Guideline PRV

Guideline for granting Permanent Residence Visa (PRV)

Permanent Residence Visa:

A Permanent Residence Visa is a Visa Status issued to a person of Sri Lanka descent or whose Sri Lankan citizenship has ceased under section 19, 20, 21 of citizenship act or to a non Sri Lankan spouse of Sri Lankan citizens and their children.

1. Who is eligible for the PRV?
   1. a person of Sri Lankan descent or whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20, or 21 of the Citizenship Act (Chapter 349);
   2. a non-Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen whose marriage is subsisted for more than five years at the time of making the application;
   3. the non-Sri Lankan spouse of a deceased Sri Lankan citizen who has not remarried at the time of making the application and whose marriage has subsisted for more than five years at the time of the death of the Sri Lankan citizen;
   4. the non-Sri Lankan spouse of the person referred to in subparagraph (a), whose marriage has subsisted for more than five years at the time of making the application; and
   5. a child of a person referred to above.

   Those falling under the categories (a), (b), and (c) can apply as the primary applicant under this scheme

2. Documentary Evidence:

   For the category (a)

   • Valid foreign passport
   • Police Clearance Report obtained from the present country of citizenship(obtained within one year)
   • Proof of document to confirm the Sri Lanka citizenship held previously 

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka) 
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate,

   A colour photographs of the applicant

   For the category of (b)

   • Valid passport of the foreign spouse
   • Valid passport/National Identity Card of the Sri Lanka spouse, dual citizenship certificate of Sri Lankan spouse
   • Police Clearance Report obtained from the Spouse’s domicile country
   • Marriage Certificate (English Translation certified by the Consular Office of the relevant country, If marriage took place in a foreign country)
   • Request /Consent letter of the Sri Lanka Spouse
   • A colour photograph of the applicant

   For the category of (c)

   • Valid passport of the foreign spouse
   • Police Clearance Certificated of the foreign spouse, obtained within one year from the present country of citizenship
   • Marriage Certificate (If the marriage has been held out of Sri Lanka, certified English Translation from the Consular office of domicile country)
   • Death Certificate of the Sri Lanka Spouse (If the death occurred, out of Sri Lanka, a certified English copy of the death certificate from the Consular Office of the relevant country)
   • A colour photograph of the applicant
   • Proof of document to confirm the citizenship of the deceased Sri Lankan spouse

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate

   For the category of (d)

   • Valid passport of the foreign spouse
   • Police Clearance Report obtained within one year from the Foreign spouse's country of citizenship
   • The Marriage Certificate of the foreign spouse and the Ex-Sri Lanka citizen (if the marriage has taken place out of Sri Lanka, a certified English copy of the marriage certificate obtained from the Consular Office of that country)
   • Request/Consent letter of the Ex-Sri Lankan spouse
   • A colour photograph of the applicant
   • Documentary proof to confirm Sri Lankan citizenship previously held of the spouse

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate

   For the category of (e)

   A child of an Ex Sri Lankan whose Sri Lankan citizenship ceased under section 19,20 or 21 of the citizenship act. (only children under the age of 22 years can apply under this category)

   • Valid passport of the child
   • Birth Certificate of the child (English copy of foreign Birth Certificate from the Consular Office if the birth occurred out of Sri Lanka)
   • Police Clearance Report obtained within one year from the country of foreign citizenship of the child if the child is above the age of 16 or above
   • Proof of documents to confirm the Sri Lankan citizenship previously held of parent(s)

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),

   A child of non Sri Lankan spouse of a Sri Lankan Citizen (only children under the age of 22 years can apply under this category)

   • Valid passport of the child
   • Birth Certificate of the child
   • English copy of foreign Birth Certificate from the Consular Office if the birth occurred out of Sri Lanka
   • Police Clearance Report obtained from the country of foreign citizenship of the child if the child is above the age of 16 or above
   • Proof of documents to confirm the marriage of the parents and citizenship of the Sri Lankan parent

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate (If born out of Sri Lanka, proof for registering as Sri Lanka citizenship),
   v Marriage certificate of parents (if marriage is took place outside Sri Lanka a certified English copy of the marriage certificate obtained from the Consular Office of the relevant country)

   A child of a non-Sri Lankan spouse of the deceased Sri Lankan (only children under the age of 22 years can apply under this category)

   • Valid passport of the child
   • Birth Certificate of the child
   • English copy of foreign Birth Certificate from the Consular Office if the birth occurred out of Sri Lanka
   • Police Clearance Report obtained from the country of foreign citizenship of the child if the child is above the age of 16 or above
   • Proof of documents to confirm the marriage of the parents and the citizenship of Sri Lankan Parent

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate
   v Dual citizenship of the deceased Sri Lankan citizen
   v Marriage certificate of the parents (if outside Sri Lanka a certified English copy of the marriage certificate obtained from the Consular Office of the relevant country)

   A child of a non Sri Lankan spouse of the ex-Sri Lankan (only children under the age of 22 years can apply under this category)

   • Valid passport of the child
   • Birth Certificate of the child
   • English copy of foreign Birth Certificate from the Consular Office if the birth occurred out of Sri Lanka
   • Police Clearance Report obtained from the country of foreign citizenship of the child if the child is above the age of 16 or above
   • Proof of documents to confirm the Sri Lankan citizenship previously held of parent(s)

   v Sri Lankan Citizenship (5(2)) Certificate (If born outside of Sri Lanka)
   v The existing Sri Lanka National Identity Card,
   v Available Sri Lanka Passport(s),
   v Sri Lanka Birth Certificate
   v Marriage certificate of the parents (if outside Sri Lanka a certified English copy of the marriage certificate obtained from the Consular Office of the country)

3. 1. In addition to documentary requirements of the above categories of PRV the prescribed authority shall call additional documents deemed necessary to ascertain identity, citizenship, Relationship and security clearance of the applicant
   2. Biometric features of the applicants should be furnished when the prescribed authority requests the same.

    

4. 1. PRV application and documents submitted by eligible applicants will be forwarded for scrutinizing by the PRV Committee. After committee approval granted, it will be notified to the respective applicant of the decision.
   2. In any circumstances, submission of a PRV application with necessary documents shall not be treated as a qualification to consider for the award/issue of PRV in Sri Lanka.
5. Fee

   For the category (a) where Sri Lanka citizenship ceased		US $ 1000
   For the category (b) foreign spouse of the Sri Lankan citizen		US $ 1000
   For the Subcategory (c) foreign spouse of a Sri Lanka citizen not remarried		US $ 1000
   Subcategory I (d) Foreign spouse of a person’s Sri Lanka citizenship ceased		US $ 400
   For the subcategory (e) children	(per person)	US $ 400

6. (1) Every permanent residence visa shall be substantially issued a card valid for a maximum period of 10 years which is renewable. The prescribed fee for the initial issue of the card is Rs. 1000.00. After the period expires as stipulated on the card a renewal fee of SL Rs. 1000.00 should be paid as renewal fee for the PRV Card.

7. A person granted or issued a permanent residence visa shall be entitled to
   1. enter and remain in Sri Lanka;
   2. have access to education, health, and other public services in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law;
   3. engage in any lawful occupation in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law;
   4. engage in any lawful business or commercial activity; and
   5. inherit, transfer, or alienate any property in Sri Lanka as may be provided for by any other written law.
8. A permanent residence visa granted or issued to a non-Sri Lankan spouse shall cease to be valid

    

   1. Where the marriage contracted between such non-Sri Lankan spouse referred to in 1(d) and the primary applicant referred to in 1(a) is legally dissolved before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the marriage;
   2. Where the marriage of the non-Sri Lankan spouse referred to in 1(b) and the Sri Lankan citizen is legally dissolved before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the marriage; or
   3. Where a person referred to in 1(c) enters into another valid marriage before the expiry of five years from the date of entering into the original marriage, to a person who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Sri Lanka;
9. The prescribed authority may cancel a permanent residence visa granted or issued to any person under the following situations.

    

   1. the permanent residence visa has been obtained using fraud, false representation, or by concealing of any material fact;
   2. the permanent residence visa holder has acted in contravention of the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka;
   3. the permanent residence visa holder has, during any civil strife or war in which Sri Lanka is a party, assisted or associated with the adversary party, in any manner against the interests of Sri Lanka;
   4. after granting the permanent residence visa, the holder has been sentenced to imprisonment by any court in Sri Lanka or any other country for a term exceeding two years;
   5. the permanent residence visa has ceased to be valid under regulation 8; or
   6. it is necessary to do so in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka, or the interests of the national security of Sri Lanka, and
   7. When and where a request was made in the prescribed form to cancel the PRV by the person already granted a Sri Lanka PRV or issued a Sri Lanka PRV under the sub-categories I (a), (b), and (c).
10. The comprehensive details on applying for Sri Lanka PRV were published on Extra Ordinary Gazette 2383/17 dated 07th May 2024 which is downloadable (http://documents.gov.lk//)