Sri Lanka Spouse of a citizen

For the foreign spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen whose marriage has lasted more than six months. It gives a residence visa of one year, free of charge, with extensions for up to 5 years and then 5 years at a time. ^{1 2}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of $100 a year · Annual visa fee for the spouse visa variants with approval for employment (widow or widower, spouse resident ten years or more, spouse with children under eighteen living separately). The first spouse visa is free of charge. ²
• A fee of $150 a year · Visa fee for a year or part of a year for each dependent child of the non-Sri Lankan spouse; the Residence Visa page says the fee applies from age 16 until the child reaches 22. ^{2 1}

Requirements

• The applicant is a non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen. ^{1 2}
• The marriage has been subsisting for more than six months when the application is made. ^{1 2}
• The Sri Lankan spouse gives written consent to the application. ^{1 2}
• Employment approval is available to a spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan who has not remarried. ^{1 2}
• Employment approval is available to a spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen living in Sri Lanka continuously for at least ten years. ^{1 2}
• Employment approval is available to a spouse of a citizen who has children under eighteen and is living separately. ^{1 2}
• Marriage certificate attested by a competent authority in Sri Lanka or abroad. ^{1 2}
• Birth certificate, passport or National Identity Card of the Sri Lankan spouse. ^{1 2}
• Proof of Sri Lankan citizenship if the spouse is a citizen by registration. ^{1 2}
• Divorce decree if divorced, or death certificate if the earlier spouse is deceased. ^{1 2}
• Copy of the passport bio data page of the applicant. ^{1 2}
• The application is submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. ^{1 2}
• The Sri Lankan spouse attends an interview at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. ^{1 2}
• A security clearance report from the Ministry of Defence may be required. ^{1 2}
• Extensions are for 2 years at a time until 5 years of the spouse visa are complete, then 5 years at a time. ^{1 2}
• Each extension needs a letter of consent from the Sri Lankan spouse and a spouse interview. ^{1 2}
• The intended stay must end at least two months before the passport expires. ^{1 2}

Stay

• First issue is one year. Extensions are 2 years at a time until 5 years of the spouse visa are complete, then 5 years at a time. Visa period depends on passport validity; the Controller General has discretion.
• Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
• Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Work

The standard spouse visa carries no work approval; the widow or widower, ten-year resident spouse and separated-with-children variants carry approval for employment, with visa period depending on the employment contract.

Family

Dependent children of the non-Sri Lankan spouse can be included; a visa fee of USD 150 a year applies to them from age 16 until they reach 22.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Residence Visa categories (employment, investor, education, spouse, Resident Guest, Digital Nomad, others) · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12
2. Visa Fees · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12