Dual Citizenship

For Sri Lankan citizens in France wishing to retain or resume Sri Lankan citizenship

Sri Lankan citizens residing in France with permanent resident status who intend to acquire French citizenship without renouncing their Sri Lankan citizenship, and individuals of Sri Lankan origin who have acquired French citizenship and wish to resume their Sri Lankan citizenship in accordance with the Sri Lankan Citizenship Act, are eligible to apply for Dual Citizenship through the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris.

The Dual Citizenship process is administered by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) in Colombo. The Embassy's role is limited to facilitate the acceptance and forwarding of applications to the Department of Immigration in Colombo.

Dual Citizenship is available as:

Resumption of Citizenship:  Section 19(2) For former Sri Lankan citizens who have already obtained a foreign  citizenship and now wish to resume Sri Lankan citizenship.

Retention of Citizenship: Section 19(3) For current Sri Lankan citizens who are in the process of obtaining foreign citizenship and wish to retain Sri Lankan citizenship.

Eligible categories for Dual Citizenship.

Applicants are required to choose one of the following categories when applying for dual citizenship.

1. Age Category - As an applicant who exceed the age of 55 years
2. Academic/Professional Category
3. Assets/Properties in Sri Lanka
4. Fixed Deposit (LKR 2.5 million or above)
5. Fixed Deposit (USD 25,000/- or above)
6. Investment in Treasury Bonds/SIA (USD 25,000/- or above)
7. Dependent (Spouse or Children under 22 years of age of a main applicant

Required Documents for All Applicants

1. Application form
2. Three passport photographs (one should be affixed to the application). Size: 35 cm x 4.5 cm. specified requirements
3. Original Sri Lankan Birth Certificate. Translations are not accepted. The signature of the issuing Registrar, his/her details, and the official stamp on the reverse page must be clearly visible.  Must be in good, legible condition. Torn or worn certificates will not be accepted.

Additional Documents Required [For Resumption Applicants]

• Previous Sri Lankan passport (if any)
• Copy of the Sri Lankan National Identity Card (If any)
• Foreign citizenship certificate
• Foreign passport
• Conviction History Report (Police Clearance / Criminal Record) from the Ministry of Justice of France/, issued within the last 3 months (Not required for applicants below 16 years of age)

Additional Documents Required [For Retention Applicants]

• Current Sri Lankan passport
• Copy of the Sri Lankan National Identity Card (If any)
• Certified Copy of permanent residence visa

• Conviction History Report (Police Clearance / Criminal Record) from French Ministry of Justice and/or the from the country which the applicant currently resides, with English translations, issued within the last 3 months (Not required for applicants below 16 years of age)

IMPORTANT 

if the applicant has changed his/her name after acquiring the foreign nationality, an attestation of concordance which has been issued by a French Lawyer/Notary and duly legalized by French Foreign Ministry should be submitted along with its English translation.

(Please note that the original translations are retained by the Embassy in order to send to Department of Immigration & Emigration.)

Additional Documents Required [Based on the Category]

1. Age Category : Not Required
2. Academic/Professional Category : Applicant’s Educational / Professional certificates. (Minimum one year Diploma or higher, or any other professional qualification.)

• French Certificates are required to legalised by the from the French foreign ministry, and then the certified document should be translated into English.
• If the educational qualification has been obtained from the institutions/universities located in countries other than France, the applicant should attest such document and course transcription from the relevant Embassy in France.

3. Assets/Properties in Sri Lanka: As an applicant who owns assets/immovable properties in Sri Lanka worth LKR 2.5 million or above.

• If the property is a shard property between applicant and spouse or siblings, the applicant should have the proprietorship of portion of the property worth 2.5 million rupees or more.
• The applicant should have the proprietorship of the land before acquisition of his or her foreign nationality. The properties purchased after obtaining the foreign nationality cannot be accepted for dual citizenship application.
• If a Sri Lankan parent awards a deed of gift to the applicant after acquiring foreign nationality, those deed of gifts can be considered for dual nationality application. Note: Deed of gifts should be transferred to the applicant (awardee) as uncancellable and without retaining any rights to the awarder.
• Original Deed If the deed is in Tamil, an English translation must be submitted along with. (If applying using a gift deed, it should be a deed register 10 years back from the date of application.)
• Original valuation report (not older than 3 months, prepared by a registered valuer who has registered at the Department of Valuation)
• Title repot with pedigree (not older than 3 months) 

4. Fixed Deposit: As an applicant who has a fixed deposit of LKR 2.5 million or above for a minimum of 03-year period in any of the commercial banks approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

• Confirmation letter from the bank mentioning that deposit will not be withdrawn before a period of 3 years for obtaining dual citizenship and “the fixed deposit is exclusively opened for the application of dual citizenship”. This letter should be submitted along with the application immediately after receiving from the bank, (i.e. within one month’s time of the date
  of the letter) as it requires to fulfil 3 years period in the bank. 

5. Fixed Deposit: As an applicant who has a fixed deposit of USD 25,000/- or above for a minimum of 03-year period under Non-Resident Foreign Currency Account (NRFC), Resident Foreign Currency Account (RFC) or Senior
   Foreign Invest Deposit Account (SFIDA) in any of the commercial banks approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

• The relevant fixed deposit certificate. Confirmation letter from the bank mentioning that deposit will not be withdrawn before a period of 3 years for obtaining dual citizenship and “the fixed deposit is exclusively opened for the application of dual citizenship”. This letter should be submitted along with the application immediately after receiving from the bank, (i.e. within one month’s time of the date of the letter) as it requires to fulfil 3 years period in the bank.

6. Investment in Treasury Bonds/SIA: As an applicant who has invested USD 25,000/- or above for a minimum of 03-year period under TB (Treasury bonds) or SIA (Security Investment Account)

• A certificate from the relevant Authority confirming the investment will not be withdrawn prior to maturity for obtaining dual
  citizenship.

7. Dependent (Spouse or Children under 22 years of age): Qualifying by way of the spouse of the main applicant or as an unmarried child under the age of 22 of the main applicant. A spouse or children eligible under this provision shall be limited to a person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948 or a person whose citizenship in Sri Lanka is likely to cease.

• For children, applications should be submitted prior to completion of the age of 21 years and 06 months. Applicants who have completed the age of 21 years and 06 months will not be entertained under this category with effect from 01.07.2019.

     For spouse : Original Marriage Certificate

     For Children : Original Sri Lankan Birth Certificate

                              Original Sri Lankan Citizenship Certificate (If the child is born outside Sri Lanka 

*If Minors under 22 are applying for dual Nationality under Dependant Category, either Mother or Father should apply along with them. If not, the minor should apply as a main applicant after completing age of 18 by choosing a category.

Renunciation of Sri Lankan citizenship

An applicant who expects to renounce his or her Sri Lankan citizenship must forward following documents:

1. A letter of request addressed to controller general department of immigration and imigration Sri Lanka.
2. Original Sri Lankan dual citizenship certificate.
3. Original Sri Lankan passport.
4. Original Sri Lanka national Identity card.
5. What is Venezuela can birth certificate.
6. Duly filled and attested form k

Department of immigration and emigration Sri Lanka (Controller General/DIE) will communicate with the applicant directly after the documents are submitted.

Application Submission:

1. Applicants can submit the application directly to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. 
2. In-person submission to the Embassy in France - Embassy of Sri Lanka in France,16 Rue Spontini, 75016 Paris 

• Originals and one set of A4 size of photocopies must be submitted. Application must be signed in the presence of the Embassy official. Justice of the Peace (JP) certification is not required All original documents will be returned over the counter 

3. By sending all the required documents by Post: Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, 16 Rue Spontini, 75016 Paris

• For the applicants who are not preferred with the in-person submission.
• Originals and one set of A 4 size of photocopies must be submitted.
• Application must be signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace (JP)
• JP certification required for all your signatures and copies of supporting documents.
• Required a prepaid, self-addressed return courier cover (signature required) via Post (to return your documents)
• Consular fee payable via bank transfer (payment details will be provided after receipt of the application)
• Applicants are recommended to use the signature required Post courier service to send the documents.

Disclaimer Notice 

The embassyFrance will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to your documents during postal / courier transit 

Fees & Processing Time

The Dual Citizenship fee will be charged after the approval of the Minister is granted. The Department will advise the applicant via email to proceed with the payment.

The fee can be paid:

In Sri Lankan Rupees by cash or credit/debit card at the Shroff Counter, Citizenship Division, 4th Floor, Department of Immigration and Emigration, "Suhurupaya", Battaramulla

Alternatively, payment can be made online in US Dollars using the payment link provided in the email

Application Fees :

• Applicant USD $ 2000
• Spouse USD $ 500
• Children USD $ 500

Consular Fee :

• Dual Affidavit €64
• Certified Copies of French Documents - €12/ each document