Missing signature of former President delays Digital Nomad Visa issuance

• Published date: 09 August 2022
• Publication title: Daily Financial Times

Sri Lanka's plans to introduce a long-term digital nomad visa for foreign professionals have been delayed with former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Technology Minister failing to sign the relevant Cabinet paper agreed by all connected authorities to put the system in order.

The Daily FT learns that the Immigration and Emigration Department has received around 40 applications, but it cannot proceed with the visa issuance as the former Technology Minister Rajapaksa had not authorised the proposal which was ready in February, thus it never got passed to the Cabinet.

In July 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers cleared a proposal to offer visas for foreign visitors looking to work remotely and stay in Sri Lanka for long periods. The move came in the wake of the country being ranked second-best for Digital Nomads in 2021 by the influential French travel and tourism operator - Club Med.

The implementation of the Digital Nomad Visa was originally assigned to Sri Lanka Tourism and the Immigration and Emigration Department, but later the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) too was roped in.

Following a feasibility study, Sri Lanka Tourism had originally proposed that the visa fee be $ 500 up to one year and $ 50 for each month extended. However, as per the new Cabinet paper, the authorities have recognised that the families who come with Digital Nomad visa holders must be considered and thus have decided to issue them with a one-year Residential Visa at $ 100.

'There was a lot of opposition to this new visa system as professionals feared foreigners will get into the local job market. Thereafter, ICTA was brought in to scrutinise the background of the applicants. As per the last amended Cabinet proposal, the first-year visa fee was $ 300.'

'However, if the same foreigner wants to extend the visa for another year, it will be $ 300. However, if it is a new visitor applying for the same visa, the fee will be $ 600,' Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director-General Dhammika Wijayasingha told the Daily FT.

It was also pointed out that under the new system, it would be easy to monitor the prime visa holder and their families.

Fast forward a year, the Daily FT learns that the Government is yet to get Cabinet approval and issue Digital Nomad Visa to boost the inflow of foreign exchange to the economy, despite its dire need for foreign currency to overcome the worst economic crisis.

'We have not issued...