Validity period of visas extended for foreigners in Sri Lanka

Considering the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the validity period of all types of Visas issued to all foreigners who are currently residing in Sri Lanka has been extended till 11th July 2020.

This is further to the previous notice released by the Department of Immigration and Emigration on 09.05.2020 with regard to the extension of visas for the Foreigners residing in Sri Lanka. Previously, the extension was valid only until June 11, and the foreigners residing in the country were advised to pay the relevant visa fee and get the visa endorsed in the Passport by securing an appointment on or before 11th June.

However, the Department is observed that, most of the foreigners currently staying in Sri Lanka are unable to leave so far due to the closure of the Airports in many countries and as the number is very high; many of them unable to secure an appointment via the above system before 11th June 2020.

Considering the aforementioned circumstances, it has been decided to extend the validity period of all types of Visas for another period of 30 days with effect from 11th June 2020 to 11th July 2020 to allow all the foreigners to regularize their visas accordingly.

Therefore, all applicants are advised to pay the relevant visa fee and get the visa endorsed in the Passport by securing an appointment via https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs on or before 11th July. All visas which expire between March 7th to July 11th, 2020, will be exempted from charging overstay penalty, stated the department.

The Department further said that only those who possess a due Appointment Notice are be permitted to enter the Department while only a limited number of appointments will be given per day. The applicants are to be present at the Department 15 min prior to the allocated time, added the Department.

Any queries in this regard can be made by contacting Department officials through the following modes:

Email:

For Visit Visas:

acvisa1@immigration.gov.lk
acvisa2@immigration.gov.lk
acvisa@immigration.gov.lk
For Residence Visas:
dcvisa@immigration.gov.lk

Telephone: 070-710 1050 (Between 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. only)

However, should the Government impose a curfew on the date of the appointment due to the unavoidable circumstances, applicants are advised not to visit the Department. Instead, they are to drop an email to the aforementioned email addresses attaching the Appointment Notice, to be facilitated with a new appointment in due course.

Further, if any foreigner intends to leave the island during the aforementioned period, their journey will be facilitated by paying the relevant visa fee at the Airport.