Sri Lanka:Visa Requirements

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Sri Lanka Visa Requirements Map

Sri Lanka: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Sri Lanka's central immigration regulations provide for limited status-based visa exemptions. Sri Lankan dual citizens, persons under 21 years of age whose birth has been registered under section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act of 1948, and persons under 21 years of age born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents and holding foreign citizenship are covered by the visa exemption.
  • A single centralized checklist of the citizenship document, birth registration certificate, parental documents or other supporting documents to be presented at the border when benefiting from these exemptions has not been published. It is not definitively stated in the central official source. The document to be used must be confirmed with the relevant Sri Lankan diplomatic mission or the Department of Immigration before travel.

Electronic Travel Authorization Requirements

  • The current electronic system used for persons traveling to Sri Lanka for tourist, short-term business or transit purposes is the Electronic Travel Authorization, i.e., the ETA system. The ETA application can be made by the individual through the official portal, through a third party, at a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission or at the Department of Immigration headquarters in Colombo.
  • The purpose of travel must be correctly selected in the application. Tourist ETA may be used for holiday, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment, Ayurveda and yoga practices, participation in sports events and cultural activities. Business ETA may be used for business meetings and interviews, conferences, seminars, workshops, training of less than one month, symposiums, participation in religious events and artistic events. The ETA holder is prohibited from engaging in paid or unpaid work, carrying out freelance activities or conducting commercial activities outside the granted permission.
  • In the online form, the passport number, nationality as written in the travel document, date of birth, first and last name, gender, passport issuance and expiry dates, contact information, purpose of visit and travel information must be entered correctly. The passport or travel document used must be the same as the document declared in the ETA application. A change of document or a discrepancy in basic information may result in a new fee being paid or a new application being made.
  • In applications made by a third party, the third party's name, address, email address and telephone information are also requested. In business applications, the name, address and contact information of the applicant's employer and the inviting institution in Sri Lanka may be requested. An invitation letter from the institution, a request letter or other supporting document indicating the purpose of the business visit must be submitted.
  • The applicant cannot obtain a new ETA while in Sri Lanka. A new ETA application cannot be made with the same passport if there is a valid residence visa, multiple-entry visa or an ETA that has not yet expired. The existing permission must expire or be canceled by the competent authority.
  • It must be confirmed that all information provided during the application is accurate and complete. False or misleading information may result in the ETA being refused, canceled or entry into the country being denied at the border. The granting of an ETA does not constitute an absolute right of entry; the final decision belongs to the immigration officer at the border.
  • Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards are accepted for online fee payments. The paid ETA processing fee is non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another application. The standard 30-day tourist ETA processing fee is 20 or 50 US dollars depending on the fee group the applicant is subject to. The business-purpose ETA processing fee is 30 or 55 US dollars. The two-day transit ETA is free of charge. Although a free tourist ETA is issued for some travelers, the free processing does not eliminate the requirement to make an ETA application. The tourist ETA processing for children under 12 years of age for up to 30 days is free of charge.
  • The standard tourist and short-term business ETA provides a stay of 30 days from the date of arrival. The standard permission is double-entry. On the second entry, only the remaining part of the 30-day period starting from the first entry may be used. Diplomatic missions may issue tourist visas as single or double-entry, and business visas as single, double or multiple-entry for up to three months. The exact number of entries, expiry date and duration of permission must be checked from the information written in the approval notice.
  • After the ETA application is received, the system sends an acknowledgment and reference number to the applicant. For a normal online application, the response is expected to be sent within 48 hours. The acknowledgment is not an entry permit. The traveler should not travel to Sri Lanka before an ETA Approval Notice is issued.
  • After approval, it is recommended to carry a downloadable or printed copy of the ETA approval certificate during travel. It is not necessary to have a visa sticker affixed to the passport in advance. However, when applying through a diplomatic mission, there may be an option to have the visa processed in the passport.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six more months on the date of entry. A person traveling by air must show a confirmed return ticket. The visitor visa holder must be able to show a return ticket to the country of residence or a travel ticket to the next country together with, if necessary, the entry permit for that country. Sufficient financial means to cover the stay in Sri Lanka and the return journey must be available.
  • The mandatory bank statement period, daily amount or minimum account balance for sufficient financial means have not been published. It is not definitively stated in the central official source. Travel health insurance and minimum insurance coverage have not been published as a central short-term ETA requirement. It is not definitively stated in the central official source.
  • A unified central technical specification regarding the number of mandatory photos, photo size, background color, date of taking or file size for the standard online ETA has not been published. A general requirement for the number of blank pages in the passport has also not been published in the ETA system. It is not definitively stated in the central official source.
  • A general fingerprint or interview requirement for the online ETA has not been published. The competent authority may review the application, refer it to a diplomatic mission or request additional documents. Media and journalism activities, political group or party meetings, and NGO or INGO activities are not covered by the standard online ETA. For these purposes, prior permission from the relevant Sri Lankan authorities must be obtained and an appropriate visa must be requested through a diplomatic mission or the Department of Immigration.
  • Travelers arriving from areas on the official yellow fever risk list must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to the immigration officer at the airport. If the required certificate is not presented, entry into the country will not be permitted.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • For travelers arriving without prior ETA approval, there is a limited on-arrival tourist ETA facility at Bandaranaike International Airport. This facility is not a guaranteed right replacing the normal application method. The traveler must apply at the ETA issuance counter at the airport, fill out the form and wait for the processing to be approved.
  • The application fee is collected only in US dollars. Electronic payment cards and cash in US dollars are accepted. The on-arrival tourist ETA fee is 25 or 60 US dollars depending on the fee group the applicant is subject to. There is no processing option in the central fee schedule for a business-purpose ETA on arrival.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. A confirmed return ticket and sufficient financial means to cover expenses in Sri Lanka must be shown. If a yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement applies for the relevant journey, the certificate must also be presented.
  • If the application is approved, a tourist ETA for up to 30 days may be issued. After receiving the ETA, the traveler proceeds to the immigration counter and presents the passport. If a referral notice is given regarding the application, entry into the country may be denied and the traveler may be sent back to the place of origin.
  • The number of mandatory photos, photo size, bank statement period, minimum financial amount, travel insurance coverage or number of blank pages required in the passport for the on-arrival ETA are not definitively stated in the central official source.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Sri Lankan embassies, high commissions and consulates may issue an ETA for up to 30 days, as well as short-term tourist or business visas for up to three months. Tourist visas may be issued as single or double-entry; business visas may be issued as single, double or multiple-entry. The type of visa to be issued, number of entries and duration depend on the purpose of the application and the assessment of the relevant mission.
  • The applicant must go to the relevant Sri Lankan diplomatic mission, complete the ETA application form or the entry visa Form B, and pay the required fee. Form B is completed in block capitals. The form asks for current and previous passport information, full name, nationality, birth details, marital status, spouse details, residential address, address in Sri Lanka, occupation, employer or company information, telephone and email information, purpose of visit, travel itinerary, requested duration of stay and previous travels to Sri Lanka. The form must be signed by the applicant.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months from the planned date of entry into Sri Lanka. The diplomatic mission may request the original passport, a copy of the biographical data page and a copy of the residence permit in the country where the application is made. Proof of legal residence is requested only within the jurisdiction of the mission where the application is made and the local checklist.
  • For tourist applications, a return ticket, hotel reservation or invitation letter from the host in Sri Lanka may be requested. For a longer-term tourist visa, a petition explaining the reason for the extended stay and a bank document showing sufficient financial resources may be requested. The number of months the bank statement must cover and the minimum amount required are not definitively stated in the central official source.
  • For business applications, an invitation or request letter from the company or institution in Sri Lanka must be submitted. The mission may request a letter from the company sending the applicant explaining their position, purpose of visit, type of activity, duration of stay, how financing will be covered and information about the business contact in Sri Lanka. Return ticket and accommodation information may also be requested.
  • Travelers for media or journalism purposes should not use tourist or normal business visas. The entry visa form, journalist undertaking form, assignment letter, detailed work program, shooting summary, information of persons to be interviewed and a list of media equipment to be brought into the country may be requested. A carnet or bank guarantee may be requested for the temporary importation of equipment. Prior approval of the relevant Sri Lankan authorities may be required.
  • A recent photograph is required for physical consular applications. However, a single number and size of photograph valid for all missions has not been published in the central source. Some missions may request one, others two photographs. It is not definitively stated in the central official source. The current checklist of the mission to be applied to should be taken as basis.
  • The number of blank pages required in the passport is not stated as a general requirement on the central visa page. Some diplomatic missions require at least one blank page. It is not definitively stated in the central official source.
  • The central processing fee for a 30-day tourist ETA issued at a diplomatic mission is 20 or 50 US dollars depending on the fee group. The processing fee for a 30-day business ETA is 30 or 55 US dollars. For visas from 30 days up to three months, the additional visa fee varies according to nationality, visa type and whether it is single, double or multiple-entry. The payment currency and payment method may vary by mission.
  • The central ETA procedure states that diplomatic missions may complete the processing within three business days with the approval of the Department of Immigration. However, the processing times published by missions may be longer depending on the type of application and required prior approvals. The application must be made sufficiently in advance of travel and within the time frame set by the relevant mission.
  • The diplomatic mission may request additional documents, in-person application or an interview. A central short-term visa list applicable to all missions regarding birth certificate, parental consent or custody document for minors has not been published. It is not definitively stated in the central official source. The requirement for translation, notarization, legalization or apostille of documents must also be confirmed according to the mission and the type of document.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • A transit visa is not required for passengers transferring at a Sri Lankan airport without leaving the international transit area. If official entry into Sri Lanka is required or if the stay in the country will be longer than 24 hours due to connecting travel, a transit ETA or transit visa must be obtained.
  • A transit ETA or visa is issued for a maximum of two days, i.e., 48 hours. It is single-entry, free of charge and cannot be extended in transit status. This permission may only be used for onward travel to another country via an airport or seaport in Sri Lanka. Paid or unpaid work, freelance or commercial activities are not permitted.
  • During the application, a ticket or passage document showing the subsequent flight or sea journey must be submitted. The physical transit visa form asks for passport information, full name, birth details, residence and Sri Lanka address, final destination country, visa information for that country, mode of transport, date of departure from Sri Lanka, proof of onward travel and the amount of money available to the passenger. The form must be dated and signed.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry into Sri Lanka. If a visa is required for entry into the next country, valid visa or residence permit information must be submitted. The air or sea ticket is the basic document proving the transit purpose.
  • The official form states that two photographs of 3.5 × 4.5 centimeters may be requested for a physical transit visa application. No photo upload requirement has been published for the online transit ETA process. The normal system response time for an online transit ETA application may be up to 48 hours; the processing time at a diplomatic mission varies by mission.
  • If arriving from a place covered by the official yellow fever risk list and entering Sri Lanka, a yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented. Mandatory travel health insurance, minimum insurance coverage or a specific bank balance for a transit visa are not definitively stated in the central official source.
Population
23,348,315(2026 est.)
Official language
Sinhala, Tamil
Government type
Semi-presidential republic
Continent
Asia
Capital
Vaduz / Colombo
Currency
Sri Lankan rupee
Area
65,610 km²
Phone code
+94

Sri Lanka: Key Destinations

Colombo, the capital, serves as the primary gateway via Bandaranaike International Airport. Other major cities include Kandy and Galle, offering distinct experiences.

Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage is evident in ancient cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. The island also boasts beautiful beaches, lush hill country in Nuwara Eliya, and vibrant wildlife parks.

Travelers often explore the Cultural Triangle, hill country, and coastal areas. Common routes connect Colombo to Kandy and Galle by train or road, allowing for flexible itineraries.