Personal accounts: Sri Lanka
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
A personal account in Sri Lanka is needed by people moving to the island on a long-term visa, buying a flat, working or doing business here. Banks are supervised by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the currency is the Sri Lankan rupee, about 330 rupees per dollar in early October 2026. Foreign exchange rules matter for foreigners: money from abroad for deposits, property and investments comes in through special foreign currency accounts so that it can later be taken back out legally.
Accounts foreigners open
| Account | Used for |
|---|---|
| Personal foreign currency account | savings and payments in dollars, euro and other currencies |
| Inward investment account | buying a flat, shares, deposits; money goes back out through it legally |
| Visa programme foreign currency account | investments for the investor visa: from $100,000 for a 5-year visa, from $200,000 for a 10-year visa |
| Ordinary rupee account | everyday spending, rent, utility bills |
Who can open an account
| Your status | Chances | What else the bank will ask |
|---|---|---|
| Resident with a long-term visa | high | visa, address on the island, source of income |
| Flat buyer | high | agreement with the developer or seller, transfer of money from abroad |
| Non-resident for a deposit or investment | medium | passport, address abroad, source of funds |
| Tourist without a long-term visa | low | usually only certain foreign currency accounts are opened |
The account and long-term visas
- Investor visa: an investment of at least $100,000 through a Sri Lankan bank gives a 5-year visa, and from $200,000 a 10-year visa; the visa fee is $200 a year per person.
- The investment can be a term deposit, a flat or other property a foreigner may legally buy, at least 10% of the voting shares of a local company, or government securities with a term of 5 years or more.
In both cases the money arrives through a Sri Lankan bank, so the account is opened first.
Deposit protection and taxes
| Question | How it works |
|---|---|
| Deposit insurance | up to Rs 1,100,000 per depositor per bank, ~$3,400 |
| Foreign currency deposits | available; interest and terms depend on the bank |
| Tax residence | banks report foreigners' accounts to the tax authorities of their countries |
The insurance limit is small, so large sums are spread across banks or held in foreign currency at reliable banks.
How to take the money back out
Money that came in through the inward investment account, together with interest and proceeds from selling a flat or shares, can be legally transferred back abroad. Money paid in as cash or by transfer to an ordinary rupee account is much harder to take out. So for large sums we use the right account type from the start and keep documents for every transfer.
How the opening works
- Assessment of the task and choice of account type: everyday, foreign currency, investment or visa.
- Pack: passport, visa or deal documents, proof of address, source of funds.
- A branch visit or verification, if the bank allows it.
- Transfer of money from abroad to the right account and online banking.
An account is usually opened within a few days after a complete pack is submitted.
Who gets refused
The bank will refuse if the purpose of the account is unclear, if the source of money cannot be proven with documents, or if the client or their money is linked to sanctions. We check whether the bank works with Russian citizens before preparing documents.
What we do
Murblz specialists choose the account type and bank for your task, prepare documents and the explanation of the source of funds, open an inward investment account when you buy a flat and handle the long-term visa application. We fix the estimate in writing; the decision to open an account always rests with the bank.
What we do
- Personal account - opening assistance
We will calculate online the cost of opening a personal account and maintaining it for a year.
See also
Business account · Investment property · Country taxes · All country programs
FAQ
Can a foreigner open an account in Sri Lanka?
Why is an inward investment account needed?
What visa does a deposit in Sri Lanka give?
Is money in a Sri Lankan bank protected?
Does buying a flat give a visa?
Can money be taken out of Sri Lanka again?
How much does it cost to open an account with your help?
Need a personal account in Sri Lanka?
We assess which Sri Lankan bank will open an account for a non-resident, explain the rules for foreign currency accounts and prepare the documents. Every country is in the searchable catalogue.
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