Added
created. Extension-only investor residence, minimum USD 250,000 in an approved project, fee USD 200 a year, five-year validity (https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=20).
Minimum investment
$250,000
2 investment options
Stay
60
months, renewable
Application fee
$200
Tax
15.0%
Bank-remitted foreign-currency income, 15% maximum
Path to staying
- Residence permit60 months
- Renewrenewable
- Permanent residency
- Citizenship
- Dual citizenship allowed
Overview
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Program
- Sri Lanka Resident Guest Scheme (Investor)
- Type
- Investor visa
- Status
- Suspended
- Initial duration
- 60 months
- Renewable
- Yes
Extension-only investor residence under the Resident Guest Scheme. An existing holder must have remitted at least USD 250,000 into an approved project. The visa fee is USD 200 per person per year. New applicants are not accepted. The professional category is a separate record.
Investment options
| Type | Min amount | USD equivalent | Holding | Returnable | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | USD 250,000 | $250,000 | — | Yes | Optional |
| Company capital | USD 250,000 | $250,000 | — | Yes | Optional |
Eligibility
- Criminal record check required
- Health check required
- Health insurance not required
Work rights
- Employment not allowed
- Self-employment allowed
- Own a business allowed
- Work permit included no
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Parents allowed
- No
Benefits and mobility
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare no access
Tax
- Tax regime
- Special
- Tax rate
- 15.0%
- Regime name
- Bank-remitted foreign-currency income, 15% maximum
- Foreign income taxed
- Yes
- Capital gains taxed
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- in country
- Apply from abroad
- No
Notes
The department says this category is issued only to people who already have the visa. The investor must keep the project in an approved form: a new venture, a company approved by the relevant authority, or shares listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The money is first credited to a Resident Guest Foreign Currency Account. If the investment has not progressed within two years, the agency may stop paying interest on the unused balance. Each dependant has a separate minimum of USD 35,000 in that account. The holder must also remit enough for living expenses. No monthly figure is published for the investor category. Renewal papers include a project progress report, an updated foreign-currency statement, a rupee-account statement, tax clearance, an IOM medical report, and a police clearance. A tax-exempt project also needs a Board of Investment recommendation. The page says the visa is valid for five years from the issue date. Ending the project needs two months' written notice, and leaving needs 14 working days' notice. Unspent capital, investment income and sale proceeds can be sent out under the exchange-control and tax rules. The scheme tells holders to comply with Sri Lankan tax law. It is not named in the investor-visa non-residence rule. A resident's foreign-currency income remitted through a bank is capped at 15% from 1 April 2025. Employment with someone else is not authorised. Running the approved project is.
Also in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 10, 2026 Source