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Sri Lanka

Visa Information and Lodgement

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Country coverage

The visa office provides immigration and visa services to clients in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Travelling without a visa label

You need to have a valid visa to travel to Australia. We do not require you to have a visa label placed into your passport for travel to Australia. This is known as 'label-free' travel, making travel to Australia simpler and more secure.

If you are transiting or exiting through another country, you need to check with the relevant government authorities about whether you need to show a visa label in your passport. We cannot advise you on other countries’ requirements.

More information on travelling to Australia without a visa label and how to confirm your visa entitlements is available.
See: About your visa

Biometrics collection

The Australian Government is introducing biometrics collection into the visa application process.

All people, regardless of nationality, lodging paper-based visa applications in Sri Lanka are required to attend an Australian Visa Application Centre in person to lodge your application and provide your biometrics. A 10 digit fingerprint scan and a facial photograph will be collected.
Note: Clients lodging applications from the Maldives will not need to provide their biometrics.

Lodging a visa application

At an Australian Visa Application Centre

The department has an agreement with VFS Global to provide Australian visa lodgement services in Sri Lanka through an Australian Visa Application Centre. The Australian Visa Application Centre accepts applications for Australian visas. You can lodge your applications in person through the Australian Visa Application Centre.
Note: The Australian Visa Application Centre does not accept couriered or posted applications.

Important: Applications from the Maldives can be lodged in the Maldives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Maldives and are forwarded to the Australian High Commission in Colombo for processing. Arrangements can be made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to courier applications directly to the Australian High Commission, Colombo.
See: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Maldives

Further information on the Australian Visa Application Centre and their services is available from their website.
See: VFS Global

By post or courier to the Australian High Commission

Please ensure you have enclosed the appropriate visa application charge. Sponsors can also pay at any departmental office in Australia and include the official receipt with the application.
See:
Method of Payment Accepted at Australian Missions
Contacts – Sri Lanka
Note: If you lodge your application directly with the High Commission you will still need to go to the Australian Visa Application Centre to provide biometrics.
See: VFS Global

At the Australian High Commission in person

To lodge in person at the High Commission you will need to make an appointment, however you can lodge your application at the Australian Visa Application Centre during business hours without an appointment. Contact the High Commission to make an appointment.
See: Contacts – Sri Lanka > Client Counter Hours
Note: If you lodge your application directly with the High Commission, you will still need to go to the Australian Visa Application Centre to provide biometrics.
See: VFS Global

Permanent entry visas

Partner, prospective marriage, child, remaining relative, carer and aged dependent relative visa applications from applicants usually living in one of the countries in country coverage list above are processed in Colombo.

Applications for general skilled, business innovation and investment, Distinguished Talent (subclass 124), Former Resident (subclass 151) and parent subclasses are lodged and processed in Australia.

For Points Based Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190 and 489) and Business Innovation and Investment (subclasses 132 and 188) visas you will have to submit a complete Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation to apply.
See: SkillSelect

Former Resident (subclass 151) applications are lodged and processed at the Perth Office.
See: Perth Office

Distinguished Talent (subclass 124) visas must be lodged (by post or courier) and are processed at the Adelaide Business Skills Processing Centre.
See:
Distinguished Talent Visa (offshore) (subclass 124)
Adelaide Business Skills Processing Centre

Contributory parent and parent migration applications are lodged and processed at the Parent Visa Centre.
See: Parent Visa Centre

Refugee and Humanitarian visas

Clients from South Asia whose application for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa is accompanied by a proposal form (form 681) must lodge their application at the department’s NSW Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre. This applies to people who are lodging a visa for consideration under the Global Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) or as an immediate family member.
See:
Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia
NSW Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre

All other Refugee and Humanitarian applications should be directed to the closest immigration office outside Australia.

Temporary entry visas

Passport holders from the Maldives who want to visit Australia as a tourist are eligible to apply online for a Visitor visa (e600).
See: Visitor (e600) Visa – Online Applications

Paper temporary entry visa applications except the below applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre and are processed at the Australian High Commission, Colombo. Applications from the Maldives can be lodged in the Maldives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are processed at the Australian High Commission, Colombo.

401 Temporary Work (Long-stay Activity) (Subclass 401) visa - Exchange, Sport and Religious Worker streams. Sponsorship and nomination applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – NSW.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - NSW

401 Temporary Work (Long-stay Activity) (Subclass 401) visa – Domestic Worker (Executive) stream. Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - ACT
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - ACT

402 Training and Research visa – Research stream sponsorship applications only.
Professional Development stream sponsorship and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – Tasmania.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - Tasmania

402 Training and Research visa – Occupational Trainee stream sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – SA.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - SA

416 Special Program applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – Tasmania.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - Tasmania

420 Entertainment sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Entertainment Visa Centre - NSW.
See: Entertainment Visa Centre - NSW

Applications for the Sponsored Family stream of the Visitor (subclass 600) visa must be lodged in Australia. These applications will be processed at one of the Sponsored Family Visitor processing centres.
See: Sponsored Family Visitor Processing Centres

457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visas can be applied for using SkillSelect. If you are:

If you are sponsored by an Australian employer, you must lodge your visa application at the same office in Australia where your employer lodged papers to support your application. Please ask your employer at which office they lodged these papers.
See: Contact Us – Australian Offices

Citizenship

Applications for Citizenship by Descent can be lodged at the Australian High Commission, Colombo or at the Australian Visa Application Centre

Applications for Australian citizenship general eligibility and other situations, and applications to resume or renounce (give up) Australian citizenship should be lodged at the ACT and Regions Office.
See:
Application process for Australian citizenship
Application process to resume Australian citizenship
Giving up your citizenship
ACT and Regions Office