Guidance

Living in Sri Lanka

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Sri Lanka – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
9 January 2018
Last updated
3 February 2026 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Sri Lanka

Help from the Sri Lankan government

For any questions about moving to or living in Sri Lanka, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British High Commission in Colombo cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Sri Lanka.

Professional help in Sri Lanka

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Sri Lanka, including:

  • lawyers
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Sri Lanka to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Sri Lanka. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Sri Lanka before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which Sri Lankan visa you need to live in Sri Lanka. Read the Sri Lankan government’s guidance on residence visas.

You can get a visa to:

  • work
  • study
  • retire
  • live with family in Sri Lanka
  • invest or do business in Sri Lanka
  • volunteer
  • do religious or charity work

If you want to extend your visa:

Permanent residency

The Sri Lankan authorities no longer accept new applications for permanent residency.

If you already have a Dream Home or Resident guest scheme visa, when it expires you should renew it at the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Citizenship

Sri Lanka only recognises dual citizenship in some cases. This means that you may have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Sri Lankan citizen.  

To find out if you’re eligible for Sri Lankan citizenship:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British High Commission in Colombo cannot help with Sri Lankan visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Healthcare in Sri Lanka

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

Sri Lanka does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Sri Lankan or international providers.

As a resident in Sri Lanka, you can also access healthcare through the Sri Lankan public healthcare system. You will need to pay cash for any treatment and medicines in government and semi-government hospitals.    

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Sri Lanka

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Sri Lanka you need an appropriate residence visa.

The Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration explains the different residence visas available to you. 

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Sri Lanka, you may need to get your British qualifications recognised.

If you got your qualifications outside the UK, you will need to ask the relevant embassy how to get them recognised in Sri Lanka.  

Driving in Sri Lanka

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

You must exchange your UK driving licence for a Sri Lankan driving licence or temporary driving licence. Read guidance on conversion of foreign driving licences in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Department of Motor Traffic provides information on driving in Sri Lanka, including how to:

Read more about road travel in Sri Lanka in the safety and security section of our travel advice for Sri Lanka.

Disabled drivers

Contact the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities for information for disabled drivers in Sri Lanka.

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Sri Lanka, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Sri Lanka so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact your local office of the Sri Lankan Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Sri Lanka. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Sri Lanka.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Sri Lankan pension

Only Sri Lankan citizens can claim a Sri Lankan state pension. There is a separate pension scheme for foreign workers (PDF, 2.9MB).  

If you have worked and made pension contributions in Sri Lanka, when you retire you may be able to claim a lump sum from:

Contact your employer for more information.  

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

Claiming Sri Lankan benefits

Only Sri Lankan citizens are eligible to claim Sri Lankan benefits. 

Buying and renting property in Sri Lanka

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.

Generally, foreign nationals cannot own land in Sri Lanka. Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Sri Lanka if you’re considering buying property or land.

Property disputes

Disputes over property ownership are common in Sri Lanka.

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Sri Lanka if you’re involved in a property dispute.

The British High Commission cannot help in property disputes. Consular staff are not legally trained and cannot give legal advice.

If you’re concerned for your safety, contact the police.

Voting in Sri Lanka

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Sri Lankan elections

You cannot vote in Sri Lankan elections unless you hold Sri Lankan citizenship.

Studying in Sri Lanka

If you plan to study in Sri Lanka, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. Read the Sri Lankan government’s guidance on residence visas.

For more information:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

Most schools in Sri Lanka come under the provincial Departments of Education.

All children aged 5 to 14 must attend school or home school in Sri Lanka.

Childcare

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is responsible for early childhood education and care in Sri Lanka. Services are delivered by the provincial and local governments.     

Most expats use private nurseries or childminders.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Sri Lanka, register the birth with the Sri Lankan authorities. You can do this at your Divisional Secretariat’s Registrar of Births and Deaths. Hospitals can provide guidance on registering births. 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Sri Lanka, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Sri Lanka. For information about LGBT+ rights in Sri Lanka, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Sri Lanka.  

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Sri Lanka.   

Documents for British people in Sri Lanka

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers and other professionals

To find an English-speaking lawyer or other professional in Sri Lanka, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Sri Lanka, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Sri Lankan authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 9 January 2018
Last updated 3 February 2026 + show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. Guide reviewed and updated in full.

  3. Changed the 'last updated' date, all the guidance there is still relevant.

  4. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents