Leaving Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is not a State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, or its 1967 Protocol and has not established a national asylum system.
This means:
- Being an asylum-seeker or a refugee registered with UNHCR does not provide you with a legal status in Sri Lanka.
- All foreign nationals need to have a valid visa to stay in the country.
Planning to leave Sri Lanka?
If you are registered with UNHCR in Sri Lanka and want to go back to your home country, or to another country, you must inform UNHCR Sri Lanka before you leave. This is important so that UNHCR can support you to receive the necessary exit clearance from the Sri Lankan authorities.
No resettlement programme from Sri Lanka
There is currently no UNHCR resettlement programme for refugees in Sri Lanka.
Other options to leave Sri Lanka
Some refugees explore other options, like private sponsorship programmes or community-based resettlement in other countries
Please see more information on some of the available options below.
UNHCR in Sri Lanka is unable to provide you with individual counselling on these options. However, please inform UNHCR in Sri Lanka if you are intending to leave the country through these pathways, as we can support you to obtain the relevant exit clearance from the Sri Lankan authorities.
