FuelPass QR Code Sri Lanka: What It Is and How It Works

If you drive in Sri Lanka, you've probably heard the same sentence everywhere lately: no QR code, no fuel. The FuelPass is the government's fuel quota system — a QR code tied to your vehicle that you show at the pump before anyone dispenses petrol or diesel. This page explains the whole thing in plain language: what it is, why it exists, how to register, and what to watch out for.

A quick note first: this is an independent guide, not a government website. The only official place to register is fuelpass.gov.lk — we'll link to it where it matters. Our download page walks you through getting your QR code step by step.

What exactly is the FuelPass?

The National Fuel Pass is a government-run system that assigns one unique QR code to every registered vehicle in Sri Lanka. When you pull into a fuel station, you present that code — on your phone screen or as a printed copy — and the attendant scans it before dispensing fuel. The system records how much fuel your vehicle has taken against its weekly quota.

Think of it less like an app and more like a digital ration card for fuel. There is no "FuelPass app" you install from a store; the whole thing runs through the website at fuelpass.gov.lk.

A short history: 2022, then 2026

This isn't the system's first run. The FuelPass was first introduced in July 2022, during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, when people spent hours — sometimes days — in fuel queues. It was meant to bring order to a chaotic situation: one vehicle, one quota, tracked digitally.

When fuel supply stabilized, the system was suspended. Then, in March 2026, the government reintroduced it. From 6:00 AM on March 15, 2026, the QR code became mandatory again for fuel distribution nationwide, in response to renewed supply pressures. If you're reading this in late 2026, that's the system you're dealing with.

How to register for your FuelPass QR code

Registration happens on the official portal and takes a few minutes if you have your documents ready. Here's the process:

1. Go to fuelpass.gov.lk. Only use the official site — there are lookalike pages out there trying to harvest phone numbers.
2. Choose "Vehicle Registration." If you registered back in 2022 and your vehicle and phone number haven't changed, you may be able to use "Vehicle Login" with your registered mobile number instead.
3. Enter your details: your NIC, passport, or business registration number; your mobile number; and your vehicle registration number.
4. Enter the chassis number exactly as printed on your vehicle's certificate of registration (CR). This is where most people trip up — one wrong character and the registration fails. Copy it letter by letter.
5. Verify with the OTP sent to your mobile phone.
6. Download your QR code. Once it's displayed, save the image on your phone and consider printing a paper copy too — phones die at the worst moments.

If you've bought a vehicle that was already registered, or changed your phone number, you need to re-register with the updated details.

What are the weekly quotas?

Your weekly fuel limit depends on your vehicle category — motorcycles get less than vans, vans less than buses, and so on. The exact litres per category have changed between the 2022 and 2026 versions of the system, and they can be adjusted by the authorities, so treat any number you see on unofficial sites with suspicion.

The reliable move: check the current quota for your vehicle category on the official portal or the Ministry of Energy's announcements, not on random blogs.

Common problems and how to fix them

"Chassis number doesn't match." This is the number-one registration headache. The system compares your entry against the registration record, so transcribe it exactly — watch out for 0 vs O and 1 vs I.

OTP never arrives. Make sure the mobile number you entered is the one currently in your phone, and give it a few minutes during peak hours. If it keeps failing, try again off-peak.

Lost your QR code. Log back into the portal with your registered mobile number and you can view and re-download it. Keep a printed backup somewhere in the vehicle.

Vehicle sold or transferred. The new owner needs to register the vehicle under their own details — the QR code doesn't transfer with the sale.

Scams to watch for

Any system this widely used attracts scammers. Nobody legitimate will ever ask you for money to "activate" your FuelPass, and the government doesn't run registration through WhatsApp or Facebook pages. If a site asks for payment or your bank details in connection with a fuel QR code, walk away. Registration on fuelpass.gov.lk is free.

What if you're a visitor?

Tourists renting vehicles in Sri Lanka usually don't need to register themselves — the rental company's vehicle should already carry its own QR code. If you're unsure, ask the rental agency before you drive off; being stuck at a pump with no QR code is a bad way to start a holiday.

The bottom line

The FuelPass is simple once you strip away the confusion: register your vehicle once on the official portal, keep the QR code on your phone (and on paper), and present it at every fill-up. Rules and quotas can shift with supply conditions, so when in doubt, the official portal beats every rumor. Our step-by-step download guide covers the registration screens in more detail if you want a walkthrough.