Journalist Visa

Media personnel visiting Sri Lanka must obtain a visa before arriving in Colombo. Media personnel visiting Sri Lanka for the purpose of conducting media activities are not permitted to enter Sri Lanka on tourist or business visas

Documents required for a visit visa by journalists/media personnel:

  1. Visa application form duly filled and signed (click here to download the Visa Application)
  2. Original passport (with a minimum validity period of 6 months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka)
  3. One recent passport-size colour photograph
  4. Letter of Commission: a letter from the respective media organization detailing the tentative programme with dates, places and if it contains interviews, the persons to be interviewed etc. (For freelance journalists, a letter from the editor of the publication)
  5. Equipment list for electronic media along with a carnet or bank guarantee for customs    purpose
  6. Letter undertaking that the equipment will be re-exported
  7. Return air ticket
  8. Visa fee CHF 50.00 (Business / Journalist Visa for 30 days  multiple entry)

 

Note:

All foreign media personnel visiting Sri Lanka are required to obtain Media Accreditation from the Department of Government Information, issued upon the recommendation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, all journalists/media personnel are required to call over at the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic Building, Colombo 1. Tel (+94) 011 5339287/5361952/2437633 and obtain the recommendation letter.

Media Accreditation will not be recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for any media personnel arriving in Sri Lanka on tourist visas.

Film Crews

Media teams coming to Sri Lanka for filming of documentaries/feature films are required to complete the National Film Corporation Agreement (Download the agreement here) and submit it along with the synopsis of the documentary/feature film, itinerary of the media team in Sri Lanka as well as locations of filming. In order to coordinate the National Film Corporation Agreement all media teams should have a ground handling team, who will be coordinating the project in Sri Lanka.

Documents required:

  1. Visa application form duly filled and signed (click here to download the Visa Application)
  2. Original passport (with a minimum validity period of 6 months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka)
  3. One recent passport-size colour photograph
  4. Letter of Commission: a letter from the respective media organization detailing the tentative programme with dates, places and if it contains interviews, the persons to be interviewed etc. (For freelance journalists, a letter from the editor of the publication)
  5. Equipment list for electronic media along with a carnet or bank guarantee for customs    purpose
  6. Letter undertaking that the equipment will be re-exported
  7. Return air ticket
  1. Synopsis of the documentary/feature film, itinerary of the media team in Sri Lanka as well as locations of filming
  2. Agreement signed with the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
  3. General Guidelines and application for filming in Sri Lanka by Foreign Nationals (General Guidelines)
  4. Visa fee CHF 50.00 (Business / Journalist Visa for 30 days  multiple entry)

Note: All media teams should have a ground handling team, who will be coordinating the project in Sri Lanka.

How to submit the application:

At the Consulate General

  • Visa can be applied by physically submitting an application to the Consulate General. When submitting a visa application personally by hand, visa fee must be paid in cash at the counter of the Consulate General. To obtain an appointment please click appointments

By Post

  • Visa can be applied by sending the application by post with the aforementioned required documents to:

Consulate General of Sri Lanka,
            56, rue de Moillebeau,
            P.O. Box436,
            1209 Geneva

* The Consulate General will not to take any responsibility for documents lost or delayed in the post/courier.

Please include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for the Consulate to return the passport through registered mail.  When a visa application is sent by post, the applicable visa fee has to be paid to the below mentioned bank account of the Consulate General and enclose a copy of the bank payment receipt:

Name of the Bank:   Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)

Bank Account No.     240.256121.30A

Account Name:         Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Geneva

IBAN:                     CH 350024024025612130A

Clearing No.             240

 



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