Sri Lanka has rolled out two new visa options that make it easier for travellers to stay longer in the country. One is designed for remote workers. The other gives tourists more time to explore without constant renewals.
Here is what has changed and what it means if you are planning a longer stay.
Digital Nomad Visa: What You Need to Know
This is Sri Lanka’s first official visa for digital nomads who work online for companies or clients outside the country. Until now, that option did not really exist.
How Long Is It Valid
The visa allows you to stay for one year. Renewal is possible.
Government Fee
USD 500 for the first year, per applicant.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Work remotely as an employee, freelancer, or business owner
- Earn income only from outside Sri Lanka
- Run businesses that are not registered in Sri Lanka
- Meet the minimum income level set by the government
What You Are Allowed to Do
Digital Nomad Visa holders can:
- Live long-term in Sri Lanka
- Enrol children in international or private schools
- Use local internet, phone, and utility services
- Work from co-working spaces
- Join IT programs and tourism-related events
- Rent or lease property
- Open and maintain a personal bank account
What you cannot do is take a job with a Sri Lankan company. Local employment is strictly not allowed.
How the Application Works
The process has a few steps:
- Get a recommendation from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy
- Enter Sri Lanka and complete a medical clearance
- Submit the visa application to the Department of Immigration
- Wait for review and approval
- Receive the visa from the Department of Immigration and Emigration
Once approved, digital nomads can legally work online for overseas employers while living in Sri Lanka.
Extended Tourist Visa: Stay Up to 180 Days
In addition to the new digital nomad visa, the tourist visa also gets a boost. The new extended version lasts 180 days, double the usual 90.
New Validity
Up to 180 days, instead of the usual 90 days.
How to Apply
Tourists can apply online using the Sri Lanka Tourist Mobile App through the Electronic Tourist Visa Activation System. Super easy, no embassy hassles.
Government Fees
- SAARC countries: USD 70
- Non-SAARC countries: USD 85
- Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles: USD 50 under bilateral agreements
Remote Work Limits for Tourists
Tourist visa holders are not allowed to work locally. If working remotely, activities must be limited to representing an overseas company or promoting services while in Sri Lanka.
Why Sri Lanka Is Doing This
The government wants to attract remote workers who stay longer and spend locally. Digital nomads bring steady income without taking local jobs, which helps support the economy.
Sri Lanka is the first country in the region to introduce an official digital nomad visa. Countries like Indonesia and Thailand are also exploring similar options.
A Note of Caution on Remote Work Visas
In many countries, remote work rules are unclear or not enforced properly. That can create legal risks for both workers and employers.
Problems can include fines, tax issues, or loss of permission to hire foreign workers. As remote work visas expand, employers and travellers will need to pay closer attention to local immigration and tax rules.
A Push Toward Digital Visa Systems
Sri Lanka’s move to link visas with a mobile app shows a wider trend in Asia toward digital immigration services.
Other countries are doing the same. Singapore has shifted several pass applications to online portals. India now allows passport-related documents to be submitted digitally through DigiLocker instead of in person.
For travellers, this usually means fewer paper forms and faster processing.
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