Authentication of documents originated from Sri Lanka through the Embassy
The Embassy facilitates the Sri Lankans residing in Oman or the accredited country Yemen, to authenticate the documents issued by the Sri Lankan institutions, which have not been attested previously, through the Electronic Document Attestation System, subjected to the biometric fingerprint scanning and payment of relevant fee.
Eligibility
The facility enables Sri Lankans living in Oman or the accredited country Yemen, to authenticate their documents, sending electronically to the Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Ministry through the Branch Document Attestation System (BDAS) of the Embassy.
The Verification Section of the Consular Affairs Division is to attest the certificates/documents issued by duly authorized officers under statutory authorities presented by the public as true and genuine documents on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. Documents presented by the public will be attested only after duly ascertaining such documents’ genuineness and veracity.
Once the documents are attested at the Consular Affairs Division (CAD), the customer copy will be generated and it will be shared with the applicant.
Documents Required
- The applicant should produce a valid passport issued by the competent authority in Sri Lanka.
- Foreign applicants need to produce a valid passport issued by the authorized agency of his/her own country.
- N.B.- Foreign passport bearer, who holds dual citizenship in Sri Lanka should produce dual nationality certificates with his/her foreign passport to obtain services under the Sri Lankan fee category.
- The owner of the documents is expected to hand over the documents to the Embassy in person. However, if the owner of the document is unable to present in person, a close relative/authorized person could be sent with a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the document owner indicating;
- Name in full
- Valid passport unrulier, and
- Residential address of the person, who brings the documents.
- Note: The person, who presents at Embassy to get the documents authenticated should bring a copy of the passport of the document owner together with the letter of authorization. (Download LOA)
- For the attestation of certificates of children under 18 years of age, the legitimate guardian of the child concerned should be present at the Embassy or a Letter of Authorization from the guardian and his/her copy of the passport should be produced by the person attending to the matter on behalf of the child. (Instructions in number 2 above are applicable) Documents should also be produced to prove the parenthood/guardianship. Children need not to be brought for this purpose.
- When the applicant sends documents by courier/post, the authorization letter should be sent, by authorizing the Consular officer of the Embassy in order to proceed with the attestation on behalf of him/her along with the copy of the valid passport.
- Note: In these circumstances, the relevant Consular officer of the Mission/Post will be the applicant and he/she needs to place his/her biometric print/fingerprint to the system on behalf of the document owner. Original documents should be sent for the attestation.
Criteria for Attestation
- Any photocopied document will not be accepted for attestation. Every document should be scanned; therefore kindly refrain from producing an scanning damaged or decayed documents/photocopies (or colour-scanned documents without originals) into the system.
- Only the original documents issued by Institutions of the Government of Sri Lanka in Sinhala, Tamil or English Language will be accepted for attestation.
- Kindly refrain from producing the documents, which have already been attested through the previous manual system (with seals and stickers) and the fresh original documents without seals and stickers should be submitted.
- Applicant should produce the document owner’s details (name, mobile phone number with country code and e-mail address) correctly at the time of obtaining the service and re-confirm that information by double checking. Please note that this information cannot be corrected or altered after the attestation.
- The applicants are requested to check their copies of the attested documents, original documents and paying receipts at the time of collecting the same.
Document Categories
- The categories of the documents will be accepted only if the required criteria indicated under each category of the documents have been fulfilled. The documents, which are not in keeping with such criteria, will be rejected.
The documents other than those coming under the mentioned categories will not be accepted for attestation
Validity Period
- The validity of this attestation is limited to only one year. Therefore, applicants are advised to keep additional photocopies of the customer’s copy.
- If any applicant needs to get a re-attestation within the validity period, he/she needs to obtain a fresh attestation by making the payments.
Service Delivery Time
The Consular Affairs Division will be attesting documents during the working hours of Sri Lanka time 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.. Applicants are advised to collect the customer copy after seven working days or after receiving the SMS alert on the applicant’s mobile phone.
Note: The time period that will be taken to verify the Sri Lankan degree, divorce certificates and the documents, where signatures do not tally or are not indicated in the database of the Consular Affairs is a matter, which is beyond the control of the Consular Affairs Division.
Authority
The Director General of the Consular Affairs Division will take the final decision regarding the attestation of certificates.
Verification inquiries or any clarifications regarding BDAS should be referred to DG/Consular Affairs by email or fax;
e-Mail :- consular@mfa.gov.lk or authentication.consular@mfa.gov.lk
Fax :- 0094-112385571
Tel :- 0094-112338812
Production of Forged Documents
Production of forged documents for attestation is an offence punishable by law and payments will not be refunded.
Attestation of the documents originated from Sri Lanka
- Any document issued by Sri Lankan Institutions should be authenticated by the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka through the Electronic Documents Attestation System(eDAS)
- The applicants have to present the Embassy the Electronic Customer Copy, issued by the Consular Affairs Division
- The owner of the documents is expected to hand over such documents to the Embassy
- If the owner of the document is unable to present in person, a third person could be sent with a Letter of Authorization from the document owner indicating;
- Name in full
- Valid Passport number
- Residential Address Of the person who brings the document
- Note: The copy of the passport of the document owner should be produced together with the letter of authorization
Special NOTE: The stamp on the attested document through the Electronic Document Attestation System is valid only for one year from the Date of Issue.
Attestation of the document issued by the Omani Authorities
- Any document issued by the Omani authorities should be authenticated by the Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman
- The applicants have to present the authenticated original copy to the Embassy for attestation
- The owner of the documents is expected to hand over such documents to the Embassy
- If the owner of the document is unable to present in person, a third person could be sent with a Letter of Authorization from the document owner indicating;
- Name in full
- Valid Passport number
- Residential Address of the person who brings the document
- Note: The copy of the passport of the document owner should be produced together with the letter of authorization
Attestation of the document issued from a Third Country
- Any document issued by the authorities of the country of origin of the document should be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the same country first
- The authenticated document should be attested by the Sri Lankan Embassy/ Consulate of the same country or Embassy/ Consulate of the same country in the Sultanate of Oman followed by the attestation of the Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman
- The applicants have to present the authenticated original copy to the Embassy for attestation
- The owner of the documents is expected to hand over such document to the Embassy
- If the owner of the document is unable to present in person, a third person could be sent with a Letter of Authorization from the document owner indicating;
- Name in full
- Valid Passport number
- Residential Address of the person who brings the document
- Note: The copy of the passport of the document owner should be produced together with the letter of authorization
Special NOTE: The stamp on the attested document is valid only for one year from the Date of Issue.