Become an Immigration & Emigration Officer in Sri Lanka

Immigration & Emigration officers control who enters and leaves Sri Lanka. Working mainly at Bandaranaike International Airport, ports and the Department's head office, they examine travel documents, process visas and citizenship matters, and detect forged documents and immigration offences.

Recruitment to the officer grade is through a competitive examination for graduates announced by Gazette, followed by interviews and training. The role is popular for its airport working environment, shift-based overtime earnings, exposure to international travel processes, and clear promotion path within the department.

The work spans border control at arrival/departure counters, visa and residence permit processing, citizenship and dual citizenship administration, passport issuance oversight, and investigations into overstayers and document fraud.

An immigration officer checks passports and visas at border counters, approves or refuses entry per immigration law, processes visa extensions and residence permits, handles citizenship applications, detects forged travel documents, and investigates immigration offences in coordination with police and airlines.

**Officer grade:** A recognised degree is typically required, with age limits (commonly up to ~30) per gazette; strong English is important given constant interaction with foreign travellers.

**Support grades:** Management assistant grades recruit at A/L level via separate exams.

**Selection:** Written examination (aptitude, general knowledge, language) followed by structured interview.