This guide covers the official price, forms and rules. If you want to know what the queue is like, how long the day takes and when the passport is actually in your hand, read the companion page. What to expect at the Battaramulla passport office →
Interactive Required Documents Checklist
Select your application category below to see only the documents relevant to your situation:
For Sri Lankan citizens aged 16 and above applying for their very first passport.
Download and print laser-sharp on clean A4 paper. Fill in English block letters.
Download Form K-35AMust be the original birth certificate issued by the Registrar General's Department (or certified copy issued within reasonable validity period) with a clear photocopy.
Original NIC issued by the Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) with clear photocopy of both sides. No NIC yet, or lost it? See the NIC guide (new, lost and One-Day Service).
NIC guide (new, lost and One-Day Service)Visit an Authorized Photo Studio. The studio uploads your photo directly to the Department and gives you a printed receipt with a barcode/reference. Valid for 6 months.
Required only if you wish to apply under your married surname instead of maiden surname.
Where applicable, an educational certificate related to the profession along with an acceptable document confirming service (service letter/certificate), including photocopies of both, if your profession is to be recorded in the passport.
Original Dual Citizenship Certificate, foreign passport, and photocopies of both (applicable only if dual citizen).
For applicants whose current or previous passport has expired, is expiring, or has run out of visa pages.
Original current passport plus a clean photocopy of the bio-data page (pages 2 and 3) and page 4/5 if amended.
Original birth certificate with one photocopy.
Original NIC with photocopy of both sides.
Obtained from an Authorized Photo Studio within the preceding 6 months.
Required if your surname or marital status has changed since the previous passport was issued.
Where applicable, an educational certificate related to the profession along with an acceptable document confirming service, including photocopies of both, if adding or changing profession.
For applicants whose valid Sri Lankan passport has been lost or stolen.
Original complaint report made to your local police station specifically citing the lost passport number. (If lost passport number is unknown, obtain it first from Head Office or any Regional Office).
Official Department complaint form reporting the circumstances of loss.
Download Lost Passport FormOriginal birth certificate with photocopy.
Original NIC with photocopy.
Issued by an Authorized Photo Studio within the last 6 months.
Payable in addition to passport fee: LKR 20,000 if passport was issued less than 1 year ago; LKR 15,000 if issued over 1 year ago (provided validity has not lapsed).
Required only if the passport was lost while abroad and you returned to Sri Lanka using an Emergency Non-Machine Readable Passport (NMRP).
For children under 16. The passport is valid for 3 years, or for 10 years if the parents ask for it. The 10-year passport costs the same as an adult passport.
Child's original birth certificate (or probable age certificate) with a clear photocopy.
Digital photograph of the child taken at an Authorized Photo Studio.
Original NICs of both parents with photocopies of both sides.
Photocopies of bio-data pages of both parents' current passports (if held).
Written letters of consent signed by both parents permitting issuance of passport to the minor.
Under Department instructions, both parents should be present to hand over the application at the counter.
If a parent is living abroad, their letter of consent must be certified/endorsed by the relevant Sri Lankan Embassy or High Commission in that country.
Required if one parent is deceased.
Required in cases of divorce or legal separation where sole custody has been granted by court order.
If the child's name was added to a parent's passport, it has to be removed first. Use Form C from the Department's Applications page.
Download Form CRequired if the child was born overseas outside Sri Lanka.
Passport Price in Sri Lanka (2026): Normal vs One-Day
A Sri Lankan passport costs LKR 10,000 for Normal Service or LKR 20,000 for the One-Day Service in 2026. That is the price of an adult (16+) passport valid for 10 years. A child under 16 pays LKR 3,000 or LKR 9,000 for a 3-year passport. Parents can ask for a 10-year child passport instead, at the adult price.
| Service | Adult 16+ (10 years) | Child under 16 (3 years) | Child under 16 (10 years) | How long it takes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Service | LKR 10,000 | LKR 3,000 | LKR 10,000 | About 30 working days, sent by post | Head Office (Battaramulla) and regional offices (Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, Jaffna) |
| One-Day Service (Urgent) | LKR 20,000 | LKR 9,000 | LKR 20,000 | Same day, collect at the counter | Head Office ("Suhurupaya", Battaramulla). Regional offices: see "Can I get a one-day passport outside Colombo?" below |
These are the prices for the ordinary passport, which the Department calls the All-Countries passport.
Applying online? The online Urgent price is different: LKR 15,000. See Can I apply for or renew a passport online?
Source: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=8 (checked 28 Oct 2026).
Can I apply for or renew a passport online?
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, public notice effective 29 Oct 2026 (read 28 Oct 2026).
If you're 16 or older, live in Sri Lanka and have had a passport before, you can renew online through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's Online Passport Application system. You still go to an office once to give your fingerprints. You can't use the online system to replace a lost passport.
Online or walk-in: price and delivery (adult passport)
| How you apply | Price | When it is issued | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online, Normal | LKR 10,000 | Sent within 14 to 21 days of your fingerprints | Registered post |
| Online, Urgent | LKR 15,000 | Sent within 3 days of your fingerprints | Speed Post (SL Post courier) |
| Walk-in, Normal Service | LKR 10,000 | About 30 working days | Post |
| Walk-in, One-Day Service | LKR 20,000 | Same day | Collect at the Battaramulla Head Office |
Why is Urgent LKR 15,000 online but LKR 20,000 at the counter? They're two different services. Online Urgent is sent within 3 days of your fingerprints by Speed Post. The walk-in One-Day Service puts the passport in your hand the same day at Battaramulla. Both prices appear on official Department sources.
How to apply online
- Go to the Online Passport Application system: eservices.immigration.gov.lk/onlinetd/OnlineTD/.
- Fill in the application. Upload clear scans of your NIC and birth certificate as JPEG files, each under 5 MB.
- Choose Normal or Urgent. Pay online by card, or choose "Pay at bank" (Bank of Ceylon).
- Give your fingerprints and signature in person. You can do this at the Head Office, a regional office, or a Divisional Secretariat unit of the Department for Registration of Persons (a DS-DRP unit). There are about 50 DS-DRP units; the Department's online instructions list them by district.
- If you already have a Studio Acknowledgement Note, enter its number in the online form. If you still need a photo, a DS-DRP unit can take it for LKR 350.
- Wait for delivery. Urgent passports come by Speed Post. Normal passports come by registered post.
Lost your passport? Apply in person with the lost-passport documents from the checklist above.
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Instructions to Apply Online for a Passport (Local Applicants), PDF (undated; read 27 Sep 2026); delivery times from the Department's public notice effective 29 Oct 2026; Government Information Centre notice "Online Passport Renewal Now Available", 2 Feb 2026. Walk-in prices: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=8.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Follow these verified stages, in order, to complete your passport application smoothly:
Choose your service and where to apply
Choose Normal Service (LKR 10,000, about 30 working days by post) or the One-Day Service (LKR 20,000, collect the same day). Normal Service is available at the Head Office and the regional offices. Same-day collection is confirmed at the Battaramulla Head Office. For regional offices, see "Can I get a one-day passport outside Colombo?" below. If you're 16 or older and live in Sri Lanka, you can also apply online (see "Can I apply for or renew a passport online?" above).
Check Appointment Rules for Your Chosen Office
Under the Department's public notice effective 29 October 2026: if you are visiting a Regional Office (Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Vavuniya, or Matara), you are REQUIRED to book an appointment online via eservices.immigration.gov.lk/MakeAppointments/. If visiting the Battaramulla Head Office, prior appointment is NOT required.
Get a digital photo from an Authorized Studio
Go to an Authorized Photo Studio. The studio uploads your photo straight to the Immigration system and gives you a printed Studio Acknowledgement Note with a barcode. Printed photos are rejected at the counter. See "What are the passport photo requirements?" below.
Download and fill in Form K-35A (K35A)
Download Form K-35A from the Department's Applications page. Print it with a laser printer on clean A4 paper. Fill in every section in English capital letters.
Gather Originals and Photocopies
Use the checklist above to assemble all original documents (Birth Certificate, NIC, previous passport, consent letters) along with clear photocopies.
Attend the Department Counter & Submit Documents
Visit your scheduled Regional Office or the Battaramulla Head Office. Present your completed Form K-35A, Studio Acknowledgement Note, and supporting documents for initial verification.
Biometric Enrolment (Fingerprints)
Applicants between 16 and 60 years of age will have their digital fingerprints captured in person at the biometric counter.
Fee Payment
Pay the applicable government fee at the designated departmental payment counter upon application submission.
Receive Your Passport
For Urgent One-Day service, collect your passport in the afternoon/evening at the Battaramulla Head Office counter. For Normal service, your passport is dispatched to your registered address via postal delivery within approximately 30 working days.
Source: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=24 (Applications page with Form K-35A; checked 28 Oct 2026).
Passport renewal in Sri Lanka: what do I need?
To renew a Sri Lankan passport, use the same Form K-35A as for a first passport. Bring your current or previous passport with a photocopy of the bio-data page, your original birth certificate, your original NIC and a new Studio Acknowledgement Note. If you're 16 or older and live in Sri Lanka, you can also renew online.
- Full list: open the Renewal / Expired tab in the documents checklist.
- Online renewal: see Can I apply for or renew a passport online?
- Living abroad: see Renewing a Sri Lankan passport from abroad.
- Price: see Passport Price in Sri Lanka (2026). The Department lists one processing fee for new and renewal passports.
Source: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=8 and pages_e.php?id=24 (Form K-35A, new and renewal; checked 28 Oct 2026); gic.gov.lk/news/online-passport (2 Feb 2026).
What are the passport photo requirements?
Sri Lankan passports use a digital photo only. An Authorized Photo Studio takes the photo and uploads it to the Department. You get a printed Studio Acknowledgement Note with a barcode, valid for 6 months. Printed photos are rejected at the counter. If you apply online, a DS-DRP unit can take your photo for LKR 350.
- Find a studio: Authorized Photo Studios list (immigration.gov.lk).
- The photo must meet the ICAO standard. The studio handles this for you.
- Bring the Studio Acknowledgement Note with your application. Get a new one if yours is more than 6 months old.
Source: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=7 (digital photo, 6-month validity, ICAO standard); immigration.gov.lk/studio_e.php; online instructions PDF (DS-DRP photo LKR 350). All checked 27 Sep 2026.
Passport Offices in Sri Lanka: Locations & Appointments
Review the appointment rules before you travel. Regional offices require prior online booking; the Battaramulla Head Office doesn't require an appointment:
Head Office (Battaramulla)
Prior appointment NOT required (Notice eff. 29 Oct 2026)"Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla
Kandy Regional Office
Prior online appointment MANDATORY457, Peradeniya Road (Uda Para), Kandy
Matara Regional Office
Prior online appointment MANDATORY9, Sri Vijaya Building, Rahula Road, Matara
Vavuniya Regional Office
Prior online appointment MANDATORYIn front of Gamini Vidyalaya, Mannar Road, Vavuniya
Kurunegala Regional Office
Prior online appointment MANDATORYNo. 95, Negombo Road, Kurunegala
Jaffna Regional Office
Prior online appointment MANDATORYPremises of the Jaffna District Secretariat, Jaffna
Going to the Head Office? Before you go: what to expect at the Battaramulla passport office →
Can I get a one-day passport outside Colombo?
Same-day collection is confirmed only at the Battaramulla Head Office. The Department's website isn't clear about the regional offices. It says the One-Day Service is only at the Head Office, but it also lists One-Day applications at the Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya, Kurunegala and Jaffna offices. Call hotline 1962 before you travel.
Source: immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=7 (lists One-Day application hours at regional offices and also says the one-day service is Head Office only; checked 28 Oct 2026).
Renewing a Sri Lankan passport from abroad
If you live overseas, apply for a new passport or a renewal at the Sri Lankan embassy, high commission or consulate in your country. If there isn't one, use the nearest one. The mission sends your application to the Overseas Missions Branch of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. Each mission sets its own fee and waiting time.
Can I renew my Sri Lankan passport online from overseas?
Not yet. The Online Passport Application system is only for people who live in Sri Lanka. The Cabinet approved online applications through 20 overseas missions in July 2025, but as of 2 October 2026 the Department's overseas page still describes only applying in person at a mission.
How do I apply through an embassy or high commission?
- Get the overseas version of Form K-35A from the mission, or download it: Download Form K-35A for overseas applicants (PDF). Fill it in English.
- Stick on one photograph taken in the last 3 months. You don't need a Studio Acknowledgement Note, and you don't give fingerprints at the mission.
- Sign the Client Undertaking on the form. In it, you agree to give your fingerprints in Sri Lanka before you next leave the country.
- Hand in the form with your current or expired passport and the supporting documents your mission asks for. The mission gives you an Instruction Note that explains the next steps.
My passport has expired and I need to travel. What can I do?
You renew an expired passport the same way, at the mission. If you need to travel before the new passport arrives, ask the mission about a Non-Machine Readable Passport (NMRP). It's an emergency one-way travel document, and a mission can issue one while your application is being processed. It's only for returning to Sri Lanka. You can't use it to travel to another country. Missions set their own validity for it, so ask yours.
Fingerprints on your next visit to Sri Lanka
A passport issued through a mission still needs your fingerprints. The first time you arrive in Sri Lanka with it:
- Go to the immigration counter where you arrive (or the Chief Immigration Officer). You get a Biometric Data Acquisition form with a reference number.
- Give your fingerprints at the Head Office in Battaramulla or at the Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya or Kurunegala office. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
I'm a dual citizen. Is anything different?
You use the same form. Also fill in your dual citizenship number, your foreign nationality and your foreign passport number. The form marks the last two as compulsory for dual citizens.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
Missions charge their own fees, so the LKR prices on this page don't apply. Check your embassy's or high commission's website for the current fee and waiting time. For questions about an application already sent to Colombo, contact the Overseas Missions Branch: +94 11 2101524, acom@immigration.gov.lk.
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Overseas Applications (where to apply, fingerprints on arrival, Overseas Missions Branch) and General Information on Passports (no fingerprints or digital photo at missions; NMRP); overseas Form K-35A (photograph, Client Undertaking, dual citizen fields); Immigration Circular OM/01/2019 (NMRP as a stop-gap, mission charges); Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, Emergency Travel Document (NMRP) (return to Sri Lanka only). Online rollout: IOM Sri Lanka, 17 Jul 2025. All checked 2 Oct 2026.
Official Links & Downloads
Direct links to official Department of Immigration & Emigration pages:
Sources & last checked
Checked against official pages of the Department of Immigration & Emigration: the fee page, the Applications page, the Online Passport Application instructions, the appointment and online-application notice effective 29 Oct 2026 and the Overseas Applications page with its overseas form.
Checked by the LankaSolve maintainer. How we verify information · Our verified sources
Checked against Department of Immigration & Emigration. Every source for this topic, with dates, is on our verified sources.
LankaSolve is an independent information service. It is not part of the Government of Sri Lanka or the Department of Immigration & Emigration. Official procedures, prices and appointment rules can change by notice. Always check with the Department before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a passport cost in Sri Lanka in 2026?
A Sri Lankan passport costs LKR 10,000 for Normal Service (about 30 working days, by post) or LKR 20,000 for the One-Day Service (same-day collection at Battaramulla). For children under 16, it's LKR 3,000 or LKR 9,000 for a 3-year passport, or the adult price for 10 years. Online Urgent is LKR 15,000.
What are the documents required for a Sri Lankan passport?
For a first adult passport, you need Form K-35A, your original birth certificate and NIC with photocopies, and a Studio Acknowledgement Note from an Authorized Photo Studio. Some people need extra papers, such as a marriage certificate. Use the documents checklist on this page to see your full list. Need a copy of a birth or marriage certificate? See how to get certificate copies.
Can I apply for a passport online?
Yes, if you're 16 or older, live in Sri Lanka and have had a passport before. From 29 Oct 2026, first-time applicants must apply in person. Apply through the Department's Online Passport Application system, then give your fingerprints at the Head Office, a regional office or a DS-DRP unit. Online Normal costs LKR 10,000 and online Urgent LKR 15,000. You can't use it for a lost passport.
How many days does a normal passport take in Sri Lanka?
About 30 working days if you apply at a counter. The passport comes to you by post. If you apply online, a Normal passport is issued about 30 days after your fingerprints are taken and sent by registered post.
Can I get a Sri Lankan passport in one day?
Yes. The One-Day Service at the Battaramulla Head Office costs LKR 20,000 for an adult (2026), and you collect the passport the same day. No appointment is needed there. For the queue and timings, see the companion page on what to expect at the Battaramulla passport office.
What documents do I need to renew my passport?
Bring Form K-35A, your current or previous passport with a photocopy of the bio-data page, your original birth certificate and NIC with photocopies, and a new Studio Acknowledgement Note. Add a marriage certificate if your name has changed. You can also renew online if you're 16 or older and live in Sri Lanka.
Do I need an appointment to apply for a passport in Sri Lanka?
Under public notice effective 29 October 2026, you must book a prior online appointment via eservices.immigration.gov.lk for Regional Offices (Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Vavuniya, and Matara). No appointment is needed for the Battaramulla Head Office.
What is the fine for a lost Sri Lankan passport?
If your passport is lost or stolen while still valid, a statutory surcharge fine applies on top of the standard passport fee: LKR 20,000 if lost within 1 year of issuance, or LKR 15,000 if lost after 1 year of issuance. If the lost passport had already expired, no penalty fine applies.