About Foreign Pension Division

The Foreign Pensions Division of the Department of Pensions make payments for the Sri Lankan pensioners who are holding citizenship of another country or holding dual citizenship with Sri Lanka or Sri Lankan pensioners going abroad for more than two years.

Foreign pension payments are being paid only through a special bank account which maintains by Bank of Ceylon –Metropolitan Branch, Hatton National Bank- Panchikawatta Branch, Pan Asia Bank-Borella Branch, and People’s Bank-Head Quarters branch.

All pensioners residing abroad should furnish their Life Certificates every year during the 1^st of December of the previous year to 31^st of March of the ensuing year. Foreign pensioners should submit their Life Certificate to the Head office by visiting the front operation counter of the Department of Pensions or through foreign missions of Sri Lanka.

Pensioners going aboard on exigency of the service and whose payments are made by the Divisional Secretariats should submit their Life Certificate obtained through foreign missions of Sri Lanka, to the Divisional Secretariats.         

Pensions of pensioners who go abroad for a personal requirement for a period not exceeding six (06) months will not be considered as foreign pensioners and their Life Certificates should be submitted through the Grama Niladaris to the Divisional Secretariats.

Foreign pensions are regulated under the pensions circular 1/ 2018, for further information kindly refer the circular. (Click here to download)

Eligibility to get register as a foreign pensioner

• Pensioners holding citizenship of another country, or

• Pensioners holding dual citizenship, or

• Sri Lankan pensioners going abroad for a period of more than two years.

Required documents for registration (Registration process)

According to pensions circular No.1/2018 pensioners have to submit following documents for the commencement of the pension payment as a foreign pension.

• Data Entry Form   (Click Here to Download )
  
• Life Certificate      (Click Here to Download )
  
• Letter of Consent  (Click Here to Download )
• Two recently obtained (within six months) color photographs sized 3.5cm x 4.5cm
• Valid foreign passport or Visa confirming the visit abroad or Certificates of permanent residence or citizenship Certificate or if going abroad on contract/temporary/casual service basis, a photocopy of the service agreement certified by the pensioner.
• Bank application (for more information kindly refer bank details tab)
  1.    Bank of Ceylon –Metropolitan Branch Application                     (Click Here to Download )
  2.    People’s bank-Head Quarters Branch Application                     (Click Here to Download )
  3.    Pan Asia Bank-Borrella Branch Application                               (Click Here to Download )
  4.     Hatton National Bank –Panchikawatta Branch Application          (Click Here to Download )
  5.    National Savings Bank –Maligawatta Branch Application          (Click Here to Download )

Know Your Customer (KYC) form   

•  People’s Bank Application                  (Click Here to Download )

Bank Details

Commencement of the payments of foreign pensions can be done only through the special bank accounts maintained at following branches.

•    Bank of Ceylon –Metropolitan Branch Application                         (Click Here to Download )
•    People’s bank-Head Quarters Branch Application                          (Click Here to Download )
•    Pan Asia Bank-Borrella Branch Application                                         (Click Here to Download )
•    Hatton National Bank- Panchikawatta Branch  Application       (Click Here to Download )
•    National Savings Bank –Maligawatta Branch Application          (Click Here to Download )

The pensioner should open an Individual savings account in any of the bank stated above.

Required documents ,

1. Account opening form among of the relevant bank of his/her choice from among above banks.
2. Letter of Consent  (Click Here to Download )
3. KYC (Know your customer)

Transferring money to another bank account

There is an opportunity of transferring money from their special bank account to,

1. An individual savings account of the SAME BANK maintained under the pensioners name , or                             
2. To an individual savings bank account of a foreign bank maintained under the pensioner’s name   
• Transferring to other banks are STRICTLY RESTRICTED.
       

Registration for Widows’ & Orphans Pensions (W& OP)

1. Data Entry Form  (Click Here to Download )
2. Widow’s Declaration   (Click Here to Download )
3. Affidavit       (Click Here to Download )
4. Life Certificate     (Click Here to Download )
5. Letter of Consent  (Click Here to Download )
6. Request Letter for W& OP  
7. Two recently obtained (within six months) color photographs sized 3.5cm x 4.5cm
8. Two copies of valid passport
9. Marriage Certificate-Original
10. Birth Certificate-Original

Death Certificate of Spouse (Original/Copy should be certified by the High Commission or Consulate General)

If the pension arrears more than 5 lacks, the pensioner should be submitted an affidavit declaring non-receipt of pension payment for said period and if disclosed paid amount will pay back to the Government of Sri Lanka.

Pension payments for heirs

(For Civil Pension Payments Only)

• The letter of request for arrears of pension Payment.
• Death Certificate of pensioner / widow (Original )
• Birth Certificate of the heirs (Original ).
• Copy of biography page of the passport.
• An affidavit for number of family members (Attested before a justice of peace, Notary public, or an Authorized    officer of the high Commission/ Embassy / Sri Lankan foreign         mission/Consulate General.
• A copy of the first page of the high Commission/ Embassy /Sri Lankan foreign mission/Consulate General
• An affidavit attested before a justice of Pease, Notary public, or an Authorized officer of the Commission Embassy   or Consulate General in case where if an heir is willing to hand over  his / her own entitlement to another heir
• Document to confirm pensioners /widow migrate to overseas (The relevant page of the copy of Passport.)
• Document to confirm the heir migrated to overseas.(The relevant page of the Copy of Passport)
• All copies should be certified by the High Commission / Embassy /Sri Lankan foreign mission/Consulate General.

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Pay arrears of Pensions /W& OP pensions

Arrears payments are made when the restart of a hold pension if the amount is less than Rs.750,000.00 If the amount is above Rs.750,000.00 payments will be done after the approval of the committee.

Required documents,

1. Request Letter
2. Transaction Statement of the Bank account for three months prior to the date of commencement of arrears payment.
3. Valid Passport copy
4. National Identity Card (NIC) copy

Temporary suspension of pension payments by Embassies and High Commissions

Temporary suspension of pension payments by Embassies and High Commissions-2018

 (Click Here to Download )

Life Certificate

1. Foreign pensioners should submit their Life Certificate to the foreign pension branch by visiting the front operation counter of the Department of Pensions or through Sri Lankan Foreign missions.

2.All pensioners residing abroad or whose pension file maintains by foreign pensions division should furnish their Life Certificates every year during the 1st of December of the previous year to 31st of March of the ensuing year. It should submit to the Head office by visiting the front operation counter of the Department of Pensions or through foreign missions of Sri Lanka.

3.Pensioners going aboard on exigency of the service and whose payments are made by the Divisional Secretariats should submit their Life Certificate obtained through foreign missions of Sri Lanka, to the Divisional Secretariats.

4.Pensions of pensioners who go abroad for a personal requirement for a period not exceeding six (06) months will not be considered as foreign pensioners and their Life Certificates should be submitted through the Grama Niladaris to the Divisional Secretariats.

5.Pensioners who are unable to visit the High Commission/Embassy/Sri Lankan foreign mission/Consulate General due to aging or sickness should submit their Life Certificates obtained from a recognized medical officer of the relevant country, by getting it certified by the High Commission/Embassy/Sri Lankan foreign mission/ Consulate General.

• Life Certificate Format       (Click Here to Download )
• It is mandatory to use the correct format for particular year.
• LIFE CERTIFICATES NOT CERTIFIED BY THE HIGH COMMISSION/EMBASSY/SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MISSION/CONSULATE GENERAL WILL BE REJECTED.

6.The list of names of Sri Lankan overseas pensioners whose pensions have been temporarily suspended with effect from 01.07.2024 due to not submitting a valid life certificate for the year 2024

(Click Here to Download )

Railway Warrants

The Department of Pensions has partnered with the Sri Lanka Railways Department to grant railway warrants to pensioners and the said facility is available to foreign pensioners too.

Abroad Pensioners now can download their Railway Warrant application here       Click here to Download 

Duly completed application should be submitted to the Front operation counter of Foreign Pensions Division at Department of Pensions.

Dole Letter

Department of Pensions issues a dole letter that confirming the person is not a recipient of a pension paid by the Department of Pensions.

Required documents,

1. Duly completed application        Click Here to Download
2. Request letter of particular agency of the country
3. Valid passport copy
4. NIC copy (National Identity Card)
5. Affidavit  Click Here to Download (Completed application form and affidavit certified by a justice of peace should be submitted when visiting the pension department.)

Pension Information Letter

Department of Pensions issues a letter of pension information that certifying pension payment details as per the request of the pensioner.

Required documents, 

• Request Letter
• Valid passport copy
• NIC copy (National Identity Card)

Contact Details