Sri Lanka

Specific Information

The owner of the goods should be present for Customs clearance in Sri Lanka. If unavailable, a registered and legalized Power of Attorney must be submitted with a copy of the owner's passport.

All shipments are subject to Customs physical inspection. Documents should be received by the destination agent at least 7 days before the shipment arrives.

All electrical items and furniture must be individually priced on the detailed inventory. If the total assessed value of electrical items and furniture exceeds USD 1,000, duty is payable on the excess. Only one electrical item of any type is permitted per consignment. Refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and home theater systems are not classified as household goods and are therefore subject to full import duties and taxes.

All applicable fees must be paid before the shipment is released.

Diplomats may only clear duty-free upon presentation of the Duty-Free Clearance Certificate. Shipments with "A" Facility diplomatic status are not subject to physical Customs inspection.

ISPM 15 compliance is required for all wood packaging material.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Passport
• Import Control Licence from the Department of Import and Export Control, Sri Lanka
• Certificate of title/registration
• Proof of ownership (details of vehicle, make, model, year)
• Purchase receipt/invoice
• Additional documents prepared by the local agent (require customer signature and company seal)
• Appropriate application forms (contact destination agent for the correct form applicable to the importer's category)

Specific Information

All vehicles imported into Sri Lanka must be right-hand drive.

Vehicle importation is heavily regulated and duty structures are complex. Diplomatic personnel, UN officials, and some NGO organizations may import a motor vehicle duty-free, provided they hold a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lankan government or an official duty-free facility. For all other importers, duties and taxes apply to all vehicle imports.

It is strongly not recommended for private individuals to import used or new vehicles under personal effects. The destination agent must be consulted to determine the correct applicable form, duty category, and required vehicle specifications before any commitment is made.

Pets

• Copy of owner's passport
• Copy of Airway Bill
• ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip certificate
• Vaccination records: rabies (administered between 30 days and 11 months before entry); DHLP for dogs (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus — administered between 21 days and 10 months before import); TRICAT/FVRCP for cats (feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, feline leukemia — administered between 30 days and 10 months before import)
• Blood test results (dogs must show negative results for Heartworm Antigen, Heartworm Microfilaria, and Leishmaniasis — samples taken within 30 days of import)
• Parasite treatment records (internal and external, administered within 14 days before entry)
• International Zoo Sanitary Veterinary Health Certificate / official health certificate, completed within 10 days of entry, issued or endorsed by a government veterinarian in the country of origin
• Import Permit from the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), obtained at least 2 weeks before importation — valid for 90 days from date of issue
• Import Control Licence (required when importing 3 or more pets)

Sri Lanka requires an Import Permit from the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) before any live animal is imported. Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance.

Pets may only be imported from countries, or areas within countries, that are free from rabies according to Sri Lankan regulations, or from areas not within 25 km of a known rabies case in the 6 months prior to travel. The health certificate must confirm the pet has resided in the exporting country for a minimum of 6 months prior to transport.

All dogs and cats are subject to 30 days of home quarantine upon arrival, even when all requirements are met. The owner's full address and telephone number must be provided on the Quarantine Surveillance Agreement. Customs clearance and quarantine inspection take place at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport; animals may be held at the airport animal lodge for a minimum of 24 hours while quarantine requirements are processed.

Microchip must be ISO 11784/11785-compliant. If the microchip is not compliant, the importer must bring a compatible scanner.

Sri Lanka does not require a rabies titer test, but the blood tests for heartworm and leishmaniasis (dogs) must be completed. If the exporting country is officially free of these diseases, a statement to that effect on the health certificate satisfies the requirement.

Pets arriving as air cargo are subject to a significant import tax. Accompanying pets (cabin or checked baggage) are subject to a lighter tax. Advance notice of at least 2 days must be given to veterinary officials at the entry airport. Pets not in apparent good health may require further examination at the owner's expense.

Pets traveling via a layover in the European Union will face additional EU transit requirements. Direct flights to Colombo are strongly preferred.