This page has the official fees, forms and rules. For the queue, the timings and what the day itself is like, read the companion page: NIC One-Day Service at Battaramulla: a first-hand account →
Lost your NIC? What to do
Lost your NIC? Go to the nearest police station first and get a police report. Then fill in Form DRP 1, 7, 8, have your Grama Niladhari (GN, your village officer) attest it, and get it counter-signed at your Divisional Secretariat. After that you choose: normal service for LKR 1,120, or One-Day Service for LKR 3,000.
- Get a police report. Report the lost NIC at the nearest police station and keep the original copy of the complaint. If DRP can't find your NIC number in its records, it will ask for written proof that you used that NIC.
- Fill in the form, gather your documents, then see your GN. Fill in Form DRP 1, 7, 8, including Cage 10 (your lost card's number and how you lost it). Attach your birth certificate, the police report and a photo slip from a DRP-registered studio. Sign the form in front of your Grama Niladhari. If you live on an estate, the Estate Superintendent can attest it instead.
- Get the Divisional Secretariat counter-signature. Take the attested form to the ID Card Branch of your Divisional Secretariat (DS).
- Choose normal or One-Day Service.
- Normal service: LKR 1,000 fee plus LKR 120 registered post, so LKR 1,120. DRP says the card is mailed within 3 months.
- One-Day Service: LKR 1,000 fee plus LKR 2,000 surcharge, so LKR 3,000. Go to DRP Battaramulla (9th Floor, Terminal D, 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM) or the Galle office. Bring your original documents.
- Get your new NIC. Normal service comes by registered post. For One-Day Service, you wait for an SMS and collect the card at Terminal A. DRP says this happens within 3 hours of handing over your application.
Want to know what the day is really like? Read lost NIC One-Day Service at Battaramulla: real timings. The full document list is in the "Lost NIC" tab of the checklist below.
Source: fees from the DRP Fee Revision Notice, effective 1 Nov 2022; police report, certifying officers, originals for One-Day and Terminal D hours from drp.gov.lk/en/normal.php; timings from the DRP FAQ (checked 27 Sep 2026).
NIC documents checklist (by situation)
Pick your situation below. You'll see which documents, forms and proofs you need for your ID card application.
For school students attaining 15 years applying through their school principal, or private candidates applying through the Grama Niladhari within 1 year of turning 15.
Duly completed Form DRP 1, 7, 8 issued free of charge through Schools, Grama Niladharis, or Divisional Secretariats.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)Original Birth Certificate or extract of the birth registry certified by the Additional District Registrar (ADR).
Photo reference slip with unique barcode issued by a DRP-registered studio within the past 6 months. Physical paper photos are not accepted.
Certification by School Principal or Parivenadhipathi (for school applicants) OR residential Grama Niladhari + Divisional Secretary counter-signature (for private candidates).
Required only if original birth certificate is unavailable, accompanied by school leaving certificate or principal's date-of-birth certification.
Optional: frequently requested by schools or Grama Niladharis for local administrative records, but NOT an official statutory DRP mandate.
For citizens aged 16 or above applying for their first identity card after more than 1 year from turning 15. Requires statutory late declaration and penalty.
Duly completed Form DRP 1, 7, 8 certified by residential Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretary.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)Official declaration form explaining non-application within 1 year of attaining 15 years and confirming no previous card was issued.
Download Form D.R.P/OP/02/3 (PDF)Original Birth Certificate or extract of birth registry certified by the Additional District Registrar.
Digital photo reference slip with barcode issued by a registered studio within 6 months.
Official receipt proving payment of LKR 2,500 fine paid to the Shroff of the relevant Divisional Secretariat or DRP One-Day counter.
Mandatory physical certification by the residential Grama Niladhari and counter-signature by the Divisional Secretary.
Needed only if: the birth certificate is unavailable, or delayed registration needs corroborating evidence of name and birth date (DRP normal service rules).
Optional: not explicitly listed on the current DRP portal; retained strictly as optional supporting corroboration.
For citizens whose NIC has been lost, stolen or misplaced. You need a police report first.
Form DRP 1, 7, 8 with Cage 10 completed detailing the lost card number and circumstances of loss.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)The original copy of your police complaint about the lost NIC. DRP says to report the loss immediately at the nearest police station.
Original Birth Certificate or extract of birth registry certified by Additional District Registrar.
Digital photo reference slip with barcode issued by a registered studio within 6 months.
Attested by your residential Grama Niladhari, or by the Estate Superintendent if you live on an estate. Then counter-signed by the Divisional Secretary.
Optional: helpful to accelerate identity verification and number trace in DRP database, but never legally mandatory.
For cards physically broken, cracked, or where details/photo have degraded. Officially processed under DRP amendment rules at LKR 500 upon physical card surrender.
Form DRP 1, 7, 8 completed for card replacement under Section 17 of Act No. 32 of 1968.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)Mandatory physical surrender of the existing damaged or defaced identity card to DRP.
Original Birth Certificate or extract certified by Additional District Registrar.
Digital photo reference slip with barcode issued by a registered studio within 6 months.
Attested by residential Grama Niladhari (or Estate Superintendent for estate residents) and counter-signed by the Divisional Secretary.
For citizens altering personal data on their identity card. The existing physical card must be surrendered.
Form DRP 1, 7, 8 with Cage 1 and Cage 3 completed with updated particulars.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)The existing identity card must be handed over for cancellation.
Original Birth Certificate or extract certified by Additional District Registrar.
Digital photo reference slip with barcode issued by a registered studio within 6 months.
Attested by residential Grama Niladhari (or Estate Superintendent for estate residents) and counter-signed by the Divisional Secretary. Under Instruction 6, Grama Niladhari attestation proves residential address without needing extra utility bills.
Needed only if: a married woman is taking her husband's name or surname.
Needed only if: your legal name was altered through a deed poll under Sri Lankan civil law.
Needed only if: you are designating or altering your profession/occupation in Cage 6 (Instruction 9.iv; service letter not older than 6 months).
Needed only if: you are residing at a temporary address different from your permanent residence.
Download Form D.R.P./OP/02/07 (PDF)Optional: under Instruction 6, Grama Niladhari attestation suffices; bills are purely optional supporting documents.
For Sri Lankan citizens who acquired dual citizenship under Section 19(2) or 19(3) of Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948, applying when in Sri Lanka.
Form DRP 1, 7, 8 with Cage 9 completed with Dual Citizenship Certificate details.
Download Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (PDF)Original or certified copy of the Dual Citizenship Certificate issued under Section 19(2) or 19(3) of Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948.
Copy of bio-data and endorsement pages of the current foreign passport.
Original Birth Certificate or extract certified by Additional District Registrar.
Digital photo reference slip with barcode issued by a registered studio within 6 months.
Previous NIC handed over to DRP with completed Handover Receipt Form DRP/OP/01/2 (under Section 19(2)).
Download Form DRP/OP/01/2 (PDF)Address confirmation attested by Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretary (address of close relative/friend accepted if no permanent local residence).
Download Form D.R.P./OP/01/04 (PDF)Needed only if: you held a Sri Lankan passport before dual citizenship (copy of bio-data and endorsement pages).
Needed only if: applying under husband's name or surname.
Needed only if: the period between obtaining dual citizenship and applying for NIC exceeds 6 months.
Download Form D.R.P/OP/02/3 (PDF)Optional: address is officially verified via Form D.R.P./OP/01/04; external utility bills or leases are optional.
NIC fees & One-Day Service charges
Fees were revised by the Cabinet of Ministers, effective 1 November 2022. One-Day Service adds an LKR 2,000 surcharge and no postage.
Fees follow DRP's official revision, effective 1 November 2022. One-Day Service adds an LKR 2,000 surcharge to the base fee, with no postage charge. Normal service adds LKR 120 for registered post. A registered photo studio can charge no more than LKR 400 (Gazette, December 2023). How long it takes: DRP says a normal-service card is mailed within 3 months of handing over your application. A One-Day card can be collected within 3 hours of handing over. If a normal application has been pending for more than 1 month, you can ask at the DRP Front Office.
| Application / Service Category | Base DRP Fee | Postage (Normal) | One-Day Surcharge | Total Normal Fee | Total One-Day Fee | How long it takes (DRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Time Registration (Age 15–16) | LKR 200.00 | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 320.00 | LKR 2,200.00 | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| First-Time Registration (Delayed Age 16+) | LKR 200.00 (+ LKR 2,500 penalty) | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 2,820.00 | LKR 4,700.00 | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| Duplicate of Lost NIC | LKR 1,000.00 | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 1,120.00 | LKR 3,000.00 | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| Amendment of Particulars (Name / Job / Address) | LKR 500.00 | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 620.00 | LKR 2,500.00 | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| Replacement of Damaged / Defaced NIC | LKR 500.00 (under Amended NIC) | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 620.00 | LKR 2,500.00 | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| Dual Citizen NIC (under Section 19(2)) | LKR 200.00 | LKR 120.00 | LKR 2,000.00 | LKR 320.00 | LKR 2,200.00 (+ 2,500 if > 6 mos) | Normal: mailed within 3 months. One-Day: within 3 hours |
| ICAO Standard Digital Photo (Studio Cap) | LKR 400.00 (to studio) | N/A | N/A | LKR 400.00 | LKR 400.00 | Instant Photo Reference Slip at registered studio |
How much is the NIC One-Day Service? One-Day Service costs the normal DRP fee plus an LKR 2,000 surcharge, with no postage. A lost NIC costs LKR 3,000 in total. A first-time NIC costs LKR 2,200. An amended NIC, or a replacement for a damaged card, costs LKR 2,500. These prices are from DRP's fee revision effective 1 Nov 2022.
Normal service adds LKR 120 for registered post instead. The photo studio charges up to LKR 400 on top.
Source: DRP Fee Revision Notice (fees); drp.gov.lk/en/normal.php (postage); Gazette Extraordinary No. 2363/22 (studio cap); DRP FAQ (3 months / 3 hours); DRP Front Office (1-month inquiry).
Old vs new NIC number (12-digit format)
Older NICs have a 9-digit number that ends in the letter V or X, such as 855420159V. Newer NICs use a 12-digit number with no letter, such as 198554200159. It's the same number written a new way. DRP says the new card also shows your old number on the back, so you don't lose it.
How DRP turns an old number into a new one
- Remove the letter V or X at the end.
- Add a 0 before the last four digits.
- Write the birth year in full at the start (85 becomes 1985).
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Old NIC number | 855420159V |
| 1. Remove the V | 855420159 |
| 2. Add a 0 before the last four digits | 8554200159 |
| 3. Write the year in full | 198554200159 |
Source: DRP FAQ (worked example 855420159v to 198554200159, checked 27 Sep 2026).
What does my NIC number mean? (date of birth and gender)
The old number is built from your birth details. The first 2 digits are your birth year. The next 3 digits are the day of the year you were born, with 500 added for women. Then come a serial number, a check digit and the letter at the end. The new 12-digit number keeps the same parts, with the year written in full.
For DRP's example number 855420159V: the year is 1985, and the day is 542. Because it's over 500, the holder is a woman, and 542 − 500 = 42, the 42nd day of the year, which is 11 February.
Source: ICTA Lanka Interoperability Framework, Discussion Paper on SLIN, prepared with the Registration of Persons Department (number structure, read 29 Sep 2026 from the archived copy because the live site was down).
Important: ICAO Digital Photograph Standard
How to get an NIC step by step
Follow these steps in order.
Get the NIC application form (Form DRP 1, 7, 8)
The form is free. Get it from your school (if you're a student), your Grama Niladhari (GN) or the ID Card Branch of your Divisional Secretariat. You can also download the PDF from the DRP website. If you print it, use clean A4 paper. Fill it in with a blue or black ballpoint pen.
Get your photo taken at a DRP-registered studio
The studio takes an ICAO-standard digital photo and uploads it to DRP. You get a printed Photo Reference Slip with a barcode. The slip is valid for 6 months. The studio can charge no more than LKR 400.
Fill in the form and attach your documents
Write Cage 1 in Sinhala or Tamil. Write Cage 2 in English block letters. Attach your birth certificate (the original, or an extract certified by the Additional District Registrar) and your photo slip. Then add the documents for your situation: a police report for a lost NIC, for example, or your current NIC for an amendment. Taking your husband's name? Attach a certified marriage certificate. Adding your profession? Attach a service letter less than 6 months old.
Sign in front of your certifying officer
Who that is depends on you. Students: your school principal or Parivenadhipathi. Estate residents: the Estate Superintendent. Everyone else: your residential Grama Niladhari. If your GN attests the form, you don't need utility bills to prove your address (Instruction 6 on the form).
Get the Divisional Secretariat counter-signature
Take the attested form to the ID Card Branch of your Divisional Secretariat (DS). They counter-sign and frank it. If you owe a fine, such as the LKR 2,500 late penalty, pay it at the DS Shroff (the cash counter) and keep the receipt.
Submit by normal service or One-Day Service
Normal service: submit through your GN or DS and pay LKR 120 for registered post. One-Day Service: take your original documents to DRP Head Office in Battaramulla (9th Floor, Terminal D, 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday to Friday) or to the Galle Provincial Office, and pay the LKR 2,000 One-Day surcharge. Before you travel, check the service is running. See the Head Office card below.
Get your card
Normal service: DRP posts the card to your home by registered post. DRP says this happens within 3 months of handing over your application. If it hasn't come after 1 month, you can ask the DRP Front Office. One-Day Service: wait in Terminal C. You get an SMS when the card is ready, and you collect it at Terminal A. DRP says you can get it within 3 hours of handing over your application. Bring your acknowledgment slip and a photo ID (or passport).
Applying for a passport next? See the Sri Lanka passport application guide.
Source: drp.gov.lk/en/normal.php (form, certifying officers, originals, Terminal D hours); DRP FAQ (3 months / 3 hours); DRP Front Office (1-month inquiry); fees as in the fee section.
How do I check my NIC application status online?
DRP has an official NIC Portal at eservices.drp.gov.lk/nic-portal, linked from the DRP website (drp.gov.lk). On the portal's sign-in page you enter your application number and your registered mobile number, and DRP sends a one-time password to that number. The DRP home page links to the portal as "The Confirmation letter of National Identity Card details", for "applicants above 15 years of age from 2015.02.01". If a normal-service application is still pending after 1 month, you can also contact the DRP Front Office.
- What you need: your application number and the mobile number you registered when you applied.
- Front Office: 011 522 6108 or ac_ods@drp.lk, for normal applications pending more than 1 month.
- Use the official link only. Open the portal from drp.gov.lk, not from a link on another website.
You can't apply for an NIC online. Every application goes through your certifying officer. See the FAQ below.
Source: portal sign-in page and the link on drp.gov.lk/en/home.php (checked 27 Sep 2026); Front Office from drp.gov.lk/en/front_office.php.
Identity Card Offices (DRP): Locations & Contact Numbers
One-Day Service is available only at the DRP Head Office (the "ID office") in Battaramulla and the Galle Provincial Office. You make normal applications through your local Divisional Secretariat: DRP has ID card units in all 335 Divisional Secretariats.
DRP Head Office (Battaramulla)
Prior appointment NOT required (Walk-in: Mon–Fri)9th Floor, "Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla
Southern Provincial Office (Galle)
Prior appointment NOT required (Walk-in: Mon–Fri)Kadawatsatara Divisional Secretariat Premises, Ground Floor, Wakwella Road, Galle
North Western Provincial Office (Kurunegala)
Regional Walk-in Intake (Mon–Fri)3rd Floor, New Commercial Complex, Kurunegala
Northern Provincial Office (Vavuniya)
Regional Walk-in Intake (Mon–Fri)Vavuniya Kachcheri Complex, Vavuniya
Central Provincial Office (Nuwara Eliya)
Regional Walk-in Intake (Mon–Fri)No. 95/26/A, Lady McCallum Road, Hawa Eliya, Nuwara Eliya
Eastern Provincial Office (Batticaloa)
Regional Walk-in Intake (Mon–Fri)Manmunai North Divisional Secretariat Premises, Batticaloa
Divisional Secretariats (335 Island-wide)
Walk-in during public office hours (Mon–Fri)Local Divisional Secretariat of your residential area
Getting or replacing your NIC if you live abroad
You can't apply for an NIC from abroad. DRP requires every application to go through a certifying officer in Sri Lanka, such as the Grama Niladhari of your division, and it doesn't take applications online. Sri Lankans living overseas apply, replace or correct their NIC on a visit to Sri Lanka.
Getting your NIC on a short visit
- One-Day Service: DRP issues the card within 3 hours of handing in the application, at the Head Office in Battaramulla or the Galle Provincial Office. Bring the originals of every document, as DRP requires for this service. See fees and One-Day charges.
- Normal service: DRP posts the card to your address in Sri Lanka within 3 months. That may be after you've left.
- Plan to collect it yourself. DRP lets a parent, spouse or next of kin collect the card only for a disabled, very old, hospitalised or seriously ill person, or someone who finds it extremely hard to reach the office, with a letter authorised by the Grama Niladhari.
Dual citizens: do I need a new NIC?
- Dual citizenship under section 19(2): yes. You lose Sri Lankan citizenship by birth, so DRP cancels your old NIC number. Apply for a new NIC after you get dual citizenship. It will have a different number, and DRP issues a letter confirming the new number.
- Dual citizenship under section 19(3): no. Your citizenship by birth isn't cancelled, so you don't have to reapply. If you later replace or amend your NIC, you keep the same number on the new 12-digit smart card.
A foreign mission asking for proof of your NIC number? DRP issues number confirmation letters for foreign missions for Rs 500, once you have the smart card. See Old vs new NIC number. Renewing your passport from abroad? See renewing a Sri Lankan passport from abroad.
Source: DRP, Obtaining the NIC (certifying officer; originals for One-Day Service) and FAQ (One-Day within 3 hours; normal service within 3 months; who can collect; dual citizenship under 19(2) and 19(3); confirmation letters). Checked 2 Oct 2026.
NIC application form (DRP 1, 7, 8) & official links
Official forms and portals from the Department for Registration of Persons (DRP):
Sources & last checked
Checked against Department for Registration of Persons (DRP). Every source for this topic, with dates, is on our verified sources.
LankaSolve is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with the Department for Registration of Persons. Official fees, procedures, and processing rules are determined exclusively by DRP Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for an NIC online?
No. There's no full online application for an NIC in Sri Lanka. You get Form DRP 1, 7, 8 (free, or download it) and submit it through your certifying officer: your Grama Niladhari, school principal or Estate Superintendent. DRP's NIC Portal is a sign-in service for people who already have an application number, not a way to apply. See 'How do I check my NIC application status online?' above.
How much does it cost to replace a lost or damaged NIC?
A lost NIC costs LKR 1,120 by normal service or LKR 3,000 by One-Day Service. A damaged or defaced NIC costs LKR 620 by normal service or LKR 2,500 by One-Day Service, and you must hand in the damaged card. Normal-service prices include LKR 120 registered post. The photo studio charges up to LKR 400 on top.
How long does it take to get an NIC?
By normal service, DRP says your card is mailed within 3 months of handing over your application. By One-Day Service, DRP says you can collect it within 3 hours of handing over. If a normal application has been pending for more than 1 month, you can ask at the DRP Front Office.
How do I check my NIC application status online?
DRP's official NIC Portal at eservices.drp.gov.lk/nic-portal, linked from drp.gov.lk, is where applicants sign in with their application number and registered mobile number (DRP sends a one-time password to that number). The DRP home page links to it for the confirmation letter of NIC details. For a normal application pending more than 1 month, you can also call the Front Office on 011 522 6108. Details are in the section above.
How do I renew or upgrade my old NIC?
DRP doesn't have a separate renewal service. To get a new card, you apply for an amended NIC. DRP says to apply straight away if your card is damaged, the information on it is illegible or about to become illegible, or your details have changed or are wrong. You use Form DRP 1, 7, 8 through your Grama Niladhari (counter-signed at the Divisional Secretariat) or Estate Superintendent, and hand in your old card. It costs LKR 620 by normal service or LKR 2,500 by One-Day Service.
What do I do if I lose my NIC?
Report it at the nearest police station and get a police report. Then have Form DRP 1, 7, 8 attested by your Grama Niladhari and counter-signed at your Divisional Secretariat. Apply by normal service (LKR 1,120) or One-Day Service (LKR 3,000). The five steps are under 'Lost your NIC? What to do'.
How do I find my NIC number?
It's printed on your card. If you have a new card with a 12-digit number, DRP says your old number is printed on the back. DRP also issues NIC number confirmation letters for a government fee of Rs 500, for example for submission to foreign missions (you need the smart card first) or for a deceased relative's number. See 'Old vs new NIC number (12-digit format)'.
Where is One-Day Service available and what are the hours?
One-Day Service is available at the DRP Head Office in Battaramulla (9th Floor, Suhurupaya) and the Southern Provincial Office in Galle. At Battaramulla, documents are accepted at Terminal D between 7:30 AM and 12:30 PM; you then wait in Terminal C and get an SMS notification when your card is ready for collection at Terminal A.