Work permits and visas in Sri Lanka: An employer’s guide

If you are hiring a new employee or relocating a team member to Sri Lanka, you need to make sure they have the proper work visa under local immigration laws. Your company also needs to stay on top of labor laws for compliant HR.

Known for its tropical climate and growing infrastructure, Sri Lanka remains a popular work destination for top talent. In this article, Remote walks you through right-to-work checks, work visa types, and visa requirements for your employee to work in Sri Lanka.

See also: The complete employer's guide to hiring in Sri Lanka

Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Foreign nationals who intend to work must obtain an entry visa for employment before travel. After entry, they must apply for a Residence visa (employment category) at the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E), located in Colombo, within 30 days of arrival.

Employees are unable to enter the country on a Tourist or Business visa and switch to an employment visa. Note that a Business visa explicitly does not allow paid or unpaid employment.

Types of work visas in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka separates entry clearance from an employment visa. Applicants use an entry visa to travel to the country, then obtain a Residence visa to live and work.

Business visa

A Business visa allows for short visits for meetings, negotiations, seminars, conferences, workshops, short-term training, art/music/dance or religious events and symposiums. It may be issued as a single or multiple-entry visa. Note that individuals cannot use a Business visa to work, be self-employed, run business activities, or to live long-term.

Individuals may apply for a Business visa via the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, or through an overseas mission, embassy of Sri Lanka, or consulate.

Residence visa (employment category)

Foreign nationals who want to live and work in Sri Lanka must enter the country on an entry visa for employment, after which they can apply for a Residence visa for employment (also known as an employment visa). The applicant must apply for a Residence visa with the Department of Immigration and Emigration within 30 days. 

Employment category Residence visas are generally issued for one year (or for the period recommended by the competent authority) and are renewable annually.

How to get a work visa in Sri Lanka

After arriving on the entry visa for employment, the applicant must apply to the Department of Immigration and Emigration within 30 days to obtain a work visa endorsement. Here's what you need to know:

Required documents for a work visa 

The exact checklist depends on your category (e.g., Board of Investment project, private company, bank) and the visa type. The Department of Immigration and Emigration instructs all Residence visa applicants to complete the Health Protection Plan (HPP) with the Ministry of Health before filing for a Residence visa. You’ll also need to complete a visa application form provided by DI&E and present the passport bio-data page and other supporting documents required for your category.

As an employer, build your sponsor pack (company request/supporting letter, business registration documents/Certificate of Incorporation, any required recommendation letter from BOI) for entry visa approval. Use these documents for the Residence visa pack, then add the worker’s HPP confirmation, original passport, color photographs, and any category-specific forms. 

Application process for a Residence Visa (employment)

Here are the detailed steps to obtain a work visa with the Department of Immigration: 

1) Entry visa approval

The employer requests for an entry visa approval for employment from the Department of Immigration & Emigration. Prepare the sponsor pack for your category (e.g., Board of Investment project, private-sector company, bank) per the official checklist (company request letter, registration, board of directors, articles, required recommendations, etc.). If you’re a Board of Investment (BOI) enterprise, use the BOI Visa Management System to obtain recommendation before a decision from the DI&E

2) Embassy/mission issues the entry visa

After DI&E approval, the Sri Lanka embassy or overseas mission stamps the entry visa for employment in your hire’s passport. Instruct the employee to travel within the entry validity printed on the approval.

3) Apply for Residence visa (employment)

The employee completes the Health Protection Plan (HPP) medical assessment with the Ministry of Health and keeps the receipt. Prepare the Residence visa employment pack and file in person at the DI&E (Visa Division, Battaramulla) within 30 days of the applicant's arrival. Be ready to present originals of required documents and complete biometrics.

4) Visa endorsement

Upon approval, the DI&E endorses the Residence visa for employment in the passport. Validity is generally one year and is renewable annually.

Work visa fees in Sri Lanka

A Residence visa for employment is USD200 per year. An entry visa for employment varies by mission and nationality.

Digital nomad visa in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a Digital Nomad visa as part of a Residence visa, with a fee of USD 500 per year.

However, DI&E’s public pages have not yet published a category-specific checklist, so applicants should follow the Residence visa framework, complete HPP, and confirm entry and document requirements with DI&E and relevant overseas missions before applying. Tourist and Business visas do not permit employment or remote work.

How Remote can help with work visas in Sri Lanka

To hire or relocate employees to Sri Lanka, you need to have your own entity in the country. You also need to navigate immigration laws to avoid potential penalties, as well as handle payroll and benefits according to local labor laws. 

That's why Remote’s Employer of Record service is invaluable. We act as the legal employer in Sri Lanka on your company’s behalf. Remote helps you stay compliant with local labor and tax laws, so you can onboard your employees in a matter of days to save time and resources. 

If you already have an entity in Sri Lanka, Remote can help with international employee relocation with case-by-case immigration assessments, and guidance on Sri Lankan visas.

To learn more about the processes involved in relocating international employees, download Remote's Relocation Guide, or contact our Relocation team today.