Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate Guide

For international purposes (such as foreign visas, employment, study, or migration), apply online via the official Sri Lanka Police e-Services portal at eservices.police.lk. For domestic/local requirements within Sri Lanka, you can apply at your local police station under the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) with a Grama Niladhari certificate, as long as the requesting organisation accepts a local clearance.

For applicants in Sri Lanka applying online, the application fee is LKR 1,500.00 (verify on checkout). For Sri Lankan citizens applying online from overseas, the approved fee is LKR 5,000.00. (Note: an official Police Media Division statement documented a Rs. 5,100 charge following the 20 August 2026 system outage. Since the online fee can vary or be revised, confirm the exact payable amount at checkout before submitting.)

Under the reported Police fee structure (September 2025 briefing): a certificate from a local Police Station is LKR 500, a certificate from a Police OIC for domestic purposes is LKR 300, and fingerprint verification (if required) adds LKR 500. Payments must be acknowledged with an official Form General 172 receipt. Historically, practical charges varied by station: typically around LKR 150–300, and in some cases waived entirely. Since these domestic amounts come from a Police media briefing rather than an online statutory Gazette, they're subject to the User Verification Gate; always confirm the exact payable amount at your local police station counter.

A Local Police Station Certificate (reported LKR 500) is a general clearance report, issued by the station's administrative branch, based on station crime records and blotters, for institutional or general domestic inquiries. A Police OIC Certificate for Domestic Purposes (reported LKR 300) is issued specifically under the personal authority, signature, and seal of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the territorial station where you reside (requiring a Grama Niladhari residence certificate). It's explicitly endorsed 'for domestic purposes only' and isn't valid for foreign visas, embassies, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation.

Yes, and it's a reported LKR 500 charge on top of the relevant certificate fee, required only when the requesting organization or inquiry division needs formal biometric 10-fingerprint impression recording and comparison. It doesn't apply to routine clearances that only require name and NIC record checks.

Form General 172 (Form 172) is the official Sri Lankan Government receipt book, prescribed under Treasury Financial Regulations (F.R.), that Sri Lanka Police uses when collecting statutory and administrative fees at station counters. Always request and keep an official Form 172 receipt for any cash fee paid at a police station, so it's properly accounted for and documented.

No, only the centralized certificate works for that. Foreign embassies, high commissions, and international immigration authorities require the Police Clearance Certificate issued by Sri Lanka Police Headquarters, processed via the e-Services portal. Local police station/OIC certificates are intended for domestic requirements within Sri Lanka.

Online applications submitted through the e-Services portal are processed within 14 days of payment confirmation, provided there are no adverse police records or inquiry delays. Manual submissions through overseas Sri Lankan diplomatic missions take approximately 3 to 4 months.

Sri Lanka Police certificates don't carry a statutory expiration date. They certify your record up to the date of issuance. Whoever is requesting the certificate (such as a foreign embassy, immigration department, or employer) specifies how recently it must have been issued, for example within 3, 6, or 12 months.

Yes, two ways. Sri Lankan citizens living abroad can apply online directly through eservices.police.lk (processed within 14 days, and the fastest route), or submit a physical application through the nearest Sri Lankan Embassy or High Commission, which takes approximately 3 to 4 months.