Sri Lanka Unveils Digital Nomad Visa With $2,000 Minimum Monthly Income
February 6, 2026
The threshold places the program within the mid‑range of an increasingly competitive digital nomad visa market; undercuts regional peers.
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
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Program Type:
Independent Means Visa
Processing Time:
1-2 months
Citizenship Timeline:
5 years
Permanent Residency Timeline:
N/A
Physical Presence Required:
None
Citizenship Visa-Free Access:
40 countries
Minimum Contribution:
None
On This Page
Program Overview
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
Sri Lanka’s Independent Means Visas – the Resident Guest Scheme (Professional Category) and the My Dream Home Scheme – offer residence permits with a validity of 2-5 years for those who can demonstrate a monthly income of at least US$1,500.
There is no path to permanent residency, but the Resident Guest qualification route offers a path to citizenship after five years of residency.
Sri Lanka’s passport, however, is a relatively weak travel document: It affords visa-free travel to only 40 destinations.
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
How to Qualify
Independent Means Visas in Sri Lanka come in two forms:
- The Resident Guest Scheme – Professional Category
- The My Dream Home Scheme
1. Resident Guest Scheme – Professional Category
To qualify under this option, the applicant must remit to a special bank account in Sri Lanka
- US$2,000 a month to cover the living expenses of the main applicant
- US$1,000 a month per dependent
The visa is valid for five years, upon which the applicant becomes eligible for citizenship by registration in Sri Lanka.
2. My Dream Home Scheme
To qualify under the this option, the applicant must
- Remit US$15,000 to a fixed deposit account in a Sri Lanka bank
- Remit, each month, US$1,500 for the principal applicant along with an additional US$750 per dependent
- Possess a health insurance valid in Sri Lanka
This visa is valid for two years at a time, but is renewable indefinitely. This category of qualification offers no path to citizenship.
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
Salient Benefits
- No investment required
- Short processing time
- Minimal physical presence requirements
- Low taxes
- Low cost of living
- Warm climate
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
Citizenship Timeline and Requirements
Generally, Sri Lanka issues only temporary residency visas; no permanent residency is available.
Citizenship by registration, moreover, is only available to those applying under the Resident Guest Scheme category. Applicants in this category are eligible for citizenship after five years.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
Program Authority and Legal Basis
Applications for this program may be directed to Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.
Legislation upon which this program is based Citizenship Act of Sri Lanka, No. 18 of 1948.
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
IMI Pros Who Can Help You
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
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Sri Lanka Independent Means Visas
Program Statistics
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.