Instructions




 

FRA 009 Dual Citizenship

Sri Lankan nationals residing in France and other concurrently accredited countries which include Spain, Portugal, Monaco and Andorra.

Where to apply forward your application to the following office.

Respective Country

 

Office and Contact details

France

Spain

Portugal

Monaco

Andorra

Visiting Address

Mailing Address

 

General Contacts

 

 

Email :

Website:

 

Consular hours:

 

Embassy of Sri Lanka in France

16 Rue Spontini, 75016 Paris

 

Tel: 0033 155 73 31 31

Fax: 0033 155 73 18 79

 

 

Consular@srilankaembassy.fr

 

http://www.srilankaembassy.fr

 

Monday to Friday (Except public Holidays)

Receiving applications: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

Issuance of documents: 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

 

 

  1. who are eligible to apply for dual citizenship?

There are two circumstances:

    1. A person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has been ceased under sections 19 20 or 21 of the citizenship act number 18 of 1948

Resumption:  section 19 (2) of the said act makes provisions in respect of a person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased due to obtaining citizenship in another country and who thereafter desires to resume the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka.

    1. A person whose citizenship of Sri Lanka is likely to cease

Retention section 19 (3) of the said act provisions in respect of a person who is having a desire to obtain citizenship in another country but intends to retain the citizenship of Sri Lanka as well.

  1. Steps to be taken and checklist for dual citizenship application:

 

Description

Important remarks

 

1

 

2

3

4

5

 

 

6

 

 

7

 

8

 

 

 

9

 

10

 

General guidelines for the application process

Application form – compulsory

  • Applications are accepted during the consular hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. (By appointment)
  • To be completed in “block capitals”
  • Delete inappropriate words
  • Mention if any part is “Not relevant”
  • each member of the family must submit a separate application along with 3 passport size colour photographs. Affix one of those photographs in the top right-hand corner of the first page of the application.
  • any applicant who belongs to one of the categories mentioned in section 1 of the application (A to G) can apply for dual citizenship

Please mark (ѵ) in the relevant cage.

  • Note: The requirements under each category are given separately under number 4.
  • All applicants are requested to submit their applications with a covering letter providing full name of the applicant postal address contact numbers and email address if required applicants will be contacted through this contact details.
  • The statement in the application should be supported by an affidavit made by the applicant before a justice of peace or a commissioner of oaths.
  • When submitting the application in person if it could be certified by the officials of the embassy.

 

 

11

Payment Method

If the Applicant physically visits the Embassy, he/she can pay the fees by cash.

Note: Credit/Debit card and personal or Company cheques will not be accepted.

 

12

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

15

 

 

 

16

 

 

17

 

18

General Documents to be submitted

  • Duly filled application form and passport size 03 colour photographs.
  • Original birth certificate with a perfectly clear photocopy. (Please note that, the original birth certificate will be retained by the Embassy, to be sent to Colombo based on the condition of the document) the birth certificates issued by the Registrar General, District Registrar, Divisional Secretary or a Consular birth certificate issued by any Sri Lankan overseas Mission only will be accepted. The photocopies certified other parties or translations will not be considered as original documents.
  • If the Applicant is a citizen of Sri Lanka by registration the original citizenship certificate (5(2) under the Citizenship Act) with a clear photocopy. (this is mandatory for the applicants born outside Sri Lanka)
  • Original Marriage certificate if the applicant is married.

Note: An English translation is to be submitted along with the marriage certificate if the original marriage certificate is in any language other than Sinhala, English, or Tamil.

  • Police clearance from the French Ministry of Justice and/or the from the country which the applicant currently resides, with its/their English translation/s. The police report should not be older than 3 months.
  • Previous Sri Lankan passport/s if available with a photocopy

 

IMPORTANT – if the applicant has changed his/her name after acquiring the foreign nationality, an attestation of concordance which has been issued by a French Lawyer/Notary and duly legalized by French Foreign Ministry should be submitted along with its English translation. 

  • Sri Lankan National identity card if available, with a photocopy

19

 

20

 

 

Documents in the case of resumption (in addition to the above general documents)

  • Original Foreign Citizenship certificate (Acquisition of Foreign Citizenship) with its English translation
  • Valid Foreign passport with copies of the Bio data page and endorsement/alteration pages.

Checklist – retention of Sri Lankan nationality (section 19 (2)

21

Documents in the case of retention (in addition to the above general documents)

Current valid Sri Lankan passport and a photocopy of biodata page and copies of alteration and observation pages.

Original valid Permanent resident visa card/ Immigrant card with a clear photocopy

Checklist – retention of Sri Lankan nationality (section 19 (3))

 

22. special notes (important)

  1. Application categories and supporting evidence in respective categories

The applicant can choose a category for applying for dual citizenship. These categories are given in page 1 and 2 of the application under (eligible categories for dual citizenship)

 

    1. As an applicant above the age of 55 years

 

Can apply with the basic documents mentioned above under section 12 (general documents to be submitted).

    1. As an applicant who fulfils the academic or professional qualification criteria (minimum one-year diploma or higher or any professional qualifications)

 

  • Original educational or professional qualification certificates of not less than 12 months course program with the photocopy. (01-year Diploma, Degree or above)
  • If the application is submitted under professional category on qualification obtained in France, such educational or professional certificate should be submitted with the legalisation from the French foreign ministry, and then the certified document should be translated into English.
  • The embassy charges the prescribed consular fee for attestation of above certificate (€4 per certificate)
  • The main document of the certification should indicate the duration of the course program. If not, the applicant should obtain a course transcription which mentions the course duration (length) from the relevant university or awarding body.
  • If the educational qualification has been obtained from the institutions/universities located in countries other than France, the applicant should attest such document and course transcription from the relevant Embassy in France.
    1. As an applicant who owns assets or immovable properties in Sri Lanka worth rupees 2.5 million or above.

 

      • Originals of the documentary proof of applicant’s assets (lands or other available properties in Sri Lanka worth Rs. 2.5 million or above.)
      • If the land or the property is gifted, the gift Deed has to be more than 10 years.  
      • The original deed of the property along with a photocopy. If the deed is in Tamil, an English translation must be submitted along with.
      • The title report for 30 years along with a pedigree of 30 years of the property which includes the deed number of the property. The land extracts obtained from the divisional secretariat are not accepted. The title report should be prepared by an attorney of law. The title report should be valid for 3-months from the date of issue. The original of the title report should be sent to Colombo along with the application.
      • The valuation report obtained from an incorporated valuer of the valuation department of Sri Lanka should be accompanied. The evaluation report should include a valuation of rupees 2.5 million or more. The report should include the deed number of the relevant property. The valuation report should have 3 months validity from the date of issue. The valuation reports issued by court commissioners cannot be accepted.
      • If the property is a shard property between applicant and spouse or siblings, the applicant should have the proprietorship of portion of the property worth 2.5 million rupees or more.
      • The applicant should have the proprietorship of the land before acquisition of his or her foreign nationality. The properties purchased after obtaining the foreign nationality cannot be accepted for dual citizenship application.
      • If a Sri Lankan parent awards a deed of gift to the applicant after acquiring foreign nationality, those deed of gifts can be considered for dual nationality application.
      • Note: Deed of gifts should be transferred to the applicant (awardee) as uncancellable and without retaining any rights to the awarder.
  •  
    1. As an applicant who has a fixed deposit of Rs. 2.5 million or above for a minimum of three years period in any commercial Bank approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

 

  • A confirmation letter from the bank mentioning the fixed deposit amount, the account number and account holders name, passport number and with the statements of “the money not be withdrawn within a period of three years” and “the fixed deposit is exclusively opened for the application of dual citizenship”
  • This letter should be submitted along with the application immediately after receiving from the bank, (i.e. within one month’s time of the date of the letter) as it requires to fulfil 3 years period in the bank.

 

    1. As an applicant who has a fixed deposit account of 25,000.00 US dollars or above for a minimum of three years period under non-resident foreign currency account (NRFC) resident foreign currency account (RFC)  or senior foreign investment deposit account (SFIDA) in any commercial Bank approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
  • A confirmation letter from the bank mentioning the fixed deposit amount, the account number and account holders name, passport number and with the statements of “the money is not withdrawn within a period of three years” and “the fixed deposit is exclusively opened for the application of dual citizenship”
  • This letter should be submitted along with the application immediately after receiving from the bank, as it requires to fulfil 3 years period in the bank.

 

    1. as an applicant who has invested US dollars 25,000.00 above of for a minimum of three years period under treasury bonds (TB) in security investment account (SIA)
  • A certificate from the relevant authority confirming the investment will not be withdrawn prior to maturity.

 

    1. Qualifying by way of the spouse of the applicant or as an unmarried child under the age 22 of the applicant. The spouse or children are eligible under this provision shall be limited to a person who’s citizenship of Sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19 20 or 21 of the citizenship act number 18 of 1948 or a person whose citizenship in Sri Lanka is likely to cease.
  • Spouses and dependants can submit their applications along with the basic documents mentioned under the section 12 (general documents to be submitted).

 

 

*If Minors under 22 are applying for dual Nationality under Dependant Category, either Mother or Father should apply along with them. If not, the minor should apply as a main applicant after completing age of 18 by choosing a category.

 

  1. Renunciation of Sri Lankan citizenship

An applicant who expects to renounce his or her Sri Lankan citizenship must forward following documents:

  • A letter of request addressed to controller general department of immigration and emigration Sri Lanka.
  • Original Sri Lankan dual citizenship certificate.
  • Original Sri Lankan passport.
  • Original Sri Lanka national Identity card.
  • What is Venezuela can birth certificate.
  • Duly filled and attested form k

Department of immigration and emigration Sri Lanka (Controller General/DIE) will communicate with the applicant directly after the documents are submitted.

 

 

Check list

UPDATED LIST OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR DUAL NATIONALITY APPLICATIONS

Documents required in General & Category A and Spouses:

  1. Duly filled application form. (All relevant fields must be completed.)
  2. Original Sri Lankan Birth Certificate (Embassy will retain the Original Birth Certificate)
  3. Original Sri Lankan Citizenship certificate (For all the Applicants Born outside Sri Lanka)
  4. Original Sri Lankan Marriage certificate. If the marriage certificate is written in any other language other than Sinhala, English or Tamil, an English translation of the same should be submitted (For Foreign marriages). 
  5. Naturalization Certificate and English Translation
  6. Police report (should be valid for 3 months) and English Translation
  7. French Passport
  8. French Identity
  9. Sri Lankan Passport (If Available, or any old passport)
  10. Sri Lankan Identity (If Available)
  11. Photocopies of all the above documents.
  12. 03 passport size colour photographs

IMPORTANT – if the applicant has changed his/her name after acquiring the foreign nationality, an attestation of concordance which has been issued by a French Lawyer/Notary and duly legalized by French Foreign Ministry should be submitted along with its English translation. 

(Please note that the original translations are retained by the Embassy in order to send to Department of Immigration & Emigration.)

 

Documents required for the applicants under Category B:

 

  1. All the documents under Category A and,
  2. 12 Months Diploma/ Degree/ Masters/ M.Phil or Diploma Certificate
  3. If the certificate is a Diploma, the certificate should indicate the duration (Minimum should be 1 year) if it is not mentioned, a letter of confirmation from the relevant Institution should be obtained.
  4. Qualifications obtained from countries other than Sri Lanka should be legalized from the relevant Embassy in France. French Certificates should be legalized from the French Foreign Ministry
  5.  Certificates obtained from French institutions should be translated into English, after the French Foreign Ministry legalization.

 

Documents required for the applicants under Category C:

 

  1. All the documents under Category A and,
  2. Original Deed. If the Deed is in Tamil, a certified English translation of the deed is required.

(If the land or the property is gifted, the gift Deed must be more than 10 years)

  1.  Valuation report which values more than 2.5 million (Valuation report should not be older than 3 months from the date of submission and value should be more than 2.5 million Sri Lankan Rupees)

The valuation report should be obtained from an incorporated valuer, a registered valuer from the Valuation department in Sri Lanka.  The report should include the Deed number related to the property.

Title report which shows the clear pedigree of the property. Title report should not be older than 3 months from the date of submission. Title report should be obtained from a lawyer, and it should show the titles of past 30 years. The report should include the Deed number related to the property.

 

Documents required for the applicants under Category D:

 

  1. All the documents under Category A and,
  2. Letter from the Bank stating the purpose of Fixed deposit and the duration. (The two important clauses “For Dual Citizenship application purpose”, “fixed for 3 years and money will not be withdrawn within 03 years” should be include in the letter issued by the bank.)

(Original letter will be retained by the Embassy)

 

Documents required for the applicants under Category E:

 

1.  All the documents under Category A and,

2. Letter from the Bank stating the purpose of Fixed deposit and the duration. (“For Dual Citizenship application purpose”, “fixed for 3 years”) (Original letter will be retained by the Embassy)

 

Documents required for the applicants under Category F:

 

1. All the documents under Category A and,

2. Letter from the relevant authority stating the invested money will not be withdrawn until the maturity.

 

 

Documents required for the applicants under Retention: (Minors – Under 22 Years old)

*If Minors under 22 are applying for dual Nationality under Dependant Category, either Mother or Father should apply along with them. If not, the minor should apply as a main applicant after completing age of 18 by choosing a category.

  1. All the documents under Category A and,
  2. Parents’ Sri Lankan Passports with photocopies
  3. Parents Immigrant visas with photocopies
  4. If the Children are French by birth, French Birth certificate with English translation.
  5. Parents’ Consent letter should be duly filled in and signed by parents.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST

General Documents & Category A – Senior Citizens

1

Duly filled application from pages 1-6

 

 

2

Original Sri Lankan Birth certificate

 

 

3

Original Citizenship certificate (If Sri Lankan by Registration)

 

 

4

Original marriage certificate

 

 

5

Translation of French/Other Marriage certificate

 

 

6

Original Passport

 

 

7

Original Nationality card

 

 

8

Original Police report

 

 

9

Translation of Police report

 

 

10

Original Naturalization Certificate

 

 

11

Translation of Naturalization Certificate

 

 

12

Sri Lankan Passport

 

 

13

Sri Lankan ID

 

 

14

03 Photographs

 

 

IMPORTANT – if the applicant has changed his/her name after acquiring the foreign nationality, an attestation of concordance which has been issued by a French Lawyer/Notary and duly legalized by The French Foreign Ministry should be submitted along with its English translation. 

Category B – Academic Qualifications

1

Educational Certificate

 

 

2

Document for Course Duration

 

 

3

English Translation of Foreign Education certificate

 

 

4

Legalization from the French Foreign Ministry or particular Embassy of the country where the Certificate has obtained

 

 

Category C – Assets in Sri Lanka

1

Original Deed (If the land or the property is gifted, the gift Deed must be more than 10 years)

 

 

2

Translation of the deed (For the deeds written in Tamil)

 

 

3

Valuation Report from an Incorporated valuer (taken within 3 months)

 

 

4

Title Report with a clear Pedigree for 30 years (Taken within 3 months)

 

 

5

Receipts of Stamp fees and other fees paid to the Sri Lanka Government when purchasing the property (If the property has been purchased after the applicant has obtained French Nationality)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category D – Fixed Deposit of Rs. 2.5 M in a CBSL approved Sri Lankan Bank

1

Original Letter from the Bank with correct statements

1. “Fixed deposit is locked for 03 years”

2. “For the dual citizenship application purpose” 

 

 

Category E – NRFC Account of USD 25000 in a CBSL approved Sri Lankan Bank

1

Original Letter from the Bank with correct statements

1. “NRFC Account is locked for 03 years”

2. “For the dual citizenship application purpose” 

 

 

Category F – Investments worth USD 25000/- under Treasury Bonds  or Security Investment Accounts

1

Original Deposit Certificate

 

 

 

Certificate from the relevant authority confirming the investment will not be withdrawn prior to maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category G – Spouse or dependent of the applicant

1

All the documents under the category 01

 

 

 

Application Fees With Effect From 01/07/2019 –

Applicant

USD $ 2000/=

Spouse

USD $ 500/=

Children

USD $ 500/=

 

Consular Fee :

Dual Affidavit = €64 /=

Certified Copies of French Documents = €12/= each document