Registration of Birth and Citizenship

​Registration of Birth

A birth can be registered under the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Chapter 110) and Section 7 of the Consular Functions Act No. 4 of 1981 and the Consular Functions (Amendment) Act No.18 of 2006. The registration of birth of a child under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance under normal circumstances must be made within 03 months of the birth.

Eligibility for registration of Birth

Registration of birth of children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents can be registered at the Embassy of Sri Lanka. At least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka or should have dual citizenship at the time of the child’s birth.

The declaration should be submitted within three (03) months of such birth to the Diplomatic / Consular Officer of the relevant Embassy. After three (03) months and within one year the Diplomatic / Consular Officer will record the reason for the delay and continue the registration.

After one year of the birth, if the registration has not done, applications should be forwarded to the Registrar General Department (Central Record Room of the Registrar General’s Department, Maligawatte, Colombo 10) to obtain the approval.

Submissions Procedure

Documents requesting registration for a birth should be submitted by one of the parents or the guardian.

In case of an application is made after 03 months, Reg B6 form and a letter addressed to Registrar General giving the reasons for the delay have to be submitted.

English translation should be produced for all documents issued in other than Sinhala, Tamil or English.

If the mother is not present at the Embassy to submit the application, please note that the father of the child is required to present himself for the registration of the birth of the child.

Mother’s presence is not compulsory.

Documents required for registration of Birth

Documents requesting registration for a birth should be submitted by one of the parent or the guardian.

  • 01  Duly filled application for Birth Registration (Form B4 – See Downloads)
  • 02  Duly filled declaration of Birth after 3 months (only if applicable) (Form Registration B6 – See Downloads)
  • 03  Original Birth Certificate of the child (Issued by the relevant authorities in the country of birth)
  • 04  Sri Lankan Passports of the parents & Declaration of the Citizenship of parents (At least one parent MUST be a Sri Lankan citizen at time of child’s birth)
  • 05  Original Birth Certificates of parents
  • 06  Original Visa of parents
  • 07  Original Marriage Certificate of parents
  • 08  Original Visa of the child (IF available)

In case of an application is made after three months, Reg B6 form and a letter addressed to Registrar General giving the reasons for the delay.

English translation should be produced for all the documents issued in other than Sinhala, Tamil or English.

If the mother is not present at the Embassy to submit the application, Please note that the father of the child is required to present himself for the registration of the birth of the child.

Mother’s presence is not compulsory.

Registration of Births

Registration and issuance of a Birth Certificate: € 35
Issuance of Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate: € 21

​Registration of Citizenship for Children born outside Sri Lanka

When a child of a citizen of Sri Lanka is born abroad, there is an additional requirement under the Citizenship Act that such birth should be registered within one year of birth at the Citizenship Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka. Also such child should obtain the Citizenship Certificate from the Citizenship Division. Therefore, when an application is made for the registration of birth under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, an application for the registration of the child under the Citizenship Act should also be made. The applications for the Citizenship Certificates are forwarded to the Citizenship Division in Colombo which will process them and will send the Citizenship Certificates to the Embassy for onward transmission to the applicants.

Eligibility for registration of Citizenship

Children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents (at least one of the parents should be a  Sri Lankan) needs to be registered at the Department of Immigration and Emigration within one year of birth for the confirmation of the child’s citizenship. A certificate for the Registration of Birth is issued to the applicant. A fine will be imposed in the event of failure to register the birth of a child within a period of one year from the date of birth.

Documents required for registration of Citizenship

  • 01  Duly completed application form (Citizenship 1 form – See Downloads)
  • 02  Original Birth Certificate issued by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the country of birth
  • 03  Original Foreign Birth Certificate of the child
  • 04  Original Birth Certificates of parents
  • 05  Original Marriage Certificate of parents
  • 06  Original Passport of the applying parent (At least one parent MUST be a Sri Lankan citizen at the time of the child’s birth)
  • 07  Original Visa or Resident Permit of the applying parent (document issued by the Immigration Authority of the Country of Residence indicating the status and category of your visa)
  • 08  If applying parent is a Sri Lankan citizen by Registration, relevant Registration Certificate
  • 09  Declaration of Citizenship of the applying parent (At least one parent MUST be a Sri Lankan citizen at the time of child’s birth)

English translation should be produced for all the documents issued in other than Sinhala, Tamil or English.

Fee
€ 32

Late charges per year
€ 3