If you’re still riding the digital nomad wave or looking for your next home away from home to work remotely, you might be able to add Sri Lanka to your list of options. The South Asian country officially launched digital nomad visas in February.
The visa is aimed at “attracting foreign professionals who wish to live and work remotely in Sri Lanka while providing services to clients and companies based abroad,” Sri Lanka’s Immigration Local Visa Division said online.
To qualify, applicants must meet several qualifications, including:
You are employed by a company based in another country, you are a freelancer, or you run a business that is not registered in Sri Lanka. Must have a minimum monthly income of $2,000. For applicants with two or more dependents, the amount increases by $500 for each additional dependent. Applicants must provide proof of a minimum monthly income. You must have health insurance and suitable accommodation for the duration of your stay. Please refrain from political or subversive activities. Please provide evidence of your clean criminal record from your home country.
sri lanka
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According to the Immigration Bureau, each applicant must pay $500 to apply for a visa.
Once the applicant has prepared all the documents, he or she must submit the required documents online to the Immigration and Residency Management Local Visa Division. If approved, a visa approval will be issued to the applicant’s passport. It is renewable annually, but after the first year, applicants must submit a Sri Lankan tax return.
Digital nomad visa holders will be allowed to open a personal bank account in Sri Lanka, enroll their dependent children in international or private schools, and attend co-working spaces and tourism-related events organized by the government and private organizations.
Any changes to a digital nomad visa holder’s employment, income, or dependents must be notified to the Immigration Department within 30 days.
The rise of the digital nomad visa
Digital nomad visa programs have grown in popularity in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. As of 2025, more than 50 regions and countries offer programs for digital nomads, including Italy, Bulgaria, and Spain.
The Sri Lankan digital nomad visa is similar to visas for other countries in Europe and Asia. The length of time a nomad can stay varies by location, but most countries allow between six months and a year.
If you plan to live and work remotely from another country, in addition to obtaining a visa, there are additional factors to keep in mind. For example, according to H&R Block, you must file a U.S. tax return even if you are an American with more than the minimum income required to file (depending on your filing status).
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