Citizenship

ELIGIBILITY

Children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents (At least one of the parents should be a Sri Lankan) are required to be registered at the Department of Immigration and Emigration within one year of birth for the confirmation of the child’s citizenship. A certificate for the Registration of Birth is issued to the applicant. A fine will be imposed in the event of failure to register the child’s birth within one year from the date of birth.

PROVISIONS

When a child of a Sri Lankan citizen is born abroad, such birth should be registered within one year of birth at the Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka, under the Citizenship Act. The Citizenship Certificate for the child should be obtained from the Citizenship branch.

Accordingly, when an application is made for the registration of birth under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance through the Embassy, the applicant is required to apply for the Citizenship Registration of the child same time.

The applications for the Citizenship Certificates are forwarded to the Citizenship Division in Colombo which will process them and will send the Citizenship Certificates to the Embassy for onward transmission to the applicants.

Documents required for registration of birth

  • Duly filled application together with the declaration signed by the Parents in front of the Diplomatic officer at the Embassy (Download the form)
  • Certificate of Birth issued by the relevant Hospital in the country of Residence and 02 photocopies of the same
  • English Translation of the above Certificate of Birth mentioned in II, translated by an authorized translator and 02 photocopies of the translation
  • Consular Birth Certificate issued by the Registration General Department of Sri Lanka
  • Original Birth Certificates of parents with photocopies
    • If one of the parents is an Omanian and his/her birth certificate is in Arabic, it should be translated into English by an authorized translator and 02 photocopies of the translation
    • If one of the parents is any other national and his/her birth certificate is in a language other than Arabic, it should be certified by the relevant Embassy in Oman along with the English translation of the same. 02 photocopies of each documents should be produced.
  • If the applicant (father or mother) is a Sri Lankan citizen by registration, the relevant certificate with copies
  • Original Marriage Certificate of parents with a photocopy    
    • If the original marriage certificate is in Arabic, it should be translated into English by an authorized translator and the certificates should be duly attested from the Omani Foreign Ministry
    • If the original marriage certificate is in a language other than Arabic, it should be translated into English by an authorized translator and 02 photocopies of the translation
  • Original Passports and Visas of the parents to prove residence abroad at the time of the child’s birth
    • 02 photocopies each of the data page of the passports
    • 02 photocopies each of the ‘observations/alterations’ page of the passport if there are any observations/alterations
    • 02 photocopies each of the Resident Cards
    • Note: If one of the parent is an Omanian and does not belong a passport, the original National Identity Card issued by the Government of Oman should be produced along with the two photocopies

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

If the Declarant is living in Oman, the application for registration of a birth should be forwarded to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, Oman.

Applicants are kindly requested to get an online appointment by accessing the Embassy website prior to visiting the Embassy.

If Citizenship Registration has not been done at the country of birth and if the parents are living in Sri Lanka declaration for registration should be handed over together with the originals of necessary supporting documents with copies thereof to the Citizenship Branch at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Suhurupaya, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.

Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration will process the applications and mail the certificates to the Embassy for onward transmission to the applicant.

  • The applicants are requested to submit the documents according to the checklist. Download Form CL
  • You may submit the application to the Consular section of the Embassy by post or by hand
  • The Documents are accepted by the Embassy Consular section from Sunday to Thursday 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
  • The applications may be sent by post to the following address;
    • [Include address here]
  • Note:
    • Submission of forged documents and making false declarations is a punishable offense.
    • The Embassy is not responsible for any document lost in the post.
    • Incomplete applications will be returned.
    • Consular fees for the above circumstances will not be refunded.
    • Applicants are kindly requested to get an online appointment through the Embassy website prior to visiting the Embassy.

Inquiries

The Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration

“Suhurupaya”, Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla.

Hotline   : 1962

Phone    : 94-11-5329000

Fax        : 94-11-2885358

E-Mail    : controller@immigration.gov.lk

Web Site: www.immigration.gov.lk