Sri Lanka Just Launched A New Digital Nomad Visa, Here’s How To Get It
Sri Lanka has introduced a digital nomad visa, allowing remote workers to reside on the island while maintaining overseas employment.
Sri Lanka has introduced a digital nomad visa, allowing remote workers to reside on the island while maintaining overseas employment.
What Is Sri Lanka's Digital Nomad Visa?
The digital nomad visa is a one-year residence permit for remote workers, freelancers, and business owners earning income from outside Sri Lanka. Visa holders must not engage in local employment.
Visa holders can rent property, open local bank accounts, enroll children in international schools, and access co-working spaces. The visa requires annual renewal, contingent on meeting eligibility criteria.
Applicants must be 18 or older. Work remotely for a foreign employer or be self-employed, with no local clients. No income from Sri Lankan sources. Meet specified income thresholds. Pass health, security, and background checks.
Applicants can include spouses and dependents under the same visa.
Sri Lanka has introduced a digital nomad visa, allowing remote workers to reside on the island while maintaining overseas employment.
The income requirement is $2,000 per month for the primary applicant. Applicants with more than two children as dependents must earn an additional $500 per month for each child. Proof of income from overseas clients is required.
The visa costs $500 per year for the main applicant, spouse, and each dependent, and is non-refundable.
The application requires a comprehensive document package submitted to Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration, including:
Completed visa application form. Formal request letter. Passport valid for at least six months. Two recent passport-sized photographs. Marriage certificate and birth certificates for dependents. Security and medical clearance reports. Police clearance certificate issued within the last three months. International health insurance valid in Sri Lanka. Recommendation from the Ministry of Digital Economy. Proof of minimum monthly income and its source.
Visa holders can reside in Sri Lanka long-term, rent accommodation, open bank accounts, use co-working spaces, and enroll children in schools. They are prohibited from working for Sri Lankan companies or earning local income.
The introduction of the digital nomad visa is part of Sri Lanka's strategy to boost the economy by attracting foreign workers and capital, particularly in the wake of the economic challenges faced since 2022.
Based on reporting by techround.co.uk.