Costs
Sri Lanka Golden Visa costs
Three very different kinds of money: capital you keep, a fee you pay, and estimates until quoted.
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Direct answer
Frequently Misunderstood
Illustrative Example
Every cost, categorised
| Item | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GPFCA deposit | Verified · your capital | USD 200,000 |
| Government visa fee (10 years) | Verified · fee | USD 2,000 |
| Police clearance certificates | Estimate · third-party | Varies by country |
| Medical reports (all applicants) | Estimate · third-party | Varies by hospital |
| Certified translations | Estimate · third-party | Varies by volume |
| Bank and transfer charges | Estimate · third-party | Varies by bank |
| Professional fees (optional) | Estimate · optional | Varies by scope |
CurrentVerified 2026-07-16 · View official source
1. How the USD 200,000 deposit works
The USD 200,000 sits in your Golden Paradise Foreign Currency Account, in your name.
It can be deployed into the four published investment routes. Up to half can be withdrawn after the first year from the visa issue date. The full amount is released if the visa is cancelled.
Key Takeaway
2. The government fee
USD 2,000, payable to the Department of Immigration and Emigration. It covers the full 10-year visa period. No annual renewal fee appears in the published material.
3. Third-party cost estimates
These vary by country, family size and provider: police certificates, medical examinations, certified translations, transfer charges, and optional legal or tax advice.
Tip
Common Mistake
A deposit programme, structurally
Residency programmes worldwide fall into three broad structures. Understanding which one you are buying changes how the headline number should be read.
| Structure | Where the money goes | What Sri Lanka does |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit-based | Into your own bank account; capital preserved | This is the Golden Paradise model: USD 200,000 stays yours |
| Donation-based | Paid to the state and never returned | Not used here; the only payment is the USD 2,000 fee |
| Property-based | Into real estate, with capital at market risk | Optional afterwards, never required to qualify |
Key Takeaway
Estimate your total
The calculator separates verified figures from estimates. Treat everything not marked “verified” as a planning range until you hold a quote.
Cost estimate calculator
The deposit and government fee are verified figures. All other items are estimates; actual third-party costs depend on your country, family situation and chosen providers.
| Item | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GPFCA deposit (your capital, not a fee) | Verified · refundable/invested | USD 200,000 |
| Government visa fee (10 years) | Verified · government fee | USD 2,000 |
| Police clearance certificates (1 adult) | Estimate · third-party | USD 20 – USD 120 |
| Medical reports (1 person) | Estimate · third-party | USD 40 – USD 150 |
| Certified translations | Estimate · third-party | USD 100 – USD 600 |
| Bank and transfer charges | Estimate · third-party | USD 100 – USD 500 |
| Estimated out-of-pocket total (excl. deposit) | USD 2,260 – USD 3,370 |
Where the out-of-pocket money goes (midpoint of ranges)
- Government fee ~71%
- Police ~2%
- Medical ~3%
- Translations ~12%
- Bank ~11%
All non-verified figures are estimates for planning only. The USD 200,000 deposit remains your capital in the GPFCA: up to 50% may be withdrawn after the first year, and the full amount is released if the visa is cancelled. This calculator is not financial advice.
Next Step
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Counting the deposit as a cost | It remains your capital in your own account | Budget it as reallocation, not spending |
| Reading USD 2,000 as annual | The fee covers the full 10-year period | Budget it once |
| Ignoring translation costs | Certified translations surprise late in the process | Get quotes when you order certificates |
Tip
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum total to budget?
USD 200,000 in capital you keep, USD 2,000 in fee you spend, plus low thousands in third-party costs depending on family size and advisors.
Are there renewal fees?
No annual renewal fee appears in the published material. The USD 2,000 covers the 10-year validity.
Is the deposit refundable?
Up to 50% may be withdrawn after the first year, and the full amount is released if the visa is cancelled on written request.
The regulatory figures in this guide are checked against the official programme page of the Department of Immigration and Emigration and dated in our source register. Changes are logged publicly in the change log.
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