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How to Get Sri Lankan Citizenship and a Citizenship Certificate

Verified · 1 Nov 2026In person only

Under the Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948 you are a Sri Lankan citizen either by descent or by registration. A person born in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan parent is a citizen by descent, and the birth certificate is the proof. The Department of Immigration and Emigration's Citizenship Division (Level 4, Wing D, Battaramulla) registers children born abroad, handles renunciation of citizenship and registers dual citizens. Its Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division (Level 6, Wing D) issues citizenship confirmation certificates to persons of Indian origin, acknowledges their special declarations, and authenticates citizenship certificates issued under the special citizenship Acts.

At a glance

Time
Special provision certificates within 30 working days if the application is complete (legal limit 60 working days)
Where
Citizenship Division, Level 4, Wing D, Department of Immigration and Emigration head office, "Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla (children born abroad, renunciation, dual citizenship - weekdays except public holidays, 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.)
+ 1 more place
Online?
In person only
Form
Application under the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003 (C/P/I/O/2003/01)
+ 3 more

Do you need this?

When you need it

  • You need a certificate confirming your Sri Lankan citizenship as a person of Indian origin or a stateless person.
  • You need a citizenship certificate issued under one of the special citizenship Acts authenticated.
  • You made a special declaration under section 2 of Act No. 35 of 2003 and need an acknowledgement.
  • You want to give up Sri Lankan citizenship.
  • You want to know whether you are a citizen by descent or by registration, for example before applying for dual citizenship.

Who can apply

  • Born in Sri Lanka - a citizen by descent if a parent was a Sri Lankan citizen at the time of birth (section 5(1)). No application is needed.
  • Born abroad - a citizen by descent if a parent was a Sri Lankan citizen at the time of birth and the birth is registered with the Department or a Sri Lankan embassy or high commission (section 5(2)). See the guide on registering a birth abroad.
  • Children born abroad whose Sri Lankan parent is a citizen by registration (not by descent) stop being citizens at 22 unless they send the Minister a declaration of retention before then (section 20(3)).
  • Citizenship by registration (sections 11 to 13) is decided by the Minister and requires being ordinarily resident in Sri Lanka, for example after 7 years' residence (married) or 10 years (unmarried) for a child of a Sri Lankan mother, or 1 year for the spouse, widow or widower of a citizen.
  • Special provisions: a person of Indian origin who lived in Sri Lanka before the appointed date of the Citizenship Act (15 November 1948), or a descendant of such a person, can apply for a citizenship confirmation certificate under Act No. 39 of 1988 or Act No. 35 of 2003.
  • Persons of Chinese origin: Act No. 38 of 2008 stopped accepting new applications on 30 October 2013, but citizenship can still be confirmed for a person registered under it, or a descendant who was issued a citizenship certificate (section 4).

Documents you need

Documents to bring

0 of 5 ready

Only if…

Process at a glance

  1. Step 1
    Check how you are a citizen

    If you were born in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan parent, you are already a citizen by descent and your birth certificate is the proof. A child born abroad to a Sri Lankan parent is registered as a citizen with the Citizenship Division - see the guide on registering a birth abroad.

  2. Step 2
    Get a citizenship confirmation certificate (persons of Indian origin)

    Persons of Indian origin get certificates confirming their Sri Lankan citizenship under the Grant of Citizenship to Stateless Persons (Special Provisions) Act No. 39 of 1988 or the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003. Get the form at the Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division or download it: form IC/C/SPA (opens in a new tab) for Act No. 39 of 1988 (guideline 1988/01 (opens in a new tab)), or form C/P/I/O/2003/01 (opens in a new tab) for Act No. 35 of 2003 (guideline 2003/01 (opens in a new tab)).

  3. Step 3
    Optional
    Make a special declaration (Indian passport holders)

    Indian passport holders make a special declaration to be a Sri Lankan under section 2 of Act No. 35 of 2003 on form C/P/I/O/2003/02 (opens in a new tab), and receive an acknowledgement letter. A copy of that letter goes with their citizenship confirmation application.

  4. Step 4
    Optional
    Have a citizenship certificate authenticated

    The Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division authenticates Sri Lankan citizenship certificates issued under the following Acts.

  5. Step 5
    Optional
    Persons of Chinese origin

    The Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Chinese Origin Act No. 38 of 2008 granted citizenship by registration to persons of Chinese origin who came to Sri Lanka on or before 15 November 1948 and lived here since, and their descendants. It was in force for 5 years, so no new applications have been accepted since 30 October 2013. Under section 4, citizenship can still be confirmed for a person registered under it, or a descendant who was issued a citizenship certificate, by giving the registration details.

  6. Step 6
    Optional
    Give up Sri Lankan citizenship

    Make a declaration of renunciation on Form K (opens in a new tab) and hand it in at the Citizenship Division, Level 4, Wing D. You stop being a citizen when the Minister registers it.

  7. Step 7
    Optional
    Become a dual citizen

    The Citizenship Division also registers dual citizens. See the dual citizenship guide.

  8. You're done

Step by step

  1. Step 01

    Check how you are a citizen

    If you were born in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan parent, you are already a citizen by descent and your birth certificate is the proof. A child born abroad to a Sri Lankan parent is registered as a citizen with the Citizenship Division - see the guide on registering a birth abroad.

  2. Step 02

    Get a citizenship confirmation certificate (persons of Indian origin)

    Persons of Indian origin get certificates confirming their Sri Lankan citizenship under the Grant of Citizenship to Stateless Persons (Special Provisions) Act No. 39 of 1988 or the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003. Get the form at the Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division or download it: form IC/C/SPA (opens in a new tab) for Act No. 39 of 1988 (guideline 1988/01 (opens in a new tab)), or form C/P/I/O/2003/01 (opens in a new tab) for Act No. 35 of 2003 (guideline 2003/01 (opens in a new tab)). Hand in the following documents.

    • A copy of your birth certificate
    • A copy of your NIC, if you have one
    • A copy of your marriage certificate, if you are married
    • A copy of your parents' citizenship certificates, if available
    • If you don't have your birth or marriage certificate, the birth certificate of one of your children and an affidavit confirming your birth and marriage
    • If you hold an Indian passport, a copy of the acknowledgement letter for your special declaration under section 2 of Act No. 35 of 2003, and a clear copy of your most recent Indian passport

  3. Step 03 · optional

    Make a special declaration (Indian passport holders)

    Indian passport holders make a special declaration to be a Sri Lankan under section 2 of Act No. 35 of 2003 on form C/P/I/O/2003/02 (opens in a new tab), and receive an acknowledgement letter. A copy of that letter goes with their citizenship confirmation application.

  4. Step 04 · optional

    Have a citizenship certificate authenticated

    The Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division authenticates Sri Lankan citizenship certificates issued under the following Acts.

    • Indian and Pakistani Residents (Citizenship) Act No. 3 of 1949
    • Indo-Ceylon Agreement (Implementation) (Special Provisions) Act No. 14 of 1967
    • Grant of Citizenship to Stateless Persons (Special Provisions) Act No. 39 of 1988
    • Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003
    • Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Chinese Origin (Special Provisions) Act No. 38 of 2008

  5. Step 05 · optional

    Persons of Chinese origin

    The Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Chinese Origin Act No. 38 of 2008 granted citizenship by registration to persons of Chinese origin who came to Sri Lanka on or before 15 November 1948 and lived here since, and their descendants. It was in force for 5 years, so no new applications have been accepted since 30 October 2013. Under section 4, citizenship can still be confirmed for a person registered under it, or a descendant who was issued a citizenship certificate, by giving the registration details.

  6. Step 06 · optional

    Give up Sri Lankan citizenship

    Make a declaration of renunciation on Form K (opens in a new tab) and hand it in at the Citizenship Division, Level 4, Wing D. You stop being a citizen when the Minister registers it.

  7. Step 07 · optional

    Become a dual citizen

    The Citizenship Division also registers dual citizens. See the dual citizenship guide.

Where to go

Forms

More detail

Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration

  • Hotline: 1962 / +94 112 101 500
  • Email: controller@immigration.gov.lk
  • Address: "Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla

Common problems

My child was born abroad.
Register the birth and then the child's citizenship - see the guide on registering a birth abroad.
The Sri Lankan parent is a citizen by registration.
The child must send a declaration of retention to the Minister before turning 22, or citizenship ends at 22.
I took another country's citizenship and lost Sri Lankan citizenship.
Apply for dual citizenship (resumption under section 19(2)). See the dual citizenship guide.
I went to the wrong division.
Special provisions (Indian origin, stateless persons, authenticating certificates) are at the Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division on Level 6. Children born abroad, renunciation and dual citizenship are at the Citizenship Division on Level 4.

FAQ

Do I need a citizenship certificate if I was born in Sri Lanka?
No. A person born in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan parent is a citizen by descent, and the birth certificate is the proof.
Who can apply for a citizenship confirmation certificate as a person of Indian origin?
A person of Indian origin who lived in Sri Lanka before 15 November 1948, the appointed date of the Citizenship Act, or a descendant of such a person.
How long does a citizenship confirmation certificate take?
Within 30 working days if the application follows the instructions. The legal limit is 60 working days from receipt.
Can persons of Chinese origin still apply for citizenship?
No new applications have been accepted under Act No. 38 of 2008 since 30 October 2013. Citizenship can still be confirmed for a person already registered under it, or a descendant issued a certificate.
Where do I apply for a citizenship confirmation certificate as a person of Indian origin?
At the Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division, Level 6, Wing D, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla, on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Which citizenship certificates can be authenticated?
Certificates issued under Act No. 3 of 1949, Act No. 14 of 1967, Act No. 39 of 1988, Act No. 35 of 2003 and Act No. 38 of 2008, at the Indo-Lanka Citizenship Division.
Can a foreigner married to a Sri Lankan become a citizen?
The Citizenship Act allows the spouse, widow or widower of a citizen to apply for registration after living in Sri Lanka for one year, if they intend to stay. The Minister decides each application.
How do I give up Sri Lankan citizenship?
Make a declaration of renunciation on Form K at the Citizenship Division. You stop being a citizen when the Minister registers it.

Official sources

Checked against these official pages1 Nov 2026

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