Registration of Births & Citizenship  

Registration of Births Outside Sri Lanka

Eligibility

The birth of a child in the United Kingdom or Ireland, where either parent or both parents are Sri Lankan citizens at the time of the child’s birth, may be registered at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act of Sri Lanka.

If both parents have obtained British citizenship (through naturalisation) at the time of the child’s birth, the child will not be eligible for registration of birth under Sri Lankan law.

Applicants over the age of 21 years and 6 months are not eligible for registration under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act of Sri Lanka. In such cases, only self-registration of birth can be applied from the High Commission.

Guidelines

• The birth of an eligible child should preferably be registered within one year of the date of birth, and a Consular birth certificate is issued on the same day.
• If the application is submitted after one year, approval needs to be obtained from the Registrar General’s Department in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.
• In such cases, the application will be forwarded to the Registrar General’s Department after recording the reasons for the delay.
• Processing of late applications will take additional time to get approval from the Registrar General Department.
• The Citizenship Certificate (registration under section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act of Sri Lanka) will be issued a few months after sending documents to the Immigration and Emigration Department in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.
• The Citizenship Certificate will be sent to the High Commission or the applicant's private address by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, as selected by the applicant in the application form.
• Once the citizenship certificate is received at the High Commission, the applicant will be notified via SMS and/or email.
• Certificate must be collected in person by the applicant. (Please submit yellow-coloured payment receipt)
• If the applicant is unable to collect the Certificate in person due to exceptional circumstances, the certificate may be returned by post. The applicant must send:
• The High Commission is not responsible for documents lost or damaged sent by post.

Application Procedure

The parent of the child must:

• Complete the relevant application form in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS.
• CR-1 Application must be filled out in English and Sinhala or Tamil (as applicable). See instructions using the following link: Click Here
• Sign the application and declaration in the presence of the officer at the High Commission.
• If parents are not married, both parents should sign the CR-1 and B6 Form (Section 24)
• Submit the application in person along with the required supporting documents.

Please select the appropriate application form for Birth and Citizenship Registration based on the child’s age at the time of application:

• Application for Birth & Citizenship registration -children less than 3 months old : Click Here
• Application for Birth & Citizenship registration - children between 3 and 12 months old : Click Here
• Application for Birth & Citizenship registration -children over 1 year old : Click Here

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the originals along with two sets of A4-sized photocopies(one-sided) of the following documents. Originals and photocopies must be presented separately.

  1.     Child’s original UK/Irish Birth Certificate (showing parents’ details)

  2.     Original Birth Certificates of both parents

  3.     Original Marriage Certificate of parents

  4.     Passports of both parents valid at the time of the child’s birth:

           o    Data/photo page

           o    Observation/alteration pages (pages 3, 4, and 5)

           o    Visa page or Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable)

  5.     Current passports of both parents:

           o    Data/photo page

           o    Observation/alteration pages (pages 3, 4, and 5)

  6.     Current e-Visa (share code beginning with “S”- to check the Immigration status)/Irish Resident permit Card

  7.     Certificate of Naturalisation (if either parent has obtained British citizenship or another nationality)

Important:

• English translations are not accepted as originals, if the original Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate was issued in Sri Lanka.
• If any certificate was issued in a country other than Sri Lanka or the UK, the original certificate and its English translation (if not in English) must be attested by:

            o The relevant diplomatic mission of that country in the UK, or

            o The Sri Lankan Mission accredited to that country.

Additional Documents (If Applicable)

Applicants must submit the following documents, where applicable and attend an interview in person at the High Commission:

1.     Affidavit for ILR/PR/Settlement holders: affidavit Applicants who have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Permanent Residence (PR), or Settlement status for one year or more must submit an affidavit confirming that they have not obtained British citizenship. (This affidavit must be certified by the Consular Division. Certification fee: £57)

2.     Dual Citizenship Certificate If either parent held Sri Lankan dual citizenship at the time of the child’s birth, the original Dual Citizenship Certificate must be submitted with photocopies

3.     Affidavit for unmarried parents: link If the parents were not married at the time of the child’s birth, an affidavit relating to paternity/ maternity and declaration of citizenship, certified by a Solicitor/Justice of the peace/Commissioner of oaths, must be submitted. (This affidavit can be certified by the Consular Division. Certification fee: £57)

Fees and Payments

*  Other applicable charges will apply.

    o Method of Payment – Cash, Debit/Credit card

    o An additional amount will be charged if photocopies are made at the High Commission. 

    o Fees paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.