• The BOI annually issues 7,500-8,000 visa recommendations for investors, employees and dependents
• The long-term visa programme, primarily aims to  facilitate the investors who wish to embark on a journey with the BOI

The Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday launched the five-year residence visa programme dedicated to investors, stakeholders and BOI enterprises,  a statement from it said.  

 Issuing long-term visas for investors has been the practice as per the international standards. On par with matching the international benchmark in respect of ease of doing business, the BOI has decided to launch this programme to attract more investors to the country.  

 The long-term visa programme, a long-felt need, primarily aims to facilitate the investors who wish to embark on a journey with the BOI.   The BOI annually issues 7,500-8,000 visa recommendations for investors, employees and dependents. The BOI has granted visas for foreign nationals from 109 countries such as India, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Pakistan which represent the most applicants based on last year’s statistics.   Addressing the gathering, Investment Promotion Minister Dhammika Perera said “The happiness on the faces of those investors present at the occasion, implies that the newly launched visa residence scheme is a success.”  

 “Before the implementation of this programme, they had to go through a long documentation process every year to get these visas,” he pointed out. “Having understood the prime need to provide a seamless and convenient service for investors,we have launched the new programme, albeit I have not officially assumed duties as the Investment Promotion Minister,” Mr Perera highlighted.   Meanwhile, BOI Director General Renuka M. Weerakone stated “It is certainly a pleasure to see all our long-standing investors on this special day of launching the long-term residence visa programme for investors.