Import of Vehicles by Returing Residents on Foreign Earnings in Sri Lanka

By Jack Kates

Sri Lankan Returning Residents are allowed to bring a used Right Hand Drive car from their foreign earnings when they return home. Car must be registered in Returning Resident's name.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant should have returned after termination of foreign employment
• The vehicle should have been registered in the name of applicant and used
• Registration certificate with English translation
• Photocopies of passport (pages with photograph of the holder and departure endorsement and visa covering the period of employment)
• Vehicle should be right hand driven
• Licensee should present his/her self with his/her passport at the time of clearance of the vehicle.
• Vehicle should be registered in the name of the licensee and cannot be transferred for three years
• Importation is permitted once in 05 years only.
• Importation of vehicles with CFC A/C is not allowed

Importation of Used Motor Vehicles between 2 to 5 years old - Under Exchange Earned Abroad - Category I

• The motor vehicle should be registered under the name of the applicant and used by him for a period of more than one year
• Motor vehicle should not be older than 05 years from the date of first registration

Importation of Used Motor Cars Between 05 to 10 Years Old - Category II

• The motor vehicle should be registered in the name of the applicant and used by him continuously for a period of more than three years.
• Motor car should not be older than 10 years from the date of first registration

Support Documents Required

• Four copies of the receipt
• A Photostat copy of the Registration Certificate
• An affidavit giving reasons for being in Sri Lanka and particulars of the person
• A copy of the invoice of the Vehicle
• Receipts obtained from the cashier of the Dept. of Import/Export Control
• Photograph of the Vehicle
• Photostat copies of the pages of the passport containing;

1. Name
2. Date of expiry of passport
3. Date of departure from Sri Lanka
4. Date of arrival in Sri Lanka

• Bank statement in proof of foreign exchange savings from employment abroad

Submission Procedure

Obtain Application Forms
Counter – Unit 02

Making Payments
Counter – Cashier

Submission of Application Form and support Documents 
Counter – Unit 02

Application Forms

• Application for License to Import Vehicle under the Exchange Earned Abroad
• Specimen Indent Form

Procedure

Step 1: Obtain the Application form from Unit 02
Step 2: Submission of filled application and the relevant Support documents to Unit 02
Step 3: If all the support documents are submitted and application is filled properly direct the applicant to assistant controller for his approval.
Step 4: The assistant controller approves issuance of a license. Applicant pays the license fee to the cashier and submits the receipt to Unit 02 
Step 5: Issue the license

Note :

• If the relevant support documents are not submitted then notify applicant about the required documents
• If the Application form is not filled properly assist the applicant to fill the form.

Time Line

Process Time Line: One to Two days

Submission Time Line

Obtain Application Form and Documents

Making Payments

Submission of Application Form with Support Documents

Validity Time Line: The validity period for this service is 03 months.

Note: If the applicant wishes to get an extension on the validity period, he/she should provide valid reasons and the request should be forwarded to the Controller. The Controller will decide whether to grant the request or not.

Costs Related to the Service

Cost of Application Form: No cost of obtaining Application

Fee: Fee differs depending on the age of the Vehicle. The fee will be a percentage of the total value mentioned below.

Penalties: If the Licensee fails to present him/her self with his/her passport at the time of clearance of the vehicle, his/her license will be cancelled and the vehicle will be confiscated.

Surcharge: No surcharge involved in this service.? If the vehicle is shipped before the license is obtained, an additional fee will have to be paid.

Importation of Used Motor Cars not Older than 05 Years

Proof of Foreign employment for a period not less than 03 years and foreign earnings.

Importation of Used Motor Cars between 05 to 10 Years Old

Proof of Foreign employment for a period not less than 05 years and foreign earnings.

Special Cases

• If in any case that the applicant wishes to extend the validity period a request should be forwarded to the Controller. Controller will examine the request and decide whether to grant the request or not
• If that value of the import goods is higher than that as mentioned in the invoice, the difference fee should be pad.