How to Get a Police Certificate - Sri Lanka

Do I need to provide a Police Certificate with my Application for Permanent Residence? Yes

Name of document(s) to get: Police Clearance Certificate

How to get a Police Certificate

If you are a citizen of Sri Lanka

If you live in Sri Lanka:

You should apply in person to the main police headquarters in Colombo (see Special notes and considerations for complete address). In the section of the application form dealing with the period covered by the police clearance, you should request “other” and specify “since birth.”

Police certificates are available to women who have married a non-national.

If you live outside of Sri Lanka:

You can apply at your nearest Sri Lankan Embassy/Consulate or you can mail your application and applicable fees by registered mail to:

Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka

If you live in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, you can apply at:

Consulate of Sri Lanka
9-D Nawab Habibullah Avenue
Anderson Road
Chennai 600 006

If you are not a citizen of Sri Lanka

If you live in Sri Lanka:

You should apply in person to the main police headquarters in Colombo (see Special notes and considerations for complete address). In the section of the application form dealing with the period covered by the police clearance, you should request “other” and specify “since birth.”

Police certificates are available to non-nationals who have legal status in the country.

If you do not have legal status, you are not required to provide a Sri Lankan police certificate. If you are asked for a Sri Lankan police certificate, write: “I cannot provide a police certificate for the time I spent in Sri Lanka because certificates are only available to people who have legal status.”

If you live outside of Sri Lanka:

You can apply at your nearest Sri Lankan Embassy/Consulate or you can mail your application and applicable fees by registered mail to:

Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka

If you live in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, you can apply at:
Consulate of Sri Lanka
9-D Nawab Habibullah Avenue
Anderson Road
Chennai 600 006

Police certificates are available to non-nationals who have legal status in the country.

If you do not have legal status, you are not required to provide a Sri Lankan police certificate. If you are asked for a Sri Lankan police certificate, write: “I cannot provide a police certificate for the time I spent in Sri Lanka because certificates are only available to people who have legal status.”

Information and documents you need

• Application form (available in .pdf format) (PDF, 297 KB)
• Your NIC (National Identification Card) and two (2) copies
• Your valid passport and one (1) copy
• A self-addressed envelope with stamps to the return value (if you apply by mail)
• Applicable fees

Special notes and considerations

Police Headquarters Colombo – 01, Telephone: +(94-11)-242 1111, ext. 437

Visit the Sri Lanka Police Service website for more information.

For women, searches are done based on NIC regardless if married or not.