CBR 009 – Dual Citizenship
- Where to apply? Forward your application to the following respective offices, closest to your place of residence.
Respective area |
Office & Contact Details |
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1 | New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa
Western Australia (WA), Northern Territory (NT),Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) |
Sri Lanka High Commission, 61, Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla 2600, ACT, Australia Tele: 02-6198-3756 Fax : 02-6198-3760 E-mail : slhc.canberra@mfa.gov.lk http://www.slhcaust.org |
02 | Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania |
Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne Suite 536, No 1 Queens Road, Telephone: +61 3 9290 4200 Email:mail@slcgmel.org |
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- Who is eligible to apply for Dual Citizenship? There are two circumstances.
a) A person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948;
Resumption – Section 19(2) of the said Act makes provisions in respect of a person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased due to obtaining citizenship in another country and who thereafter desires to resume the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka.
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b) A person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka is likely to cease:
Retention – Section 19(3) of the said Act makes provisions in respect of a person who is having a desire to obtain citizenship in another country, but intends to retain the citizenship of Sri Lanka as well.
Special Note – Individuals holding citizenship in two or more countries are not eligible to apply for dual citizenship with Sri Lanka. Dual citizenship is only available to those who hold citizenship or permanent residency in a single other country.
How can apply?
- Applying at our counter: You can submit your application by visiting us in person. You must visit between Consular hours, Monday to Friday 9.30 am – 1.30 pm. Please check our website for any public holiday closure prior to visiting us.
It is mandatory for you to submit your original documents at the counter. It will be returned to you on the same day, after the processing of your application.
- Submitting application via post:
This can be submitted via post, and the following instructions must be strictly followed:
You do not have to send your original documents by post.
Certification of Sri Lankan Government Issued Documents: The 6th page of the application form and two copies of all supporting documents must be certified (with an official stamp) by an authorized certification body in your country of residence. Acceptable certifiers include Lawyers, Doctors, Justices of the Peace, Police Officers, or Pharmacists.
Authentication of Other Government Issued Documents: All non-Sri Lankan government-issued documents must be authenticated by the relevant government authority:
- Australian Documents: Must be authenticated by the Australian Passport Office or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
- New Zealand Documents: Must be authenticated by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.
- Documents from Other Countries: Must be authenticated by the relevant embassy or consulate in Australia.
Ensure that all documents meet these requirements to avoid delays in processing your application.
How to Fill the Application:
- Complete in BLOCK LETTERS: All sections of the application must be filled in capital letters for clarity.
- Tick the Appropriate Category: Choose either “Resumption” or “Retention” based on your situation.
- Select Eligible Category: Tick the relevant category for the main applicant (1A – 1F) and for the spouse or dependent (1G), as appropriate. Ensure you refer to the supporting documents required for each category.
- Cut Off Inapplicable Words: Where an asterisk (*) appears, remove or cross out any words that are not applicable to your situation.
- Inapplicable Fields: For any field that does not apply to you, write “NOT APPLICABLE” or “NOT RELEVANT.”
- Name Changes: A Name Change Certificate (authenticated by the relevant government authority)
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Steps to be taken and checklist for Dual Citizenship application
Description | Important Remarks | |
1. | General guidelines for the Application Process | Application Form– Compulsory |
2. | To be completed in “BLOCK CAPITALS” | |
3. | Delete inapplicable word/s | |
4. | Mention if any part is “Not relevant” | |
5. | Each member of the family has to submit a separate application along with 3 passport size colour photographs. Affix one of those photographs in the top right hand corner of the first page of the application. | |
6. |
Special Note – Unmarried Children (Applications submitted after reaching the age of 21 years & 6 months will not be entertained under this category)
Note: The requirements under each category are given separately under No. 04 below. |
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7. | All applicants are requested to submit their applications with a covering letter providing full name of the applicant, postal address, contact numbers and email address.
If required, applicants will be contacted through these contact details. |
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8. | The statement in the application should be supported by an affidavit (page 6) made by the applicant before a justice of the peace or a Commissioner of Oaths.
When submitting application in person, Affidavit could be certified by the officials of the High Commission or consulate offices. Applicants who are unable to submit their applications to the High Commission in person can forward their application by post. Those applications must be duly certified with rubber stamp by the Sri Lanka Honorary Consuls in respective regions. |
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9. | Contact details of Honorary Consuls:
Adelaide, Australia Dr.CharithaPerera Honorary Consul for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Adelaide, South Australia Mobile: 0412 552 541
Perth, Western Australia Mr. Roshana (Rosh) Jalagge Honorary Consul for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Perth, Western Australia Tel: 08 9279 9988 Hony. Consul Email : rosh@slconsulatewa.com.au Web : www.slconsulatewa.com.au
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea School of Business and Public Policy Tel: Residence ( after hrs.) : +675 326 1090
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10. | Applicable Fees | Application processing fee
( If you directly submit your documents to the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration, Colombo you do not have to pay this fee) |
11. | Citizenship fee
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12. | Payment method |
Note: Credit/ATM/Debit cards AND personal or Company cheques will not be accepted.
Note: If the applicant sends Money orders or directly credit money into the High Commission or consulate bank accounts, without prior instructions, the responsibility lies with the applicant for any loss/shortage or delay. |
13. | “Common documents” to be submitted | Two photo copies of the duly filled application form and three passport size colour photographs. |
14. | Original Birth Certificate of the applicant with 02 photocopies (Birth Certificates issued by the Registrar General, District Registrar, Divisional Registrar will be accepted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka. Therefore, photocopies certified by other parties and translations will not be accepted.)
If the applicant is a citizen of Sri Lanka by registration, the Original Citizenship certificate with 02 photocopies. |
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15. | If applicant is married, original Marriage Certificate with 02 photo copies [Translations will not be accepted] | |
16. | Documents in the case of –Resumption (In addition to the above “Common documents” | Original Foreign Citizenship Certificate with 02 photo copies, authenticated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). (In the event of New Zealanders,the documents should be authenticated by the Department of Internal Affairs) |
17. | Foreign Passport with copies of Bio data page and 02 copies of Alteration and Observation pages, authenticated by DFAT.(In the event of New Zealanders,the documents should be authenticated by the Department of Internal Affairs) | |
18. | Original Police Clearance report not older than 3 months, with 02 photo copies. | |
19. | Previous Sri Lankan Passport, [if available] with 02 photo copies of Bio data page and copies of Alteration and Observation pages. | |
20. | Check List – Resumption of Sri Lankan Nationality – Section 19 (2) | |
21. | Documents in the case of –Retention (In addition to the above “Common documents” | Current Sri Lanka Passport and 02 photo copies of Bio data page and copies of Alteration and Observation pages. |
22. | Permanent Residence Visa Grant notification – 2 copies | |
23. | Original Police Clearance report not older than 3 months, with one photo copy. | |
24. | Check List – Retention of Sri Lankan Nationality – Section 19 (3) | |
25. | Special Notes (Important)
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Application categories and supporting evidence in respective categories
The applicant must choose a category for applying for dual citizenship. These categories are given in page 01 & 02 of the Dual Citizenship application under “Eligible categories for Dual Citizenship”.
Category | Supporting evidence | |
A. As an applicant above the age of 55 years |
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B. As an applicant who fulfils the Academic/professional qualification criteria (minimum one year diploma or higher or any professional qualification) |
Note : The High Commission charges the prescribed consular fee for attestation of the above certificates. [AUD 100.00 per certificate] |
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C. As an applicant who owns assets/immovable properties in Sri Lanka worth above Rs. 2.5 million or above. |
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D. As an applicant who has a fixed deposit of Rs. 2.5 million or above for a minimum of 03 year period in any commercial bank approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka |
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E. As an applicant who has a fixed deposit of USD 25,000.00 or above for a minimum of 03 year period under Non Resident Foreign Currency Account (NRFC), Resident Foreign Currency account (RFC) of Senior Foreign Invest Deposit Account (SFIDA) in any of the commercial bank approved by the central Bank of Sri Lanka |
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F. As an applicant who has invested USD 25,000.00 or above for a minimum of 03 year period under Treasury Bonds (TB) or Security Investment Account (SIA) |
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G. Qualifying by way of the spouse of the applicant or as an unmarried child under the age of 21 years and 6 months of the applicant. A spouse of children eligible under this provision shall be limited to a person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948 or a person whose citizenship in Sri Lanka is likely to cease. |
If Spouse/Dependants apply separately:
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How to Check the Status of Your Application:
Once the High Commission accepts your application, it will be forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, and you will be informed of your reference via email to the Main applicant’s email.
The Department will then send an acknowledgment of receipt to your email.
To check the status of your application, visit the following link:
Application Status
Use the reference number issued by the High Commission along with your date of birth.
Collection of the Dual Citizenship Certificate:
Dual Citizenship certificates are issued only in Colombo. If you are unable to collect the certificate in person, you can nominate someone to collect it on your behalf. To do this, you must inform the Department of Immigration in writing, authorizing the nominated person to collect the certificate for you.
Contact Details:
Citizenship Division
Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka
T: +94 1153 290 000 Ext.9475
Hotline: +94707101030
Email: accit@immigration.gov.lk
Register with the High Commission
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra would like to keep in touch with Sri Lankans and persons of Sri Lankan origin living in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and other Pacific Islands as well as Sri Lankan community organisations in those countries.
If you are a current/former Sri Lankan or an office bearer of a Sri Lankan community organisation we invite you to register with the High Commission.
RegisterAddress
Sri Lanka High Commission
61, Hampton Circuit
Yarralumla
ACT 2600