Sri Lanka Launches Digital Nomad Visa Programme
Sri Lanka has introduced a Digital Nomad Visa programme designed to attract foreign professionals seeking to establish residence in the island nation while maintaining employment with overseas clients and employers.
The initiative represents a calculated effort to position Sri Lanka as a destination for long-term digital professionals, with the objective of increasing tourism revenue, foreign exchange inflows, and international knowledge transfer.
Visa Requirements and Eligibility
The visa programme is available to foreign nationals aged 18 and above, including spouses and dependants. Eligible applicants must be engaged in remote employment, freelance work, or operate businesses registered outside Sri Lanka that serve international clients.
Applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum monthly income of USD 2,000. For families with more than two dependants, an additional USD 500 per dependant must be remitted monthly.
Required documentation includes a completed visa application form, formal request letter, passport valid for six months, recent passport photographs, marriage and birth certificates where applicable, security clearance form, medical clearance report, and police clearance certificate issued within three months.
International health insurance covering medical care in Sri Lanka is mandatory. Applicants must also provide ministry recommendation and proof of minimum monthly remittance.
Visa Terms and Conditions
The Digital Nomad Visa is issued for one year with annual renewal options. Extensions require tax registration with the Inland Revenue Department. The annual fee is USD 500 for the main applicant, spouse, and each dependant.
Visa holders may legally reside in Sri Lanka, open local bank accounts, rent property, enrol children in private or international schools, and access telecommunications and co-working facilities. Local employment is strictly prohibited, with all income sourced from abroad.
Global Digital Nomad Trend
Sri Lanka joins over 50 countries worldwide offering digital nomad visa programmes across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Most such programmes launched between 2020 and 2025 following the pandemic, as destinations sought to attract high-spending, long-stay visitors.
Estonia pioneered the concept in June 2020, followed by Barbados. Croatia, Dubai, Portugal, and Spain introduced similar schemes between 2021 and 2023, while Japan and Thailand launched programmes in 2024.
According to industry reports, the average digital nomad visited 6.2 locations in 2025, compared to 6.6 in 2024, indicating longer stays at each destination.
For Sri Lanka, the programme aims to increase local spending, support small businesses, and contribute to tourism-led economic recovery as the country continues rebuilding following recent economic challenges.