Regulatory & compliance · International household goods
International: Sri Lanka
To arrange the international sea leg of a move in its own name, a mover needs a Freight Forwarder or NVOCC licence from the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, under a dedicated licensing statute
Regulated byLicence to carry on the business of a Freight Forwarder or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), issued by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, pursuant to the dedicated Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators Act; this is the credential a mover needs to arrange the ocean leg of an international relocation in its own name (issuing its own delivery orders and bills of lading), distinct from a Shipping Agent’s licence (representing vessel operators calling at Sri Lankan ports)
At a glanceRequirements at a glance
- Freight Forwarder or NVOCC Licence Required
- Yes
- Yes, where the mover arranges the ocean leg in its own name. Sri Lanka has a standalone statute, the Licensing of Shipping Agents, Freight Forwarders, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and Container Operators Act, regulating exactly these functions through a licensing system administered by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat. A mover that instead hands the ocean leg to a separately licensed forwarder or carrier relies on that company’s licence for the transport it performs.
- NVOCC Status Allows a Company to Issue Its Own Bills of Lading
- Where applicable. An NVOCC operates its own container fleet and issues its own bills of lading, distinct from a Freight Forwarder (which uses the services of a Shipping Line or NVOCC to carry goods) and a Shipping Agent (which represents vessel operators calling at Sri Lankan ports). A mover arranging door-to-door international moves under its own authority should hold the category that fits its actual operating model.
- Annual Renewal
- Yes, for licence holders. The Merchant Shipping Secretariat publishes annual renewal notices for Freight Forwarders, Shipping Agents, and NVOCCs (2026 notices were found on its own website), confirming this is a live, currently administered licensing system.
- Industry Association
- SLANA (Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents), formed in 2016, represents licensed NVOCC agents. No dedicated Sri Lankan moving-industry association was identified. Membership of an industry association is not a government licence.
- A Historical Exchange Control Registration: Status Unclear
- Not confirmed. A 1990 Gazette Notification required freight forwarders to separately register with the Exchange Control Department, tied to foreign-currency remittance reporting. Given how dated this reference is, its current applicability alongside the Merchant Shipping Secretariat’s licensing system has not been confirmed and should be checked directly.
OverviewOverview & Scope
A mover that arranges the ocean leg of an international relocation to or from Sri Lanka in its own name, rather than routing the international portion through a separately licensed company, needs a Freight Forwarder or NVOCC licence from the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, under a dedicated licensing statute covering exactly this function. NVOCC status is the more carrier-like tier, allowing a company to operate its own containers and issue its own bills of lading. The system is currently administered, with annual renewals. Where the mover subcontracts the ocean leg, the forwarder or carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use companies that hold the licences that transport requires. An older Exchange Control Department registration requirement may also exist, though its current relevance has not been confirmed.
RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials
Company licensing (where the mover arranges the ocean leg in its own name)
- Apply to the Merchant Shipping Secretariat for a Freight Forwarder or NVOCC licence, choosing the category appropriate to the mover’s operating model.
- Renew the licence annually, in line with the Secretariat’s renewal notices.
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers and forwarders that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.
ChecklistCompliance checklist
Company licensing
- Freight Forwarder or NVOCC licence from the Merchant Shipping Secretariat held and current (renewed annually)Where applicable (mover arranges the international ocean leg in its own name)Verified by DocumentRequired
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired