• Strict enforcement mechanisms to protect local job market
• Immigration Dept. warns of visa cancellations for those in breach

Authorities warn that any foreign national found engaging in local employment will face immediate visa cancellation, given the strict monitoring mechanisms and mandatory tax compliance requirements of Sri Lanka’s new Digital Nomad Visa.

The new visa category is aimed at attracting remote workers who earn a minimum foreign income of $ 2,000 per month. 

The initiative is intended to tap into the expanding global remote work market, increase foreign currency inflows, and stimulate sectors such as tourism, accommodation, and services. 

However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the local job market if visa holders attempt to seek employment within Sri Lanka.

Immigration and Emigration Controller General Chaminda Pathiraja confirmed to The Sunday Morning that enforcement mechanisms were in place to prevent such violations. 

“Our investigation units, together with the Police, are empowered to monitor compliance with the conditions attached to this visa. If a foreign national is found to be engaged in local employment in breach of the visa terms, the resident visa will be cancelled without delay,” he stated.

According to him, authorities will not require monthly proof of income during the initial stay. Instead, compliance with the minimum income requirement will be reviewed during the visa validity period, particularly at the time of renewal.

“Applicants are required to demonstrate that they meet the income threshold when seeking an extension after the initial one-year period. During that time, monitoring will be conducted to ensure that the required conditions continue to be satisfied,” Pathiraja explained.

Tax compliance is a central component of the renewal process. Digital nomads who remain in Sri Lanka for extended periods will be required to regularise their tax position with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) before any visa extension is granted.

“Proof of payment of estimated taxes will be required before an extension is approved,” he said.

The application process for the Digital Nomad Visa involves coordination between multiple Government agencies. Applicants are not permitted to apply directly to the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the outset.

“All applications must initially be submitted to the Ministry of Digital Economy. Once the ministry evaluates the application and issues its formal recommendation, the applicant may then proceed to submit the resident visa application to the Department of Immigration and Emigration,” Pathiraja clarified.

Detailed eligibility criteria and procedural guidelines have been published on the official websites of both the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Ministry of Digital Economy. As the programme has only recently been launched, official data on the number of applications received has not been compiled yet.

Pathiraja stated that the Government intended to assess the effectiveness of the initiative after its first year of operation, after which any necessary adjustments would be determined.

The Digital Nomad Visa forms part of Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to attract foreign earnings while safeguarding domestic employment and ensuring regulatory compliance.