This guide covers the official fees, forms, and rules. For a first-person account of the queue, the timing, and what the day itself is actually like, see the companion page below. What to Expect: Applying for a Sri Lankan Passport →
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.
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 years of age. Standard validity is 3 years.
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 previously included in a parent's passport, it must be cancelled first by submitting Form I.E. 35C (fee: LKR 1,200).
Required if the child was born overseas outside Sri Lanka.
Passport Fees & Service Options
Sri Lankan citizens can get an ordinary all-countries passport through two service tracks:
| Service Basis | Adult Fee (10 Years) | Minor Fee (< 16, 3 Years) | Processing / Delivery Time | Available Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Service | LKR 10,000.00 | LKR 3,000.00 | Approx. 30 working days via postal service | Head Office (Battaramulla) & Regional Offices (Kandy, Matara, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, Jaffna) |
| Urgent / One-Day Service | LKR 20,000.00 | LKR 9,000.00 | Same-day counter collection at Head Office | Exclusively at Head Office ("Suhurupaya", Battaramulla) |
Step-by-Step Application Process
Follow these verified stages, in order, to complete your passport application smoothly:
Determine Service Basis and Location
Choose between Normal Service (LKR 10,000 / ~30 working days postal delivery) available at Head Office or Regional Offices, and Urgent One-Day Service (LKR 20,000 / same-day counter collection) available exclusively at the Battaramulla Head Office.
Check Appointment Rules for Your Chosen Office
Under the Department's public notice effective 14 September 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.
Obtain Digital Photograph from an Authorized Studio
Visit an Authorized Photo Studio to have your digital photograph taken. The studio uploads the image directly to the Immigration system and provides you with a printed Studio Acknowledgement Note with a reference barcode. Printed photos will be rejected at the counter.
Download and Complete Form K-35A
Download Form K-35A from the official Immigration website and laser print it on clean A4 paper. Complete all sections in English block 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.
Where to Apply & Appointment Requirements
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. 14 Sept 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
Official Links & Downloads
Direct links to the Department of Immigration & Emigration official portal and services:
Primary Source Verification & Audit Status
Compiled from statutory publications, fee orders, and circulars published byDepartment of Immigration & Emigration.
LankaSolve is an independent information service and is not affiliated with the Government of Sri Lanka or the Department of Immigration & Emigration. Official procedures, fees, and appointment rules are subject to change by statutory notice. Always verify directly with the Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Sri Lankan passport cost?
In Sri Lanka, an ordinary all-countries passport costs LKR 10,000 for Normal Service (~30 working days by post) and LKR 20,000 for Urgent One-Day Service (same-day counter collection at the Battaramulla Head Office). For minors under 16, the fee is LKR 3,000 (Normal) or LKR 9,000 (Urgent).
Do I need an appointment to apply for a passport in Sri Lanka?
Under public notice effective 14 September 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.
Can I take my own passport photo?
No. You'll need to visit an Authorized Photo Studio registered with the Department, which captures an ICAO-compliant digital photo, uploads it directly to the Immigration computer system, and gives you a printed Studio Acknowledgement Note with a barcode. Physical printed photos are rejected at the counter.
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.