CBR 002 – Application for a new Sri Lankan Passport for (Minor – Age under 16)

1. Eligibility: An applicant who is below the age of 16 years if he/she is a bona fide Sri Lankan citizen by descent or by registration.
2. Validity: Valid for 03 years unless otherwise specified.
3. Where to apply? Forward your application to the following respective offices, closest to your place of residence.

	Respective area	Office & Contact Details
1	New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa Western Australia (WA), Northern Territory (NT),Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales, Queensland	Sri Lanka High Commission, 61, Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla 2600, ACT, Australia Tele: 02-6198-3756 Fax : 02-6198-3760 E-mail : slhc.canberra@mfa.gov.lk http://www.slhcaust.org
2	Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania	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 Web: http://www.slcgmel.org

4. Who can apply?Holder of Permanent Residence (PR) Certificate OR valid visa for the country as appropriate (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa).Sri Lankan citizens who have applied for, and gained, refugee or asylum status in Australia are not entitled to a Sri Lankan passport, in accordance with Sri Lankan Immigration Laws.However, they are eligible to apply for temporary travel documents for the sole purpose of returning to Sri Lanka.

   Note: Individuals holding citizenship in two or more other countries in addition to Sri Lankan dual citizenship are not eligible to apply for a Sri Lankan passport. Those with dual citizenship must maintain the citizenship of the country specified on their Sri Lankan dual citizenship certificate at the time it was granted. If you obtain citizenship in a third country after being granted dual citizenship in Sri Lanka, your Sri Lankan dual citizenship will be automatically revoked.

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   When to apply? On expiration of the validity of the existing passport, pages being exhausted, physically damaged passport, or for a newborn baby. (In the case of a lost or stolen passport, a different application procedure will apply. Please see Lost or Stolen Passport Application section (CBR003)

If you are applying for a New Passport prior to one year or more before the expiry date of the current passport, you must provide a letter with the reason.

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6. How long will this take? The issuing authority is the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka Colombo. Therefore, the processing time for new passports by the Immigration Department typically is more than 8 weeks. Processing times vary based on volume, complexity and completeness of applications. The High Commission will forward completed applications to the Department of Immigration in Sri Lanka. The High Commission cannot guarantee the issuance of passport within a specific time period.

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Check List (Mark where applicable)

•  Duly filled application and a photocopy
•  Original Birth certificate and 02 photocopies
• Current passport
• Current passport Data page & Alteration (Page 4 & 5) – 2 photo copies
• 02 certified Photocopies of the citizenship certificate (If your child was born outside of Sri Lanka) – This document is not required for newborn babies or children born in Sri Lanka
• 02 certified Photocopies of Parents’ passport Data page & Alteration (Page 4 & 5)
• Consent letter of the parents with a photocopy
• 02 certified copies of Death certificate/ Court orders/ decree of Nisi (if applicable)
• 02 copies of dual citizenship certificate (if applicable)
• 02 copies of foreign passport Copy (Dual Nationals only)
• 02 copies of the Student Enrolment  letter (if applicable)
• 02 copies of Current visa status
• Request letter
• Payment

Submission of forged Birth Certificate or any other documents and making false declarations relating to the citizenship status is an offence. Such cases will be reported to relevant authorities and payment will not be refunded.

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What are the steps to be taken and what documents are required to be submitted to apply for a new passport for a minor?

	Description	Further Details
1.	Application form	Minor Passport application form with 01 copy  – Compulsory (Click here to get the Specimen) Note: Please read the instructions carefully and refer to the Specimen before filling out the application form
2.	If the minor has a Current Passport	with 02 photocopies of the data page and alteration page– Compulsory
3.	Original birth certificate	With 02 photocopies (Birth Certificates issued by the Registrar General, District Registrar, Divisional Registrar or consular birth certificate issued by Sri Lanka Overseas Missions) only. Photocopies certified by a third parties and translations will not be accepted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka.) – Compulsory
4.	Original Citizenship certificate  (If the applicant was born outside Sri Lanka only)	with 02 photocopies, issued by the Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Sri Lanka– Compulsory For first-time passport applicants –  a copy of the payment receipt for Citizenship (Sri Lankan citizenship applied and pending) registration.– Compulsory
5.	Consent letter signed by both parents (Click here to get a sample of Consent Letter )	A letter with a copy including signatures of both parents stating that they have no objection to issuing a separate passport to their child. (Written in English OR Sinhala OR Tamil) – Compulsory
6.	Parents’ passport copies	02 copies of each of both parents’ bio page of the passports,Alteration and Observation pages– Compulsory
7.	Adopted children	The certificate of adoption, the court order, and a letter from the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care, Sri Lanka. – Compulsory
8.	Australian Visa holders	“VEVO “[Visa Entitlement Verification Online] from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia. This certificate can be obtained free of charge from https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/check-conditions-online   This Certificate should be obtained less than a week prior to submitting the application. – Compulsory Note – If you are on a Bridging visa, you must submit the Visa Acknowledgment from the Department of Home Affairs, which corresponds to the visa application you submitted.
9.	New Zealand Visa holders	Applicants who have been on a permanent residence visa in New Zealand exceeding two years of period must submit a Certificate of Evidence of Residence Status [referred to as Certificate of Denial in New Zealand] with two copies. This Certificate can be obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in New Zealand through the below link. https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/proof-of-citizenship/get-proof-you-are-not-a-citizen/ .   If the applicant is not eligible to apply for “Certificate of Denial”,he/she must produce New Zealand visa pages of the passport. All other countries (Australia & New Zealand,must submit visa pages of the application – Compulsory
10.	If the applicant is a dual citizen	02 photocopies of dual citizenship certificate and data page of foreign passport– Compulsory
11.	If the applicant is a Newborn and still does not have a visa	02 copies of recently obtained visa details of parents should be submitted (for further information check No.8 & No.9 ) – Compulsory
12.	If the applicant desires to include his/her status as a Student	A letter from the University/Institute/College/School [original] should be attached– Compulsory
13.	If the applicant is a member of the Buddhist clergy	Certificate of Higher ordination (Upasampada Sahathikaya) in addition to the Birth Certificate– Compulsory
14.	(If applicable) Original Death Certificates of Parent/s	if the death of a parent, with 02 copies of the death certificate – translations not accepted– Compulsory
15.	(If applicable) Parents’ Original Divorce Certificate	with 02 copies of Divorce Certificate/ Court Decision along with the custodianship of the child – translations not accepted– Compulsory
16.	Visa Holders in Countries other than Australia and New Zealand	02 photocopies of the current visa page of his/her passport– Compulsory
17.	Request letter with all contact details	Address, telephone number, and email address, enabling High Commission to contact applicant speedily.  – Compulsory
18.	Applicable fees	Within Australia AUD 184.00 ( Three years validity period) + Postage AUD 10.00 = AUD 194.00
19.		Outside Australia AUD 184.00 ( Three years validity period) + Postage AUD 40.00 = AUD 224.00
20.	Payment method	Minors’ passports are usually valid for 3 years. You can request a 10-year passport by paying the adult fee (AU$ 225) and submitting a letter from the parents accepting all responsibilities and acknowledging the implications. This letter must accompany the application. If the applicant physically visits the High Commission or Consulate offices, he/she can pay by Cash. Note: Credit/ATM/Debit cards AND personal or Company cheques will not be accepted. If the applicant desires to pay by a Money order, Bank draft, direct bank transfer, please contact the High Commission or consulate for prior instructions. Important: If the applicant sends Money orders, Bank Draft or directly credit money into the High Commission or consulate bank accounts, without prior instructions, the responsibility lies with the applicant for any loss/shortage or delay.
21.	Special Notes (Important)	In case of expired passports, an additional fee of AUD 5.00 will be added for each year from the date of expiry; 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; High Commission will attest the documents and return the originals to the applicant; If the applicant needs to send/receive documents (by express courier service or speed post etc) on an urgent basis, he/she must organise them independently. The High Commission is unable to take any responsibility for documents lost or delayed in the post/ courier.

8. Who can certify the above documents: Hon Consul/Solicitor/JP/Medical Practitioner [GP] can certify above documents? All services provided by Honorary Consuls are free of charge as their services are provided on an honorary basis.
   

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9. Few important tips to avoid unnecessary delays

Q 5 & Q 6. : Name in the Passport: Passport will be issued in the name given on the Original Sri Lankan Birth Certificate, unless a name change has been made by the Registrar General in Sri Lanka under cage no. 13 in the birth certificate.

Change of name done abroad or the current usage of a different name in documents issued by an organization/institute/foreign government will not be taken into consideration.

Q 7.Permanent Address: Provide your current Australian address with the postcode and state.

Q 10. Place Of Birth: When filling out your application, please ensure that you mention only the state or country or both of your place of birth ( Eg: Western Australia, Canberra Australia, Queensland Australia, New Zealand, Auckland New Zealand..etc ). Do not include the name of the hospital or any other specific location.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may lead to processing delays or other complications, for which the applicant will be held responsible.

Photograph: 4.5 x 3.5cm size three (03) colour photographs taken in the preceding three months from the date of submission of application are required. The photographs should be clear with full front face, both ears and forehead clearly visible, and without spectacles or headdress and must be taken against a light colour background. Photos that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be accepted.

Click here to get guidelines for Photo

Out of the three (03) colour photographs, affix first photograph in the box given in the (up-right hand side) first page of the application.

Affix the second photograph in the box given in the left hand side of the second page of the application form.

Affix the third photograph in the box given in the right hand side of the second page of the application. This photograph must be attested by a Justice of Peace, a practicing Medical Officer, Solicitor or Consular Officer of Sri Lanka. The attestation seal and signature of the attester must cross the photograph as well as the application form. (Please see the specimen application given)

Q 19 Signature of applicant: Signature of the applicant has to be placed inside both cages without touching the border of the cage.

For minors who are unable to sign, parents can write a part of the child’s name in the signature cages. (Parents must not place their signature or their name)

Q 20.Declaration of the applicant: Applicant must fill and sign the declaration. If the applicant is unable to sign, a parent can be sign the declaration.

Q 21.Certificate regarding the applicant: Attester (Honorary Consul/JP/ GP/ Solicitor) must fill and sign this part.