The 'My Dream Home' residence visa is for applicants aged 55+ and typically requires a US$15,000 fixed deposit plus around US$1,500 in monthly remittance (US$750 per dependant); it is granted for two years and is renewable.
A few things to line up early:
Visa rules change often — treat this as a starting point and confirm the latest official requirements before you plan.
Remember: buying a home and gaining the right to live there are usually separate steps. See how ownership works in Sri Lanka, and what it costs to live there in our cost-of-retiring guide.
Since April 2025 a resident's foreign income remitted to Sri Lanka through a licensed bank is taxed at a flat 15% (after the LKR 1.8m personal relief), so a UK pension brought in can be taxable. Income kept abroad is generally outside the net, and the UK-Sri Lanka double-tax treaty can reduce the bill, so take advice.
Public healthcare is free but basic and stretched, so expats lean on Colombo's good private hospitals such as Asiri, Nawaloka, Lanka and Durdans — near-Western standards with English-speaking staff at a fraction of UK prices, though complex procedures still add up. An international health policy is wise, with premiums rising after age 60. Safe and genuinely welcoming; English is widely spoken thanks to the colonial legacy and schooling, they drive on the left, and daily life is easy for British retirees though the roads can be hectic.
Colombo for amenities and the best hospitals, the historic fort town of Galle on the south coast, cooler hill-country Kandy, and Negombo near the airport for beach life close to the city.
Thinking seriously about Sri Lanka?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →