Registration of Births of Children Born outside Sri Lanka

About Birth Registration

Registration of births of children born outside Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parent(s) is a mandatory requirement to preserve the child’s eligibility for Sri Lankan citizenship and Sri Lankan heritage. At least one parent must hold Sri Lankan citizenship at the time of the child’s birth for the birth to be registered.

Birth Registration Process

The registration process consists of two components:

1. Birth Registration (under the Consular Functions Act)

• Your child will receive a Birth Certificate issued under the Consular Functions Act , which will serve as a permanent official record.

2. Citizenship Registration (under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act)

• Under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act, your child will be granted Sri Lankan citizenship (not dual citizenship), which will be valid up to the age of 22 years.
• To avoid the cessation of citizenship, your child is required to re-validate the citizenship upon reaching 22 years of age, or obtain dual citizenship (if the child has acquired foreign citizenship) before attaining the age of 22 years.

Please ensure you complete the application form before booking your appointment and bring the duly completed form along with all relevant documents.

Please note that one appointment is valid for only one child. If you have more than one child, you must book separate appointments according to the number of children.

Book an Appointment before visiting the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France,16 Rue Spontini, 75016 Paris in person.

Please carefully review all instructions and guidelines before submitting your application.  

The following documents should be submitted along with the original documents and 01 A4 size photocopy, according to the applicable birth registration period:

1. Application form: (For Birth Registration)

• Within three (03) months from the date of Birth
• After three (03) months from the date of Birth

2. Application form for Citizenship Registration

3. The Original and photocopy of the Child Birth Certificate issued by the relevant authority of the French/Spanish/Portuguese Government and its English translation.
4. Original and photocopy of the Sri Lankan Birth Certificates of the parents. (English translation will not be accepted.)
5. In case if one of the parents is of another nationality, the original and photocopy of the birth certificate issued by the respective country and its English translation.
6. Original and photocopy of the parents' marriage certificate.

•  If the parents have got married in Sri Lanka, the Certificate of marriage issued by the competent authority.(English translation will not be accepted.)
• If the parents have got married in a foreign country, the Certificate of Marriage issued by the competent authority of that country and its English translation. The original married certificate should be legalized by the Diplomatic Mission of the relevant country.

4. In case if the parents are not married, the father of the child should submit an affidavit confirming paternity. The section 10 of the declarations 16/24 referred above should be signed by both father and mother in front of the relevant officer at the Embassy.
5. Valid Sri Lankan Passport and the valid visa (immigrant carte de séjour) of parents during child birth. One of the parents may be a refugee/French, the refugee passport and resident card/French Passport and French ID (Photocopy).
6. Current Sri Lankan passport and visa (immigrant card) of parents. Original and Photo copy. One of the parents may be a refugee/French, valid refugee passport and resident card/French Passport and the French ID (original and photocopy).
7. If the main applicant does not possess valid visa during the child birth, a copy of his/her valid Sri Lankan passport during child birth and an affidavit declaring that the applicant was not a citizen of another country during child birth should be submitted together with the documents mentioned at ‘06’ above.
8. If the main applicant was Sri Lankan during child birth and has subsequently obtained a foreign nationality, the Naturalization certificate and its English translation should be submitted.
9. If the applicant (father or mother) is born outside Sri Lanka, original and photocopies of his/her Sri Lankan Birth certificate and Citizenship certificate should be submitted (Foreign Birth certificate is not accepted).
10. If the main applicant has obtained dual citizenship, the original and photo copy of his/her dual citizenship certificate should be submitted.
11. If application is not submitted within the three months, letter stating the reason/s for the delay in registering the birth.
12. Applicants who wish to submit the application for birth registration from Spain, Portugal and out of Paris should get all photocopies certified as true copy with official rubber stamp by and officer from any accepted Government Institution. Further, the applicant should place his signature in all relevant places of the application in front of the officer concerned and should be counter signed by the same officer.

Charges:

• A processing fee €102 will be charged for registration of Birth and Citizenship.
• In addition, €8 will be charged as penalty for each year of delay.
• If you wish to receive  the Birth Certificate and Citizenship Certificate of your child by post the postage €15 will be charged.

Payment method:

• If the applicant physical visits the embassy he/she can pay by cash· Credit or ATM or debit cards and personal or company cheques will not be accepted.

• The applicants who wish to pay relevant face by direct transfer to the bank account of the embassy of Sri Lanka in France are advised to contact the embassy for further instructions.

Attention:

• The main applicant should possess the valid Sri Lankan Passport and Immigrant Resident Card at the time of child birth and currently.
• The signature of the applicant in all relevant spaces in the application form should be similar to signature placed in his/her Sri Lankan passport.
• Except the situation mentioned under item no. (4), only the applicant may be presented during the submission of application. It is mandatory to make an appointment  
• If you need apply a fresh certified copy of your Sri Lankan Birth / Marriage certificate,