How to get your passport if you applied online
Writing this to kill my boredom while waiting for my passport and to help someone who applied online but still didn’t get theirs.
First of all make sure you have the following documents beforehand so that you can resolve any issues at first chance.
A print out of the payment receipt or the current status of the passport that is available online.
Certified Birth certificate: they ask for one certified from the AG office. You can request for them through this link, they send it within two days of payment through Speed Post. https://online.ebmd.rgd.gov.lk/ (marriage certificate too if applicable)
NIC
The signature form with your signature on it
Employment confirmation letter
If you’re collecting a passport on behalf of someone you need a letter authorizing you to do so from that particular person.
Next come to the passport office at least by 6.30am the gates open at 6.
Don’t stop anywhere except for the baggage check and head straight to Room 15 on the first floor. Coming early and taking a seat asap is mandatory as it is first come first serve. Don’t be the annoying dude wanting special treatment or sneaking into the line because everyone is frustrated so you might literally get beaten up.
They start around 8 by an officer signing the 1. Print out. Then they will call you to a counter where one officer will check your application and forward you to another counter where the application will be confirmed.
If your application is flawless you will have to wait till around 2 by which they will start distributing the printed ones. If you don’t collect it within that day they will hand it over to courier the next day and it will arrive at your home in 2 days. (At least that’s what they say)
If there are issues with your passport they will write AC Pending on the 1. Printout and you will be asked to go to Room 10 (deputy controller {travel}) which is just outside counter 15. You’ll have to go inside, handover your 1. Printout and then wait outside for upwards of one hour.
The personnel will check the application, call out your name and tell you what you need to do. After that you need to log into the online application portal and then go to “Resolve Issues”. The issue will be mentioned and all you have to do is take a picture of 2. , 3. , 4. , 5. Or multiple of them and upload to the correct place. Remember that it has to be under 1MB and JPG. A screenshot will be png so be mindful. You can convert and downsize online very easily.
Once you upload tell the personnel in room 10 or if they are not there check room 20 on the second floor. Don’t wait outside the room, if it’s not crowded just excuse yourself and update them.
This process can be a back and forth if you don’t get it right the first time. Once done it’s back to waiting as they print batch by batch.
If you’re collecting the passport on behalf of someone you need to take 6. Letter and go to room 1 (controller {travel}) on the second floor and get the Controller to sign it. Depending on your luck the guy may or may not be in his office and if he is not. No telling how long he will take to come back. Once he gets back sometimes he disappears again in less than 5 mins.
So yeah that’s it. Thank you for listening to my TedTalk