SRI LANKAN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
We facilitate submission of applications for passports by Sri Lankan citizens/dual citizens in South Australia. New Passports are issued by the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka through this office.
Submission of forged documents (Birth Certificates, etc.) and false declarations in relation to the citizenship status is an offence. Such cases will be reported to the relevant authorities and payment already paid will not be refunded.
Eligibility for a Sri Lankan Passport
The applicant must be a Sri Lankan citizen by descent or by registration. Sri Lankan citizens who have applied for, and gained, refugee or asylum status in Australia are not entitled to a Sri Lankan passport, in accordance with Sri Lankan Immigration Laws. However, they are eligible to apply for temporary travel documents for the sole purpose of returning to Sri Lanka.
Validity of Sri Lankan Passport
The current N-Series Passports are valid for 10 years unless otherwise specified. Validity of a passport cannot be extended beyond 10 years from the date of issuance. A new passport must be obtained instead.
Application Types
You can apply for a new passport, if your passport is expiring its validity/ already expired.
Applications must be lodged well in advance of the expiry of the current passport. However, if you are applying for a New Passport prior to one year or more to the expiry date of the current passport, you must provide a letter with the reason. If you apply after the expiry of the validity of your current passport, a penalty fee will be charged.
You can also apply for a New Passport if your Passport is lost/stolen.
If your passport is lost/stolen:
It is the responsibility of the holder to inform the concerned authorities immediately. Failure to do so may result in your passport being used for illegal purposes, and you might become liable for aiding and abetting an offence. So, when your passport lost or stolen, immediately make a complaint to your local police station in your country of residence and apply for a New Passport.
Details of passports reported stolen or lost are entered in the Stolen/Lost Passport System of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka, & automatically shared internationally through INTERPOL to prevent misuse. Passports reported stolen or lost are invalidated, and cannot be used for travel. If a passport reported stolen or lost is recovered, it cannot be re-validated. It must be mailed to the Consulate General and if requested, it can be returned to you after cancellation.
If another person’s lost Sri Lankan passport is found, please mail it through registered post to at the address below:
Consulate General of Sri Lanka Melbourne,
Suite 536, No.1 Queens Road,
Melbourne, VIC 3004
Non- Machine Readable Passport (NMRP) is issued as a stop-gap travel document. This can be used only once and will only be valid for return travel to Sri Lanka. It is issued in lieu of a Passport expired/lost and if the applicant requires return to Sri Lanka urgently.
New Passport for children under age 16 (Minor Applicants) are issued with the consent of both the parents.
Temporary Travel Documents (TTD): This office facilitates issuance of Temporary Travel Documents (TTDs) for the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankans coming under the category of “unlawful non-citizens” alias “unauthorised maritime arrivals” organised by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) or “Homeward Assisted Returns Programme” (the service providers authorised by the Australian Government).
How to Apply
- Applying at Melbourne counter: You can submit your application by visiting in person, after obtaining an appointment through our website
- It is mandatory for you to submit your current passport at the counter, unless it is lost/stolen. It will be returned to you on the same day, after the processing of your application.
- If you are applying for a New Passport for a Minor Applicant;
– it is mandatory for both parents to be present at the Consulate General in order to sign the consent letter.
– details of children below the age of 16 must be deleted from their parents’ passports at the time of applying for a New Passport.
– new passports can also be issued for children born in Australia, whose birth & citizenship have been registered at the Consulate General.
2. Submitting application via post/ Applicants in South Australia:
South Australians can certify applications from our office and send applications via post:
All types of applications could be submitted via post with compliance to the following instructions:
For New Passports: application (page 4), copies of all the supporting documents and one of your photographs pasted on page 2 of the application should be certified from our office.
It is mandatory to submit your current passport along with the application and it will be returned to you after cancellation, with the New Passport.
For Amendments to passport: relevant application form and certified copies of supporting documents should be submitted. Copies should be certified from our office.
The scanned copy of the receipt for the application will be emailed to you once the application is forwarded to the Department of Immigration & Emigration by Melbourne Office.