ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජයේ මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලය, කැන්බරා, ඕස්ට්රේලියාව
இலங்கை ஜனநாயக சோஷலிசக் குடியரசின் உயர்ஸ்தானிகராலயம், கன்பரா, ஆஸ்திரேலியா
The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Canberra, Australia
Applications for Police Clearance
1. Procedure for Obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate
The official page explains two different routes depending on citizenship status and the age at which the applicant left Sri Lanka.
| Applicant category | Procedure |
| Sri Lankan citizens by descent or registration | If the applicant left Sri Lanka after reaching the age of sixteen (16), they can apply directly through the Sri Lanka Police Department website for the period lived in Sri Lanka. |
| Individuals who left Sri Lanka before age 16 or foreign nationals | If the applicant left Sri Lanka before reaching the age of sixteen (16), or is a foreign national, the application must be submitted through the Sri Lankan High Commission or Consulate Offices. The office will forward the application to the Department of Police in Sri Lanka for processing. |
Online application link: Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate Application
2. How to Apply Through the High Commission
| Method | Important information |
| Applying at the counter | You can submit your application by visiting in person. Consular hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30 am - 1.30 pm. Check the website for any public holiday closure before visiting. |
| Passport at counter | It is mandatory to submit the current passport at the counter. It will be returned on the same day after the processing of the application. |
| Submitting by post | You must certify your passport copy and other relevant documents listed in the checklist. Once the application is sent, the office will inform you of the relevant payment fee and bank details, after which you can make an online payment. |
3. Respective Area Office and Contact Details
| No. | Area covered | Office and contact details |
| 1 | Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa; Western Australia (WA), Northern Territory (NT), Australian Capital Territory (ACT); New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) | Sri Lanka High Commission 61, Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla 2600, ACT, Australia Telephone: 02-6198-3756 Fax: 02-6198-3760 Email: slhc.canberra@mfa.gov.lk |
| 2 | Victoria (VIC), South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS) | Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne Suite 536, No 1 Queens Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia Telephone: +61 3 9290 4200 Fax: +61 3 9867 4873 Email: mail@slcgmel.org |
4. Steps to be Taken and Checklist
| No. | Description | Important details |
| 1 | Application process and documents to be submitted | Application for Police Clearance Certificate - original with a photocopy. |
| 2 | Two certified copies of the passport | For foreign nationals: two certified copies of the passport certified by the relevant authority or the High Commission / Embassy / Consulate General Office. |
| 3 | Two certified copies of the National Identity Card (NIC) | Submit two certified copies of the NIC. |
| 4 | Previous police clearance certificates | Submit two copies of previous police clearance certificates, if available. If there are discrepancies in your name, or if you need to apply under another name different from the NIC or Passport, swear an affidavit to confirm your name. |
| 5 | If in Australia - VEVO | Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia. This certificate should be obtained less than one week before submitting the application. If on a Bridging visa, submit the Visa Acknowledgment from the Department of Home Affairs corresponding to the visa application submitted. Compulsory. |
| 7 | If applicant resides in any other accredited country | Submit two photocopies of the current visa page of the passport. Compulsory. |
Form links: Application for Police Clearance Certificate | Affidavit Format for Police Clearance Certificate
5. Applicable Fees
| Applicant type | Within Australia | Outside Australia |
| Sri Lankan National | AUD 99.00 including authentication fee and postage | AUD 129.00 including authentication fee and postage |
| Foreign National | AUD 104.00 including authentication fee and postage | AUD 134.00 including authentication fee and postage |
6. Payment Method
- If the applicant physically visits the High Commission or Consulate offices, payment can be made by cash or credit cards, ATM cards, debit cards.
- Personal or company cheques will not be accepted.
- If the applicant wishes to pay by money order or direct bank transfer, contact the High Commission or Consulate for prior instructions.
- If money orders are sent directly or money is credited to the High Commission or Consulate bank accounts without prior instructions, the responsibility for any loss, shortage, or delay lies with the applicant.
7. Special Notes
- Fees will not be refunded under any circumstance after issuance of an official receipt.
- Translations will not be accepted as originals.
- All photocopies should be on A4 size paper.
- The High Commission will attest the documents and return the originals to the applicant.
- If the applicant needs to send or receive documents by express courier service or speed post urgently, this must be organised independently.
- The High Commission is unable to take any responsibility for documents lost or delayed in post or courier.
- Hon. Consul, Solicitor, JP, or Medical Practitioner (GP) can certify the above documents.
8. Points to Avoid Delay in Application Processing
- The applicant name should be correctly mentioned in the application as per the National Identity Card. This is compulsory because the record check is done with the NIC number.
- The NIC number and date of birth should be correctly mentioned in all documents. A clear copy of the NIC can avoid unnecessary delay during the record check.
- The details of places of residence in Sri Lanka furnished in the application should be accurate.
- Police Clearance Certificates are addressed only to Government Immigration Authorities authorised and designated by the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka. Therefore, the name and address of the High Commission - Canberra or the relevant Consulate Offices should be mentioned correctly in cages 8 and 9 of the application.
- Contact details of the applicant, such as telephone numbers and email addresses, should be provided so that the clearance branch can communicate with the applicant if clarification is required.
- Photocopies or scanned copies of applications are not accepted. Applications should be signed by the applicant.
- Provide your contact details to the Mission so they can contact you quickly if required.
9. Register with the High Commission
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra would like to keep in touch with Sri Lankans and persons of Sri Lankan origin living in Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and other Pacific Islands, as well as Sri Lankan community organisations in those countries.
Current or former Sri Lankans and office bearers of Sri Lankan community organisations are invited to register with the High Commission.
10. Address
Sri Lanka High Commission
61, Hampton Circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
11. Useful Links
Sri Lanka Police Clearance Certificate online application: https://eservices.police.lk/ClearanceCertificate/home.action
Application for Police Clearance Certificate - PDF
Affidavit Format for Police Clearance Certificate - word
Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne: http://www.slcgmel.org
VEVO / visa information link shown on source page: https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Visa
12. Editable Applicant Checklist
| Item | Required document / action | Completed |
| 1 | Original application and photocopy | ☐ |
| 2 | Two certified passport copies | ☐ |
| 3 | Two certified NIC copies | ☐ |
| 4 | Previous police clearance certificate copies, if available | ☐ |
| 5 | Affidavit, if name differs or another name is used | ☐ |
| 6 | VEVO / visa evidence, if in Australia | ☐ |
| 7 | Certificate of Evidence of Residence Status, if in New Zealand | ☐ |
| 8 | Two photocopies of current visa page, if in another accredited country | ☐ |
| 9 | Payment arranged according to High Commission / Consulate instructions | ☐ |