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The Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday said visas for foreigners residing in Sri Lanka have been extended to 11 July.
Having considered the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country, the validity period of all types of visas issued to all foreigners who are currently residing in Sri Lanka had been extended till 11 July 2020 and they are advised to pay the relevant visa fee and get the visa endorsed on their passports by securing an appointment on or before 11 July.
The department observed that most of the foreigners currently staying in Sri Lanka are unable to leave so far due to the closure of the airports in many countries and as the number is very high, many of them are unable to secure an appointment via the above system before 11 July.
“Considering the aforementioned circumstances, it was decided to extend the validity period of all types of visas for another period of 30 days with effect from 11 June to 11 July 2020 to allow all the foreigners to regularise their visas accordingly,” the statement from the department said.
Visa holders are requested to proceed as advised below:
All the applicants are hereby advised to pay the relevant visa fee and get the visa endorsed in the Passport by securing an appointment via the below mentioned link on or before 11 July 2020. All the visas which expire between 7 March and 11 July 2020 will be exempted from charging overstay penalty. https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs
Only those who possess a due appointment notice will be permitted to enter the department. Please be noted that a limited number of appointments will be given per day and the applicants shall be present at the department 15 minutes prior to the allocated time.
If you have any query in this regard, please contact our officials through following modes.
For visit visas: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
For residence visas: [email protected]
Telephone: 0707101050 (Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. only)
Due to the unavoidable circumstances, if the Government imposes curfew on the date on which you have obtained the appointment, please do not visit the department, instead email the aforementioned email addresses attaching your ‘appointment notice’. You will be facilitated with a new appointment in due course.
Further, if you intend to leave the island during the aforementioned period, your journey will be also facilitated by paying the relevant visa fee at the airport. This notice is issued as per the instructions of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.