Key takeaways
- IRCC names the document the “Police Clearance Certificate”
- IRCC says to apply online through the Sri Lanka Police website, available in English, Sinhala and Tamil only
- If you are not a Sri Lankan citizen and had no legal status there, IRCC gives you a note to include instead
- For Express Entry, upload a colour scan of the original; certified true copies are not accepted
- Check the Sri Lanka Police site for current fees and timing
The document IRCC asks for
IRCC’s Sri Lanka police certificate page lists the “Police Clearance Certificate.” IRCC says: “You must provide a police certificate when you apply for: permanent residence, citizenship, some temporary residence programs.”
How to apply
IRCC says to apply online (available in English, Sinhala and Tamil only) through the Sri Lanka Police website. The Sri Lanka Police Police Clearance Certificate e-service lets you check an application or verify a certificate.
For questions, IRCC lists Police Headquarters Colombo, phone +(94 11) 242 1111 ext. 437.
Check the Sri Lanka Police site for current fees and timing. You can also check with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa for current options.
If you need to give fingerprints for a police certificate, this is not the same as the biometrics (fingerprints and photo) you give for an application, IRCC says.
If you are not a citizen of Sri Lanka
IRCC says: “If you don’t have legal status in Sri Lanka, you don’t need to provide a Sri Lankan police certificate.” If IRCC asks you for one, include a note with your application that says:
I cannot provide a police certificate for the time I spent in Sri Lanka because certificates are only available to people who have legal status.
Express Entry rules
Under IRCC’s Express Entry police certificates page, you and your family members who are 18 years or older need a certificate for every country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years. You do not need one for any time before you were 18 or for time spent in Canada. After you apply, an officer may ask for more certificates from any time in your life since you were 18.
| Topic | What IRCC says |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka is where you live now | The certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application. |
| Sri Lanka is another country | The certificate must be issued after the last time you stayed there for 6 months in a row or longer. |
| Format | Upload scanned copies of the original certificate in colour. Certified true copies or unauthorized copies will not be accepted and will result in your application being rejected. |
If it is late
IRCC says: “It can take a long time to get police certificates. You should consider asking for them as soon as your profile is in the pool.” After an invitation to apply, you have 60 days to submit your application. If you do not have all your police certificates by the deadline, you can provide a letter of explanation and proof that you made your best effort. IRCC’s examples include a confirmation receipt, a payment receipt, a delivery notice, a tracking number, or an explanation from the issuing agency about a delay.
Upload them in the country-specific police certificate field of your document checklist. IRCC warns that your application may be rejected as incomplete if officers are not satisfied you made your best effort.
What to do next
- List every country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years, after age 18.
- Open the Sri Lanka Police website and check current fees and timing.
- Apply online as soon as your Express Entry profile is in the pool.
- Scan the original certificate in colour. Keep every receipt and tracking number.
Read our page for people moving from Sri Lanka, compare with the Nigeria, China, Philippines and India guides, and use the document checklist generator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sri Lanka police certificate called?
IRCC calls it the Police Clearance Certificate.
Where do I apply?
IRCC says to apply online through the Sri Lanka Police website.
What if I was not a citizen and had no legal status in Sri Lanka?
IRCC says you do not need to provide the certificate. If IRCC asks, include the note shown above.
Can I upload a certified copy?
No. For Express Entry, IRCC does not accept certified true copies. Upload a colour scan of the original.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
IRCC does not say. Check the Sri Lanka Police site for current fees and timing.
Sources
- IRCC: Police certificates, Sri Lanka (checked October 22, 2026)
- IRCC: Express Entry, police certificates (checked October 22, 2026)
- Sri Lanka Police: Police Clearance Certificate e-service (checked October 22, 2026)
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
