If you plan to travel around Sri Lanka in a rented car, you will need to obtain a local Temporary Driving Licence, also called Recognition Permit. You can do this yourself, right upon arrival at the airport.
The Recognition Permit is issued by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). Its counter is located in the arrivals area of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), next to the SPAR supermarket.
The counter operates 24/7.
You’ll need the following documents:
Your foreign driving license must remain valid for at least one year from the date of application.
The cost of the Recognition Permit depends on its validity period. You can pay in cash or by card.
| Validity period | Cost |
| 1 month | 2 000 LKR (≈6,62 USD) |
| 2 months | 4 000 LKR (≈13,24 USD) |
| 3 months | 6 000 LKR (≈19,85 USD) |
| 4 months | 8 000 LKR (≈26,47 USD) |
| 5 months | 10 000 LKR (≈33,09 USD) |
The maximum validity period is 5 months.
All restrictions and conditions specified in your foreign driving license (e.g., mandatory use of corrective lenses, automatic transmission only, or use of a hearing aid) will be transferred to the Recognition Permit.
For additional information on eligibility, required documents, and processing times, visit the official website of the DMT: www.dmt.gov.lk
DMT contact details: