‘Visit Visa Is Not a Work Visa’: Be Alert When Seeking Jobs Overseas

COLOMBO (News 1st); A simple promise of a job abroad is turning into a costly mistake for many Sri Lankans, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to issue a fresh warning against travelling overseas for employment on visit visas.

The ministry says a growing number of Sri Lankans have encountered serious difficulties after travelling to destinations such as Malaysia, Dubai and Oman on visit visas based on assurances that employment would be arranged after arrival.

Authorities stressed that a visit visa does not grant permission to work and warned that accepting employment while on such visas could expose individuals to legal action under the laws of the host country.

According to the ministry, many victims have discovered that the jobs promised to them never existed, while others have been forced to accept salaries far below what they were originally offered. Some have reportedly become targets of fraud and human trafficking networks, while others have faced detention, deportation, loss of travel documents and severe financial hardship.

The warning also highlights a common tactic used by illegal recruiters, who convince prospective workers that a visit visa can later be converted into a work visa or that employment can easily be secured after arriving in the destination country.

Officials urged the public not to be misled by such claims, noting that these assurances often leave workers stranded without legal protection, income or a clear path to regularise their stay.

The ministry advised Sri Lankans seeking employment overseas to use only approved legal channels and to register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before departure.