--- title: "Sri Lanka Spouse of a citizen requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/spouse-of-citizen/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Sri Lanka · Spouse visas # Sri Lanka Spouse of a citizen **First stay:** 1 yr Spouse Visa for the non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen (Residence Visa 5) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Record corrected 12 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-lk-spouse-of-citizen) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (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.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Work:** No (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.) ## Key facts Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Sri Lanka. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** $100/yr · $150/yr - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: $100/yr · $150/yr** - $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. - $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. **Renewal: Renewable** After the first one-year visa, extensions run 2 years at a time until 5 years of spouse visa are completed, then 5 years at a time. [Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=18) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Work isn't allowed on this route ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen. - The marriage has been subsisting for more than six months when the application is made. - The Sri Lankan spouse gives written consent to the application. - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan who has not remarried. - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen living in Sri Lanka continuously for at least ten years. - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a citizen who has children under eighteen and is living separately. #### 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. - **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. #### Documents - Marriage certificate attested by a competent authority in Sri Lanka or abroad. - Birth certificate, passport or National Identity Card of the Sri Lankan spouse. - Proof of Sri Lankan citizenship if the spouse is a citizen by registration. - Divorce decree if divorced, or death certificate if the earlier spouse is deceased. - Copy of the passport bio data page of the applicant. #### Steps 1. The application is submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. 2. The Sri Lankan spouse attends an interview at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. 3. A security clearance report from the Ministry of Defence may be required. #### After you arrive - Extensions are for 2 years at a time until 5 years of the spouse visa are complete, then 5 years at a time. - Each extension needs a letter of consent from the Sri Lankan spouse and a spouse interview. - The intended stay must end at least two months before the passport expires. ## What happens at day 183 How Sri Lanka decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in any 12-month period commencing or ending during the year of assessment** Presence makes an individual resident - **Foreign-source income:** A resident is chargeable on income from Sri Lanka and on foreign-source income (global income); a non-resident only on gains and profits arising or derived from Sri Lanka. [All tax rules for Sri Lanka](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026 **Full official text** 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. (sources 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. (source 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. (sources 2, 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen. (sources 1, 2) - The marriage has been subsisting for more than six months when the application is made. (sources 1, 2) - The Sri Lankan spouse gives written consent to the application. (sources 1, 2) - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan who has not remarried. (sources 1, 2) - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen living in Sri Lanka continuously for at least ten years. (sources 1, 2) - Employment approval is available to a spouse of a citizen who has children under eighteen and is living separately. (sources 1, 2) - Marriage certificate attested by a competent authority in Sri Lanka or abroad. (sources 1, 2) - Birth certificate, passport or National Identity Card of the Sri Lankan spouse. (sources 1, 2) - Proof of Sri Lankan citizenship if the spouse is a citizen by registration. (sources 1, 2) - Divorce decree if divorced, or death certificate if the earlier spouse is deceased. (sources 1, 2) - Copy of the passport bio data page of the applicant. (sources 1, 2) - The application is submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. (sources 1, 2) - The Sri Lankan spouse attends an interview at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. (sources 1, 2) - A security clearance report from the Ministry of Defence may be required. (sources 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. (sources 1, 2) - Each extension needs a letter of consent from the Sri Lankan spouse and a spouse interview. (sources 1, 2) - The intended stay must end at least two months before the passport expires. (sources 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)](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=18) · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Visa Fees](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=45) · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12 ## Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | No | | [Spouse of a permanent resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/spouse-of-citizen/) Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes | | [Spouse of a stay permit holder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Indonesia | – | – | No | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/spouse-of-citizen/) United Arab Emirates | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen? 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). 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. ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen? First issue is one year. ### Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen? No. 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. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen? 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. ### How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Sri Lanka? No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: A resident is chargeable on income from Sri Lanka and on foreign-source income (global income); a non-resident only on gains and profits arising or derived from Sri Lanka. From 1 April 2025 the rates on taxable income are 6% to LKR 1,000,000, (≈ $3,020) 18% to LKR 1,500,000, (≈ $4,530) 24% to LKR 2,000,000, (≈ $6,050) 30% to LKR 2,500,000 (≈ $7,560) and 36% above, after an aggregate personal relief of LKR 1,800,000 (≈ $5,440) for residents and citizens. ## More in Sri Lanka [Digital nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/digital-nomad-residence-visa/) [Golden Paradise · $200k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/golden-paradise-visa/) [Investor visa · General](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/investor-residence-visa/) [Employment visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/employment-residence-visa/) [Education visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/education-residence-visa/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇲🇾 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/malaysian-spouse-ltsvp/) [🇰🇷 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇹🇼 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇳🇵 Marriage visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nepal/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇮🇳 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/spouse-of-citizen-x-visa/) [🇨🇳 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/china/spouse-of-citizen/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Residence Visa categories (employment, investor, education, spouse, Resident Guest, Digital Nomad, others)](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=18) · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Visa Fees](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=45) · Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka · checked 2026-10-12 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.