FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

A. General

We only accept Cash (AUS$) or Money/ Postal Orders.

Please make out payments to ‘Consulate General of Sri Lanka’ if you are using money/ postal orders. We do not have EFTPOS or credit card facilities.

We only accept Debit Cards, Cash (AUS$) or Money/ Postal Orders.

Please make out payments to ‘Consulate General of Sri Lanka’ if you are using money/ postal orders.

Credit cards are not accepted. 

Yes, you do have to submit your original documents and copies along with the applications if you’re submitting in person at the Consulate, however we will be returning back your original documents upon examining them.

No. You do not need to submit the original documents requested if you are posting your application.

We only require certified copies of the original documents signed by an authorised person.

B. Passports

You can apply for a new passport by downloading “Form K” from our website (www.slcgmel.org) and submitting it in person with the supporting documents or by posting to us. Relevant instructions are given in the website.

Yes. Your ears should be clearly visible in photos. Please do not use dark background for your photos.
You should put your Australian address as the permanent address. Any change of the address given should be notified to be used in the mailing process, if required.
Normal processing time for a passport is 10 to 12 weeks. The Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka will send your passport to us.
Certification of documents are required only for the postal applications, however if you are submitting the application in person you need to bring the original supporting documents and copies of the same.
Yes, as the legal guardian you can submit child’s application only if you certify child’s photos and application from an approved certifying agent.

When posting applications to the consulate, applications send via registered post will only be accepted. Please include, in addition to the application requirements, a self-addressed registered envelope in which the passport can be posted back to the applicant (make sure you do not tear off the slip on the envelope to be posted back to you).

Please note: Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne does not take responsibility for any loss in the post.

The Consulate should be informed of any change of address via email: mail@slcgmel.org

You need to provide a letter of confirmation of your profession/job from your employer for this or submit your degree/professional qualification documents as proof.

NMRP (Non-Machine Readable Passport)” Emergency Passport”

The NMRP is a travel document issued to Sri Lankan/s whose passport has been lost, stolen or expired whilst in a foreign country. It can be used only once and restricted only to travel to Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan who has already applied for a normal passport can obtain an NMRP to travel to Sri Lanka. While in Sri Lanka he/she can collect his/her normal passport.
You can obtain these documents from Overseas Sri Lankan Missions. ( Embassies/ High Commissions/ Consulates General)
An NMRP is valid only for one way travel to Sri Lanka.
You have to submit an application (Form K) for an NMRP.

C. Registration of Births

It should be addressed to “Registrar General, Registrar General’s Office, Colombo” and submit with the application.
You can register your child’s birth at the Consulate. Application “form B4” should be used to register children within three months of their birth. If older than three months please use “form B6”. You do not need to affix stamps on either forms (B4 or B6). If your submitting birth registration documents at the Consulate in person you do not need to get forms signed by an authorised person. The Consulate officials can sign these forms.
Yes, you do need this document to prove that your child is a Sir Lankan citizen borne outside Sri Lanka. It also gives him/her rights and privileges pertaining to a Sri Lankan citizen until the age of 21. This document is also required to obtain a Sri Lankan passport for your child.
No. You cannot register your child’s birth under Sri Lankan law. The child cannot get a Sri Lankan passport too. At the time of the birth of the child at least one parent must have been a citizen of Sri Lanka or a dual citizen.
No. You cannot submit English translations of supporting documents (mainly used for migration purposes). The originals should be submitted and will be returned after checking the authenticity.
Yes. You should submit those old passport copies with visa pages. You also have to submit copies of your latest passports and visa status.

D. Attestations

You must be a Sri Lankan citizen. You have to present your valid Sri Lankan passport, latest visa status (VEVO) or dual citizenship certificate. If you are an Australian citizen who requires a Sri Lankan power of attorney certified through us please follow the following steps: I. Certify your power of attorney document through a registered Notary Public of Australia. ii. Submit the certified power of attorney to the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia for authentication. iii. After that please submit the document to the Consulate for attestation. The fee for this is AUS$ 35/-. Once the document is attested at the Consulate it can be sent to Sri Lanka.
Yes. You should come in person for this purpose.
Yes. However we are only authorised to attest Sri Lankan documents that belongs to Sri Lankan citizens. Originals must be submitted for attestations. If you have an Australian document that needs attestation it should be first authenticated by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Melbourne prior to our attestation.

E. Police Clearance certificates

Once you submit the application, it is sent to the Police Head Quarters in Colombo Sri Lanka. Thereafter there will be police inquiries about you which we have no authority to intervene.
Please include, in addition to the application requirements, a self-addressed registered envelope in which the certificate can be posted back to the applicant (make sure you do not tear off the slip on the envelope to be posted back to you). Please note: Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne does not take responsibility for any loss in the post.
Question 08. Reference of the High Commission/Embassy/Consulate Answer : Melbourne Question 09. High Commission/Embassy/Consulate Name (Addressee & the Name of the authority) Answer: Consulate General of Sri Lanka Melbourne Australia

F. Dual-Citizenship

No, each member of your family required to submit separate applications (Form “S”) for dual-citizenship.
All of your documents of Australian origin such as citizenship, marriage certificate, change of name certificate, educational certificates such as university degrees, diplomas etc need to be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) prior to submission of your application. Copies of Australian passport need only certification by the DFAT. You do not need to do “Apostille” of the documents at the DFAT.
We require the Australian Federal Police (AFP) clearance certificate with a background name check only
You have to make payment/s in cash at the Department of Immigration and Emigration only. The Consulate General in Melbourne or any other Sri Lankan Embassy is not authorised to receive this payment. If you are unable to make the payment personally you may authorise a person to do so on your behalf. The dual citizenship certificates are awarded in Colombo at an official ceremony. If you are unable to attend the ceremony you may authorise a person to attend and receive certificate on your behalf. Please note that the Department of Immigration and Emigration communicates directly with the applicants relating to payments and award ceremony. Therefore, the Consulate General will not have any information on these events.

You can visit the website www.immigration.gov.lk and click ….

For Embassy reference number please insert the reference number given by the Consulate General. For example AUS/MEL/DC/……..

The Department of Immigration will send you an email once your application is approved.
No, you have to make the payment at the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka in Colombo. If you are unable to effect the payment personally, you can authorise a person to make the payment in Colombo. You can also nominate a person to receive the dual citizenship certificate on your behalf to the Department of Immigration & Emigration if you are unable to attend the ceremony in Colombo.
You have to submit a fresh application/s for your family members with a written request from you as the main applicant to Controller General/Immigration & Emigration to grant dual citizenship for your family members. You must submit a copy of your dual citizenship certificate with these application/s. (Family members are spouse and children under 21 years of age only). Children over the age of 21 years should have to submit separate applications for dual citizenship if they fulfill relevant requirements.

The Consulate General cannot mention about exact time period of an outcome of your application. If you have not heard about a decision on your application from the Department of Immigration & Emigration it would be appropriate for you to wait until a decision is taken on your application before attempting to obtain Australian citizenship.

G. Visa

Yes, if you are staying in Sri Lanka for more than 24 hours you need to obtain a visa.

Please visit www.eta.gov.lk for online visa applications.

Yes, to enter Sri Lanka, passports should have validity of at least six months on the date of arrival. It must have page/s to stamp visa.
No, you have to lodge your application through your nearest Sri Lankan Overseas Mission (Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate General).
  1. Application form
  2. Valid passport
  3. Travel Itinerary
  4. Two passport size photos
Visa processing time is 5 working days provided that the application is submitted with all supporting documents.
Yes, your passport is required to be kept at the Consulate when you submit the application as the visa needs to be stamped in your passport.
Please include, in addition to the application requirements, a self-addressed registered envelope in which the passport can be posted back to the applicant (make sure you do not tear off the slip on the envelope to be posted back to you). Please note: Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne does not take responsibility for any loss in the post.

H. Driving License Verification

You have to submit a letter of request to “Commissioner General, Department of Motor Traffic” in Colombo, Sri Lanka to issue you a driving license verification along with a copy of your current Sri Lankan driving license/ a copy of your passport to the Consulate General in Melbourne. Payment for this is AUD 35.