Obtaining a New Identity Card
Obtaining a National Identity Card (NIC) for the first time.
- Eligibility criteria to apply for an ID for the first time
- Should be a citizen of Sri Lanka
- Should be attained 16 years of age
- Obtaining an Application
- From the Grama Niladhari of the applicant’s residential area;
- From the Estate superintendant (if the applicant resides in an estate);
- From the School Principal or the “Parivenadhipathi” of the respective Pirivena in the case of school applications
Completed application along with the relevant documents should be handed over to the above respective officers as appropriate.
Necessary documents to be submitted to obtain an ID for the first time:
- Duly completed RPD Form 1
- Applicants under 50 years of age should compulsorily submit the Birth Certificate (BC) or the Probable Age Certificate issued by the Additional District Registrar in order to obtain an ID card.
- The Department considers 1st of July of the respective year as the date of birth in respect of the applicants who submit probable age certificates.
- Applicants over 50 years of age and do not possess the birth certificate or the probable age certificate, could submit two or more following alternative documents along with the results of search of registers and an Affidavit to confirm the age.
- School leaving certificate
- Certificate of Baptism
- Copies of Birth certificates of children of the applicant, (if the date of birth of the applicant indicated )
- Extract of the birth certificate of the applicant
- Citizenship certificate of Sri Lanka (if the date of birth indicated)
- Estate leaving certificate (if the date of birth indicated)
- Certified copies of relevant pages of the Passport
- Registration card issued by the Estate Superintendent
- Horoscope (if available)
- Applicants born in a foreign country should submit the citizenship certificates issued by the Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka.
- Women applicants, who wish to include husband’s family name in the ID card need to submit the original & a copy of the marriage certificate.
- Five colour photographs of the size of 1 ⅜” X ⅞”
- Stamp fees
- Stamps to a value of Rs. 3/= for the applicants under 17 years of age.
- Stamps to a value of Rs. 13/= for the applicants over 17 years of age.
- Applicants, who wish to include their occupation/designation in the ID card, should submit a service certificate obtained during the last three months. Professionals also need to submit documentary evidence, in case if they wish to include their profession in the ID card. (I.e. Engineers, Doctors, Accountants, Lawyers should submit relevant Degree certificates). In case of the Businessmen, they need to submit a certified copy of the Business Registration certificate.
- Procedure to confirm the Priest status of applicants-
- Buddhist cleric should submit the “Certificate of Ordain” or “Upasampada Certificate” issued by the Department of Buddhist Affairs
- “Dasasil Matha” should submit the registration certificate issued by the Department of Buddhist Affairs
- Islamic priest should submit the certificate issued by the Department of Islamic Religious Affairs
- Hindu priest should submit the certificate issued by the Department of Hindu Religious Affairs
- Catholic priest should submit certificate issued by the head of relevant catholic religious chapters
Organization InformationDepartment of Registration of PersonsDepartment of Registration of Persons Mr. A.P.G. Roshan Amarasinghe Telephones:+94-11-5226126 Fax Nos:+94-11-2862290 Email:இந்த மின்-அஞ்சல் முகவரி spambots இடமிருந்து பாதுகாக்கப்படுகிறது. இதைப் பார்ப்பதற்குத் தாங்கள் JavaScript-ஐ இயலுமைப்படுத்த வேண்டும். Website: www.drp.gov.lk |
Obtaining a New Driving License
Step 1: Applicant obtains the application form “M.T.A. 30” from:
- District secretarial offices (normal service)
- Main office in – Colombo (priority service)
Step 2: Applicant submits the filled form directed to Assistant Commissioner, along with required documents to:
- District secretarial offices (normal service)
- Main office in Verahera – Colombo (priority service)
Step 3: Applicant sits for the written examination on the call of Department
Step 4: Applicant does the practical examination on the call of the Department. Pass result attained at this examination will be valid till 6 months
Step 5: Department issues the Temporary License, which is valid up to 6 months (at the point of passing the practical examination)
Step 6: Department issues the License (license will be sent to the applicant by post)
Note:
If Applicant Fails the Written Examination:
Applicant can re apply for the written examination by paying Rs.100.00 up to three times
If the Applicant Fails the Practical Examination:
Applicant can re apply for the practical examination by making the full payment up to three times
Please refer to section: “Special Cases”
Eligibility
Any applicant being a permanent resident within Sri Lanka can apply for this service
Following are the conditions required to obtain the service:
- Applicant being a citizen of Sri Lanka
- Applicant being over 18 years of age
- Sitting for a written test and a practical examinations
- Produce with a certification of identity at both written and practical examinations
- Passing of both above examinations
- Provide with all the documents required within the process (please refer to the section: “Documents Required”)
- Duration between the submission of the application and the practical test, been less than six months
Note: Any applicant who is not able to meet with above conditions will be considered disqualified from obtaining the service.
Submission Procedure
All the applications should be directed to the assistant commissioner of the Licensing Division
Assistant Commissioner – Licensing Division,
Department of Motor Traffic,
P.O Box 533, 581-341, Elvitigala Mawatha,
Colombo 5.
Note 1: Applicants are given the facility of obtaining licenses through:
- All district secretarial offices (normal service)
- Main office in Verahera – Colombo (priority service)
Application Form
Form “M.T.A. 30”: Application for License to Drive a Motor Vehicle
Time Line
Process Timeline:
| Applied for priority service | License issued within 1 week |
| Applied for normal service | License issued within 2 week – 3 months |
Submission Timeline:
For Obtaining & Submitting Application Forms:
| Working days | Mondays to Fridays |
| Counter open hours | 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (Normal) |
| Counter open hours | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Priority) |
| Holidays | All Public and Mercantile Days |
Validity Timeline:
Validity of the application expires if the practical examination is performed after 6 months of submitting the application
Costs Related to Service
Cost of Obtaining the Application:
Application forms provided free of charge
Fee:
| Type of Service | 1 Class of Vehicles | 2 Class of Vehicles | 3 Class of Vehicles |
| Normal service | Rs. 620.00 | Rs. 1020.00 | Rs. 1120.00 |
| Priority service | Rs. 1020.00 | Rs. 1770.00 | Rs. 1870.00 |
Penalty:
No penalties involved in the process of issuing licensesSurcharge:
At failing on the written test, an applicant must pay Rs. 100.00 for re applying (only valid for three re-applies)
At failing on the practical test, an applicant must make the full payment for re applying (only valid for three re-applies)
Support Documents Required
For Light Vehicles:
- The original and a photocopy of the Birth Certificate
- National Identity Card / Original and a photocopy of a valid Passport, containing NIC number
- Three copies of black and white photos of size: 2*2
- Medical certification, from a MBBS certified Medical Officer
For Heavy Vehicles:
- The original and a photocopy of the Birth Certificate
- National Identity Card / Original and a photocopy of a valid Passport, containing NIC number
- Three copies of black and white photos of size: 2*2 ”
- A Medical Certification issued by the C.T.B Medical Institute, Nugegoda or by Medical Officer of the applicant’s residential district
- A Certification of Competency issued by a grade “A” registered driving school
Special Cases
If the Applicant is not able to Read or Write:
- He/she must sit three times for the written examination
- Obtain a certification letter from the Grama Niladhari
- Apply for a verbal examination in substitution of the written examination
If the Applicant Fails the Practical Examination and If He has Applied for a License of Heavy Duty Vehicles:
Applicant is not allowed to re-apply for the practical examination within 14 days
If He has Applied for a License of a Light Vehicles:
Applicant is not allowed to re-apply for the practical examination within 7 days
If the Applicant is an Owner of a Driving License from a Foreign Country (Applicant being either Sri Lankan or Non Sri Lankan):
- He/she can obtain the license without going through either written or practical examinations by producing the foreign license
- Country, which is the issuer of the license should be approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles
- An English translation of the license issued by the relevant embassy, if the license in not in English
- Documents required and costs involved at such occasions will be same as at obtaining a new license
Sample Form with Dummy Data
form “M.T.A.30 example”
Organization InformationDepartment of Motor TrafficNo: 581-341, Elvitigala Mavatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 05. . Mr. Upul Priyantha de Silva Telephones:+94-11-2698717 Fax Nos:+94-11-2694338 Email:இந்த மின்-அஞ்சல் முகவரி spambots இடமிருந்து பாதுகாக்கப்படுகிறது. இதைப் பார்ப்பதற்குத் தாங்கள் JavaScript-ஐ இயலுமைப்படுத்த வேண்டும். Website: www.dmt.gov.lk |
