General information for passport applicants

Please read the information contained in this page carefully.

The Consular Section of the High Commission of Sri Lanka is located at the following address:

13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
Opening Hours – Mon – Fri from 9.30am to 1pm.

Passport applications and other necessary forms and formats can be downloaded from the link http://srilankahc.uk/downloads/

Submission of applications for passports at the Consular Section of the High Commission is strictly by prior appointment.

Appointments for application for passports should be made online via the link https://hclappointments.embassyonline.lk/

Appointments cannot be made over the phone.

We regret our inability to respond to individual queries on passport applications. You can find all necessary information on our website under the relevant menu item and on Frequently Asked Questions page. If there are specific inquiries on the issuance/renewal/alteration of passports which is not covered therein, please contact us via email :  consular.london@mfa.gov.lk We will endeavour to respond to you within 3 working days.

Passport applications must be accompanied by three (03) coloured identical photographs of size 3.5cm x 4.5cm in white background and taken within three months of the application.

The appearance of the applicant should be clearly identifiable in the photo.
The background and the dress should not be in same colour.
The face must be clearly visible without any makeup and other effects.
The ears and forehead must be clearly visible.
The photo should show the applicants’ eyes clearly without spectacles.
Applicants who are required to wear caps and scarves may do so, but the photographs should  have the forehead and ears clearly visible. Shadows of the scarves should not reflect on the face.
(A self-operated photo booth facility is available at the High Commission premises at a cost of £8 payable by card).

Photocopies of all supporting documents made on single side of A4 sheets must be submitted with all applications.

The data page and all pages with endorsements of the current passport must also be submitted.

Photocopies or English translations of documents such as Birth Certificates are not accepted as originals.

If any of the certificates/documents submitted as support documents have been issued in a country other than Sri Lanka, the original certificate / its English translation (if original certificate is not in English) attested by the relevant diplomatic Mission in the UK or Sri Lankan Mission accredited to the country where the  certificate has been issued is required to submit along with the original certificate.

The holders are responsible for applying to renew their passports well in advance before the expiry of the current passport or before the pages for visa endorsements run out.

Passport applications must be submitted in person.

In exceptional circumstances, applications may be sent by post. However, such applicants should get a Solicitor or their GP to certify their passport application.

If the applicant is present at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London to submit the application for a new passport, attestation of signature in the application will be done free of charge.(This applies for the certification in the application).

Applications  for passports in lieu of a lost passport are not accepted by post.  Applicants must attend an interview in person with the application and the originals of the required documents.

For minor Applicants who are unable to sign, parents can write a part of the child’s name in the signature cages. (Parents must not place their signature or write their name on the child’s passport application).
Declaration of the applicant: Applicant must fill and sign the declaration. If the applicant is unable to sign (Minors), a parent can sign the declaration.

Passport fees

Application for a Passport for the first time – £126/-
Renewal of ‘M’ or ‘N’ Series Passports  – £126/-
Renewal of ‘L’,’K’. and ‘J’ Series Passports – £298/-
Application for a Passport in lieu of a lost Passport –
Application for an Emergency Passport – £44 (Ordinary Service)
Application for an Emergency Passport – £68 (One-Day Service)
*  Other applicable charges will apply.

Payment Details:
Method of Payment – Debit/Credit card, Postal Order or Banker’s Draft

(Postal Order/Banker’s Draft should be drawn in favour of Sri Lanka High Commission)

Please note that personal cheques will not be accepted.

An additional amount will be charged if photocopies are made at the High Commission.

Instructions for completing the passport applications in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages are available on the Download page at the link http://srilankahc.uk/downloads/

Instructions for sending the application by post

Applicants who wish to send the completed and certified application should send it along with all the originals of the required documents with one set of photocopies and a Postal Order/Banker’s Draft for the correct amount drawn in favour of Sri Lanka High Commission.

Please provide a self-addressed prepaid special delivery envelope to the weight of 500g along with the application form, to return the new passport along with the previous passport and the other documents submitted.

New Passports of the applicants who send their applications by post without a prepaid special delivery cover/or postage and the supporting documents will be retained until the applicant collects it personally or sends a self-addressed prepaid special delivery envelope.

Special notes:

Submission of forged certificates or any other documents as well as making false declarations is an offence. Such cases will be reported to relevant authorities.

Fees paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.

The High Commission is not responsible for documents lost /damaged in the post.

The issuing authority of new passports is the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka, Battaramulla. The High Commission forwards the applications received at the Consular Section to the Department of Immigration through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once a week. The High Commission cannot guarantee the issuance of passport within a specific time period.

When the High Commission receives the new passports from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the applicant will be informed by sms/email. The passport can be collected only by the applicant. If the applicant is a child below 16 the parent who applied could collect the passport. The Reference Numbers of the passports ready for collection is also posted on the Passport Collection Page of our website at the link http://srilankahc.uk/passport-collection/

If the applicant is unable to visit the High Commission to collect the passport/documents, they may send a self addressed prepaid special delivery envelope together with the current passport along with a request letter and the yellow colour receipt issued by the High Commission to get it by recorded mail.

Applicants are advised to peruse the ‘Alterations & Observations’ pages in the passport for any restrictions imposed by the Immigration Department.

Those who do not have a Sri Lankan National Identity Card and obtain a Passport

Procedure for biometric collection upon arrival in Sri Lanka

The collection of biometrics (fingerprints and digital facial image) from passport applicants has been made mandatory with effect from 1st January 2018 by the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka.

All Sri Lankans between the ages 16-60 years applying for a Sri Lankan Passport through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London are required to provide their bio metric data at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla upon their first entry to Sri Lanka. Please note that this can only be done at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla and there are no facilities to provide biometrics at the airport at the time of first entry or departure.

Please note that without completing this requirement, those who enter the country using a Passport obtained through the  High Commission of Sri Lanka in London will not be able to depart from Sri Lanka.

An applicant who has been issued a new passport after 01 January 2018 through the  High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, should follow the following procedure on arrival in Sri Lanka for the first time after obtaining the new passport.

On arrival in Sri Lanka you should report to the Primary Immigration Counter or directly to the Chief Immigration Officer.

A System Generated Biometric Data Acquisition Form will be issued to you in duplicate with a unique reference number along with a guidance note.

Fill and sign the form in duplicate and produce it to the Senior Authorized Officer at the collection desk. One copy of the form will be returned to you, to be produced to the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the time of biometric enrolment.

The form should be submitted to the Overseas Mission Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration  at Battaramulla or to one of the regional offices (Matara/ Kandy/ Vavuniya/Kurunegala).

Upon providing biometrics, the Department will issue a system generated receipt to confirm the completion of biometrics acquisition process. It is recommended to retain the receipt until your departure from Sri Lanka.

There is no payment for submission of biometrics.

The completion of biometric enrolment process will take approximately 30-45 minutes.

After the completion of this process, the system is updated facilitating the departure of the applicant from Sri Lanka.