For Job Seekers
5 best practices foreign job seekers in Sri Lanka should follow
- Register with SLBFE & verify all documentation before departure
- Every Sri Lankan who is going abroad for work must register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before leaving. This gives you legal protection, access to welfare benefits, and ensures you’re recognized by state authorities.
- Make sure your passport is valid (usually for at least 6 months), you have a valid work visa or entry permit, a signed service/employment agreement, and evidence of any required training or experience
- Ensure contract transparency and embassy-certification (especially for non-professional / first-time roles)
Starting from 1 July 2025, SLBFE requires that first-time job seekers in non-professional categories have their foreign employment contracts certified by the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in the destination country before SLBFE registration, in certain major labor-receiving countries. This is to prevent fraud and ensure contract authenticity.
Be sure the contract clearly spells out your salary, working conditions, accommodation, hours, any deposit or fees, responsibilities, duration, etc., in writing. Never rely only on verbal promises.
- Choose licensed and reputable employment/recruitment agencies
Use only SLBFE-licensed foreign employment agencies. This ensures the recruiting agent has legal obligations to you, must follow ethical recruitment standards, and is accountable under Sri Lankan law.
Before engaging with an agency, check their reputation (look for reviews or feedback from other migrant workers), verify that job offers are real, avoid agencies asking for large upfront fees that are not documented or legally justified.
- Get required training, experience, and proper qualifications
SLBFE requires foreign or local experience (or training or certification) for many job categories. If you don’t have sufficient experience, there are training courses and “gap-filling” courses you can complete to meet SLBFE registration criteria.
Where applicable, obtain vocational or professional qualifications, or certificates (NVQ / degree / diploma) that are recognized. This not only helps with eligibility but may also get better pay and conditions.
- Be aware of rights, red-flags, and aftercare support
Know your rights: what SLBFE provides (insurance, legal protection), what the contract entitles you to, the rights in the destination country, and how to reach the Sri Lankan embassy if things go wrong. Registration with SLBFE makes many protections available.
Look out for red flags: unrealistic salary promises, vague job descriptions, requests for large payment up front, no written contract, or being asked to travel on tourist instead of work visas. Quietly check whether others have been defrauded by similar setups.
- After departing, maintain contact with family, SLBFE, or the recruitment agency; know who to call for help in case of non-payment, abuse, or contract violation.