Sri Lanka has always been the kind of place that rewards slow travel: sunrise train rides from Kandy to Ella, afternoons spent temple-hopping in Anuradhapura, a long loop around Galle Fort, and the kind of beach days in Mirissa that don’t require an itinerary. Now, the country is making it easier to stretch that trip into something longer. First discussed in 2021, Sri Lanka’s digital nomad visa officially launched in February 2026, opening the door for remote workers to live on the island for one year or more while working for international companies or clients. Here’s everything you need to know about Sri Lanka’s digital nomad visa.
Who is eligible?
Like most digital nomad visas, Sri Lanka’s comes with a minimum income requirement. Applicants must earn at least $2,000 per month. That threshold remains the same if you have fewer than two children, but increases by $500 for each additional child after that. To qualify, applicants must be 18 years or older, prove they meet the income requirement, and show they are working exclusively for clients outside Sri Lanka or are employed by a foreign company. In other words: you can live in Sri Lanka and work remotely, but you cannot take up employment with a Sri Lankan company.
What documents are required?
The following documents are required for the Sri Lanka digital nomad visa, according to the Department of Immigration and Emigration:
- A completed visa application form
- A request letter from the applicant
- Photocopy of passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Marriage Certificate (for spouse)
- Birth Certificate (for dependents)
- A completed security clearance form
- A medical clearance report
- Proof of a clean criminal record from the home country police (issued within the last three months)
- International health insurance coverage valid in Sri Lanka
- Recommendation from the Ministry of Digital Economy
- Proof of the minimum monthly remittance for the main applicant and the dependents
How much does the visa cost?
The visa costs $500 per year and is renewable annually.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller India
