Articles on: Asia and the Middle East

Sri Lanka — Digital Nomad Visa: Everything you need to live and work remotely in Sri Lanka

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

Why Sri Lanka?

From Colombo’s lively coworking scene to the tea-covered hills of Ella and the beaches of Mirissa, Sri Lanka is a high-value, low-cost base with fast internet in major hubs and a steadily growing remote-work community. The country now recognizes a Digital Nomad residence category—so you can stay legally while working for employers or clients outside Sri Lanka. (SLTDA)


What is Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa?

It’s a residence visa (not just a tourist extension) for non-EEA/EFTA nationals who work fully remotely for foreign employers/clients. The Department of Immigration & Emigration lists “Residence Visa – Digital Nomad” among official residence categories (fee: USD 500 per year).

Good to know: Sri Lanka also runs a long-stay ETA/e-visa + extensions system for visitors; however, the Digital Nomad option is a more purpose-built residence pathway for remote workers.


Who manages it?

  • Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E) – application, fees, issuance.
  • The program aligns with Sri Lanka’s national push to attract long-stay, higher-spend visitors and remote workers. (SLTDA)


Duration & renewals

  • Initial validity: typically issued for 1 year (as a residence visa category).
  • Renewal: annually while you continue to meet requirements (fee schedule shows per-year pricing).
Tip: If you only need a few months, Sri Lanka’s ETA/tourist stay can be extended in-country (often up to a total of several months). For committed remote work stays, the Digital Nomad residence track is the cleaner legal fit.


Eligibility & documents (what authorities typically ask for)

While DI&E’s fee table confirms the category and price, published guidance aligns to these core proofs:

  • Remote work status: employment contract or freelance/consulting agreements showing foreign employer/clients.
  • Sufficient income & funds: recent bank statements/pay slips demonstrating you can support yourself without local work.
  • Health insurance valid in Sri Lanka for the full stay.
  • Clean criminal record and valid passport (covering the intended period).
  • Local address (rental/long-stay accommodation) for registration.

These reflect how Sri Lanka positions digital nomads within its long-stay strategy (tourism and digital-economy policy notes reference the cohort explicitly). Exact document formatting and any minimums are set by Immigration at the time of filing. (SLTDA)


Application: step-by-step

  1. Check your entry path (ETA/e-visa or appropriate entry visa) and arrive in Sri Lanka.
  2. Prepare your Digital Nomad dossier: passport, photos, remote-work proof, income evidence, insurance, police clearance, local address. (Follow Immigration’s current checklist.)
  3. Submit to the Department of Immigration & Emigration (Colombo) and pay the official fee (~USD 500/year) for the Digital Nomad residence category.
  4. Biometrics & issuance: complete any required in-person steps; receive your Residence Visa (Digital Nomad) sticker/card.
  5. Renew annually while maintaining eligibility (same category/fee basis).


Costs (official)

  • Residence Visa – Digital Nomad: USD 500 per year (Immigration fee schedule). Other admin fees (visa handling, biometrics) may apply.


Benefits

  • Clear legal status to live in Sri Lanka while working for non-Sri Lankan clients/employers.
  • Lower cost of living vs. Western Europe/US with strong value in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, and surf towns.
  • Policy tailwinds: digital economy and long-stay strategies specifically mention attracting digital nomads. (mot.gov.lk)


Official references

  • Department of Immigration & Emigration (Sri Lanka) – Visas & Residence (category listing & fees).
  • Sri Lanka Tourism/SLTDA & partner reports noting the digital-nomad focus. (SLTDA)
  • National Digital Economy Strategy (context for welcoming remote workers/exports). (mot.gov.lk)


QUESTRAVEL’s take

The hardest part isn’t the fee—it’s submitting a clean, consistent proof-of-income and remote-work package that matches Immigration’s expectations. We prepare your contracts/letters, insurance, and police clearance timing so the file goes through smoothly.

💡 Want a done-right-the-first-time application? Book a 1:1 with QUESTRAVEL and we’ll map your entry, checklist, appointments, and renewals—end to end.

Updated on: 04/11/2025