Permanent Residence Visa
PRV
Sri Lanka's Permanent Residence Visa is open to people of Sri Lankan descent or former citizens, foreign spouses of Sri Lankan citizens married more than five years, and some widowed spouses and children. Applications are reviewed by a PRV Committee. Holders get a renewable card valid for up to 10 years and may live, work and do business in Sri Lanka as other laws allow.
1 entry rule for Sri Lanka based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over who have visited or transited (12h+) a yellow fever risk country need a valid certificate on arrival. Without one: may be quarantined until the certificate becomes valid; the Immigration page says those without it will not be allowed to enter.
Quarantine Unit, Ministry of Health Sri Lanka: FAQs Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka: Yellow fever vaccination certificate WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Sri Lanka
Money
3
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee
LKR
Sri Lankan Rupee
Cost of living
27
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
6–36%
Income tax (national)
Personal relief LKR 1.8 million; 36% applies to income above about LKR 4.3 million (gross of relief).
Living
1
Happiness
#132 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Former Sri Lankan citizens and people of Sri Lankan descent, long-married foreign spouses of Sri Lankans, and their children.
Eligibility
(a) Descent or former citizen
A person of Sri Lankan descent, or whose citizenship ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act.
(b) Spouse of a citizen
You need to be a foreign spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen, with a marriage that has lasted more than five years when you apply.
- Marriage length is counted at the time of applying
- Category (b) can be a primary applicant
Official wording
Foreign spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen whose marriage has subsisted for more than five years at the time of applying.
(c) Widowed spouse
You need to be the foreign spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan citizen, not remarried, with a marriage of more than five years at the time of death.
- You must not have remarried
- Category (c) can be a primary applicant
Official wording
Foreign spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan citizen who has not remarried and whose marriage lasted more than five years at the time of death.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirement(d) Spouse of a former citizen
- Document checklistPRV application form and personal particulars form for security clearance
- FeesCategories (a), (b) and (c)
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 more requirements
- 5 documents
- 4 fees
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Sri Lanka
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Sri Lanka
- Visit & tourismTourist visa via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), with extensions
- StudyResidence visa - education category
- Work permitsResidence visa - employment category
- FamilyResidence visa for the foreign spouse and children of a Sri Lankan citizen
- Status in-countryDigital Nomad Visa
- Investors & entrepreneursResidence visa - investor category
