It wasn’t that long ago that every country wanted to jump onto the Digital Nomad Visa wagon. What seemed like a phase following the pandemic, quickly gained traction after people around the world began falling in love with working from home. This swiftly turned into “working remotely” and it didn’t take long for employees to realize that the word “remote” could mean literally anywhere. Countries swiftly jumped aboard, and rumors of Digital Nomad Visa’s sprang up nearly everywhere. Now, almost four years after it was first touted, the Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa is a reality.
For those that have been keeping an eye out for this, it has been a long time coming. Popular destinations such as Thailand, Mexico, Bali and Portugal were early to the party, and now over fifty countries around the world offer a version of the Digital Nomad Visa. Sri Lanka, it seems, has been a little slow. But then, all good things are worth waiting for, right?
Sri Lanka has fast become one of the most popular destinations for budget travelers outside of Southeast Asia. With its incredibly beautiful and unique scenery, diverse wildlife, and deep-rooted culture, there’s no wonder that it has quickly shot to the top of the bucket lists for not just backpackers and the budget conscious, but also the serious traveler. For those that are looking to take advantage of longer stays and really immerse themselves in everything that the country has to offer, a Digital Nomad Visa is a no brainer.
Who is eligible for the Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa?
As with any Digital Nomad Visa around the world, there are certain criteria that need to be met for eligibility. While they are much the same no matter where you are, they do differ a little from country to country.
Here is a quick run-down of what you will need for the Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa.
- You must be over 18 years of age.
- Minimum earnings of USD2000 per month. That’s around AUD2837.
- No earnings are to be made within Sri Lanka. In other words you must only work for clients OUTSIDE of Sri Lanka.
- Cost for the Visa is USD500 per year. (AUD710).
- You can bring up to two children, however for each child you will need to earn an extra USD500 per month. The Visa for each child will cost the same as your Digital Nomad Visa.
What else do I need to know?
Like most digital nomad visa’s you need to abide by the rules and local laws. Behave, don’t engage in anything illegal or disruptive and pay your taxes. Follow the rules about working only for clients outside of the country, and don’t forget to inform immigration about changes in your circumstances such as income, dependents and employment. You have 30 days to notify them about any of these changes.
Applications are easy and can be made directly to the Department of Immigration in Sri Lanka.
