How to get a Sri Lanka police clearance certificate from Australia
Sri Lankan citizens by descent or registration who left Sri Lanka after turning 16 can apply online, directly on the Sri Lanka Police website. If you left before 16, or if you are a foreign national, you apply through the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra or the Consulate General in Melbourne, which forward the application to the Department of Police in Sri Lanka. Applying in Australia, the published fee is AUD 99 for a Sri Lankan national and AUD 104 for a foreign national, including authentication and postage. You need a VEVO record obtained less than a week before you apply.
Two ways to apply
| Your situation | How to apply |
|---|---|
| Sri Lankan citizen by descent or registration, left Sri Lanka after turning 16 | Online, on the Sri Lanka Police website (clearance certificate application) |
| Left Sri Lanka before turning 16, or foreign national | Through the High Commission in Canberra or the Consulate General in Melbourne, in person or by post |
Which office covers your state
| State or territory | Office |
|---|---|
| NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, ACT | Sri Lanka High Commission, 61 Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600 · 02 6198 3756 · slhc.canberra@mfa.gov.lk |
| Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania | Sri Lanka Consulate General, Suite 536, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne VIC 3004 · 03 9290 4200 · mail@slcgmel.org |
In person, consular hours at the High Commission are 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, Monday to Friday, and you must show your current passport, returned the same day. By post, your passport copy and documents must be certified, and the office tells you the fee and bank details before you pay online.
Documents to provide (through the High Commission or Consulate)
- The application form for a police clearance certificate, the original and a photocopy
- Two certified copies of your passport (foreign nationals: certified by the relevant authority or a Sri Lankan mission)
- Two certified copies of your National Identity Card (NIC)
- Copies of any previous police clearance certificates
- An affidavit if your name differs between documents, or if you need the report under another name
- Your VEVO record from the Department of Home Affairs, obtained less than a week before you apply (on a bridging visa: the acknowledgment of your visa application)
Fees (as published)
| Applicant | Applying within Australia | Applying from outside Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lankan national | AUD 99 | AUD 129 |
| Foreign national | AUD 104 | AUD 134 |
Fees include the authentication fee and postage. At the counter, pay in cash: cards and personal or company cheques are not accepted. For a money order or a bank transfer, ask the office for instructions first.
Does it need translating?
If your police clearance certificate is entirely in English, it does not need a translation. Your other Sri Lankan documents that are only in Sinhala or Tamil, such as a birth or marriage certificate, need an English translation for an Australian visa. If you apply from Australia, Home Affairs asks for the translator's NAATI practitioner number. See translation requirements for Australian visas.
FAQ
Can I apply for a Sri Lanka police clearance online from Australia?
Yes, if you are a Sri Lankan citizen by descent or registration and you left Sri Lanka after turning 16. Otherwise, apply through the High Commission in Canberra or the Consulate General in Melbourne.
Which office do I apply to?
Residents of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania apply to the Consulate General in Melbourne. Residents of NSW, Queensland, WA, the NT and the ACT apply to the High Commission in Canberra.
How much does it cost?
Applying from within Australia, AUD 99 for a Sri Lankan national and AUD 104 for a foreign national, including the authentication fee and postage, as published by the High Commission. Cash is accepted at the counter; cards and cheques are not.
Does my Sri Lankan police certificate need translating?
Only if part of it is not in English. Your other Sri Lankan documents in Sinhala or Tamil, such as a birth certificate, do need a translation for an Australian visa.
Sources
Rules change. Check with the authority you are applying to before you submit. We re-read these pages regularly and log changes below.
Change log
- 4 November 2026: First version, based on the Sri Lanka High Commission page "Applications for Police Clearance" read on 4 November 2026.