and retain income-transfer and tax-registration records for renewal.
This route requires monthly transfers of foreign income and does not allow local employment.
Eligibility
You generally qualify if all of the following are true:
- You are at least 18.
- You work remotely for a foreign employer, freelance for foreign clients, or own a business outside Sri Lanka that serves foreign clients.
- You can show the required monthly transfer of foreign income to Sri Lanka: at least USD $2,000 for the main applicant, plus USD $500 for each dependent beyond the first two.
- You have international health insurance covering care in Sri Lanka.
- You can provide a recent police clearance, medical clearance, passport evidence, a security-clearance form, and the other listed documents.
- You can obtain the required recommendation from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy.
- You can pay the annual fee for each applicant and dependent.
Duration
The visa is issued for one year and can be renewed annually. For an extension, the official guidance also asks for proof of tax registration with Sri Lanka's Inland Revenue Department.
What This Route Allows
This pathway can let you live in Sri Lanka for up to 12 months at a time while continuing qualifying foreign remote work. It also allows the holder to maintain a personal bank account, sign a housing lease, and enroll dependent children in international or private schools.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a local employment pathway: the official conditions require income from foreign sources and prohibit local employment in Sri Lanka. It is also not a permanent-residence grant, and renewal carries continuing document and tax-registration requirements.
Next Steps
- Confirm that your employer, clients, or business are outside Sri Lanka and calculate the monthly amount your household must transfer.
- Arrange international health insurance and obtain the current police and medical clearances.
- Gather passport, relationship, income-transfer, and security-clearance documents.
- Confirm the process for the Ministry of Digital Economy recommendation.
- Apply through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's Residence Visa Division.
- Before any renewal, confirm the current tax-registration and continuing-income evidence requirements.
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Sources
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration - Digital Nomad Visa Category - current official eligibility, documents, duration, fees, benefits, and restrictions.
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration - Residence visas - official residence-visa category index and application context.