Sri Lanka is a South Asian tourism destination that grew in popularity following the end of the Civil War in 2009. The country has many stunning natural attractions, including its coastline, tea plantations, forests, and national parks. The Sri Lankan government has focused on boosting the country’s tourism industry, as the economy has been struggling recently, and tourism plays a significant role in developing the economy. The government will soon create a new digital nomad visa program, allowing digital nomads to spend up to one year living in Sri Lanka. Given the lack of options in Asia and the attractiveness of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, this digital nomad visa is a wonderful option to consider.
Sri Lanka has a lot of natural beauties you can enjoy with your digital nomad visa
Many people who travel through South and Southeast Asia will overlook Sri Lanka over more popular destinations like Thailand, India, Malaysia, or Singapore, to name a few. Sri Lanka is culturally and religiously diverse, with cultural ties to India, and has much to offer tourists and digital nomads. Furthermore, the country is geographically diverse, with various regions, including the coastline, highlands, and plains. The cost of living in Sri Lanka is also very favourable, so this can be a great place to live once Sri Lanka officially launches this digital nomad visa.
Cost of Living: Sri Lanka is a very affordable country, with costs on par with lower-cost countries like Vietnam, India, and Thailand. It is possible to find a one-bedroom apartment in Colombo for less than $400 USD/month, and rent in smaller cities may be cheaper. Other expenses, such as food and travel, are incredibly affordable given the lower salaries in the country, so digital nomads could easily live on less than $1,000 USD/month.
Internet: Internet speed is not incredibly fast, so it is better to move to bigger cities and choose higher-quality providers. The median download speed is around 34Mbps, which may concern some digital nomads. SLT-Fiber has the fastest internet in the country, with an average download speed of around 100Mbps.
Tourist Attractions: Sri Lanka has many stunning outdoor destinations for digital nomads to explore. There are plenty of famous coastal resort towns, including Bentota and Tangalle. Other attractions include Galle Fort, a historic fort built by the Portuguese, and Gal Viharaya, a statue in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Furthermore, there are other natural attractions in the country, including scenic tea plantations and mountainous towns like Kandy. Ecotourism is becoming an increasingly large part of the economy, and there are plenty of natural attractions to explore in the country.
Places to Live: Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city, is the most popular choice for digital nomads as it will be easier to get around and find accommodation. If you are looking for a beach destination, then Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia is an interesting option that has a population of slightly over 200,000. Galle and Kandy are two popular tourist destinations that are excellent alternatives to Colombo.
Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city, is the most popular choice for digital nomads
Sri Lanka’s government has recognized the limitation of its 30-day tourist visa and has begun implementing solutions. Sri Lanka previously decided to change its tourist visa policy to allow tourists to extend their visas for up to 270 days.
However, the government has also recognized the need to create a digital nomad visa specifically designed for digital nomads or remote employees who work for companies outside of Sri Lanka. While the government improved the idea of this program in July 2021, the digital nomad visa is still unavailable.
Currently, the government plans to allow digital nomads to spend up to one year living and working in Sri Lanka on this visa. This option will allow digital nomads to have guaranteed access to Sri Lanka without having to apply for renewals and live in the country on a tourist visa. Digital nomads are prohibited from working for local companies while on this visa and must demonstrate that they can work remotely for companies or clients while living in Sri Lanka.
The visa application will likely be online, and digital nomads must complete the application form and provide supporting documentation. This fact will ensure a speedy process, similar to its existing visa programs, and allow applicants to apply if they travel regionally.
Related content: What Is A Digital Nomad Visa And How Can You Get One?
The island in Kandy Lake is a very famous place you can visit while in Sri Lanka
Options are available for digital nomads who want to stay in Sri Lanka before the digital nomad visa is officially introduced. Unlike many countries in the region, Sri Lanka has some longer-term options available.
Sri Lanka’s visitor visa is an interesting option, as it does not limit applicants to tourism or travel. Other valid purposes include business meetings, workshops, short-term training programs, or attending events. Applicants can apply online for this visa and extend it for up to one year. This is a solid option for digital nomads who have an economic interest in Sri Lanka and may also be interested in attending events in the country or networking. However, if you are a digital nomad with no business interest in Sri Lanka, it is likely best to wait for the digital nomad visa.
There are also other long-term residency options if you invest in Sri Lanka. You can become a resident by doing any of the following:
Most residency by investment options in Asia are harder to gain, and options in Europe and Latin America are generally more attractive. Most of the programs in Sri Lanka are geared towards expats and executives already living in the country.
Related content: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Digital nomads should keep their eyes on this upcoming digital nomad visa, which will remove the headache of continuously renewing tourist visas. It is still being determined when this digital nomad visa will be released, but the government has been implementing measures since 2021 to help foreigners extend their stay in Sri Lanka. Tourism is a significant driver of growth in Sri Lanka, and the economy has been struggling substantially since 2020, so we imagine this program will be approved relatively soon. Once finalized, this will likely be one of the most intriguing digital nomad visas in frontier Asia.
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Written by Mikkel Thorup
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