Foreign nationals planning to engage in religious work including interns, volunteers and workers with special skills working at religious institutions should have entry visa before traveling to Sri Lanka. Approval for entry visa for religious workers is processed only in Colombo by the Department of Immigration. Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions are not issuing Entry Visa for religious workers unless prior entry visa approval is given by the Immigration Department in Colombo.
Foreigners planning to engage in any religious work in Sri Lanka should under no circumstances travel to Sri Lanka without Entry Visa. They should not use Online visa system (ETA) or tourist / business visa to travel to Sri Lanka. Change of visa types is NOT permitted in Sri Lanka.
There is three -step application procedure:
1. Obtaining Entry visa approval from the Department of Immigration in Colombo
2. Collecting Entry Visa endorsement from the nearest Sri Lanka Diplomatic mission and travel to Sri Lanka
3. After arrival in Sri Lanka, collect religious worker visa endorsement on passport at the Department of Immigration in Colombo
Steps to follow:
1. Foreigner intending to work in Sri Lanka should first have work arrangement with employer / religious institution in Sri Lanka
2. Employer should apply to the Department of Immigration for entry visa approval (view sample approval)
3. The Department of Immigration notify the nearest Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission of the entry visa approval
4. Foreigner reports to the nearest Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission to obtains the Entry Visa endorsed on the passport
5. Foreigner arrives in Sri Lanka. At the port of entry, immigration may grant entry for specified period.
6. Upon entering Sri Lanka, before the expiry of the visa given at the port of entry, the passport of the foreigner should be referred to the Department of Immigration for stamping religious worker visa on it.
1. Completed visa Application form
2. Data page of the passport of applicant - Copy
3. Request letter of the sponsoring organization - Original
4. Visa recommendation letter issued by the Line Ministry - Original
Approval for entry visa can be applied at:
- Department of immigration and Emigration - Colombo. Click Here
- Immigration Visitor Services Center in Colombo - Click Here
Immigration Visitor Services Center in Colombo
Approval for entry visa can be applied more conveniently at our Immigration Visitor Services Center in Colombo or please call our helpdesk on +94 11 2 375 972 or email your request to info@immigrationlanka.com.
Our specially trained dedicated team will be ready to assist you in every step in the application process including application preparation, advising on document requirement, fee calculation, submitting application to the Department of Immigration, collection and dispatch of entry visa approval to clients and finally to obtain the visa endorsement on the passport after arrival. For greater convenience of our clients, we also offer many other optional value added services including door to door services.
Our service fee depends on each case and could only be determined after all information is available to us. However, as part of our policy to provide transparent and responsible service, our service fee will be clearly notified before we accept application.
