Passports
Sri Lankan Passports
Sri Lankan citizens by Descent or by Registration are eligible for obtaining Sri Lankan travel documents. The controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka holds the authority to issue travel documents under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act. No. 20 of 1948, and its Regulations and Subsequent Amendments.
All travel documents are issued according to the specifications of the I.C.A.O. with machine readable zone, except temporary travel documents.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka is issuing ‘N’ series passports from 2004 and the passports are valid for 10 years. ‘M’ series and ‘N’ series passports issued before 2004 are valid for 5 years and can be extended for another 5 years not exceeding 10 years totally by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (competent authority in Colombo) or Sri Lankan Missions abroad.
Important
The following is considered as punishable offence: if found guilty upon prosecution imprisonment for the period of 6 months up to 5 years, a fine of Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 200,000 can be imposed.
- Submission of falsified or forged document/s to obtain a travel document.
- Applying for a travel document while possessing a valid travel document and/or possessing more than one valid travel document simultaneously.
- Dispatch of Sri Lanka travel document through the post, courier or another person from/to Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Controller. For approval a written request (in duplicate), courier letter (in duplicate), and the passport should be forwarded to the following address:
Controller [Travel]
Department of Immigration and Emigration
1st Floor, No:41, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha,
Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
Phone: 94-11-5329120, 5329121
For more information check the official website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka: http://www.immigration.gov.lk