In a surprise operational shift, the High Commission of India in Colombo announced that, from 3 November 2025, all Indian visa, passport and consular services in Sri Lanka will be handled directly by its missions in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna. The contract with outsourcing partner IVS Lanka ended on 31 October, giving applicants a short 72-hour window to adapt.
The change follows traveller complaints about long queues and service fees at private centres, as well as heightened security reviews after a spike in forged Indian entry stamps detected at Bandaranaike International Airport. By bringing biometric capture and document verification back in-house, New Delhi aims to tighten control over data and reduce fraud.
![Indian High Commission Ends Visa Outsourcing in Sri Lanka; Direct Processing Starts 3 November]()
For Indian corporates rotating staff between south India and Sri Lanka’s Port City construction projects, the transition means employees must secure appointments at the High Commission itself—slots are limited to 500 per day initially. Officials say walk-ins will not be entertained; all bookings must be made via a new portal that went live on 1 November.
Sri Lankan tour operators worry about longer processing times during the December peak season, but Indian diplomats insist they will meet a two-day turnaround for routine tourist visas once additional counters are staffed.
Applicants who lodged files through IVS Lanka before 31 October will be processed without resubmission, but they must collect passports from the High Commission rather than the former centre on Galle Road.
The change follows traveller complaints about long queues and service fees at private centres, as well as heightened security reviews after a spike in forged Indian entry stamps detected at Bandaranaike International Airport. By bringing biometric capture and document verification back in-house, New Delhi aims to tighten control over data and reduce fraud.
For Indian corporates rotating staff between south India and Sri Lanka’s Port City construction projects, the transition means employees must secure appointments at the High Commission itself—slots are limited to 500 per day initially. Officials say walk-ins will not be entertained; all bookings must be made via a new portal that went live on 1 November.
Sri Lankan tour operators worry about longer processing times during the December peak season, but Indian diplomats insist they will meet a two-day turnaround for routine tourist visas once additional counters are staffed.
Applicants who lodged files through IVS Lanka before 31 October will be processed without resubmission, but they must collect passports from the High Commission rather than the former centre on Galle Road.
