Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination in southern Asia and the island attracts a large number of travellers every year. Unlike some other countries such as Singapore, and Seashells, Sri Lanak does not allow travellers to visit the island without a visa. A Sri Lanka tourist visa is a mandatory requirement for all travellers except travellers from Singapore, Maldives and seashells to visit the island since 1st January 2012. Now every business or leisure traveller should obtain Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a Sri Lanka tourist visa before they arrive on the island, however, it has become very easy to obtain a visa and travellers can apply for the visa Onlive using and they can apply for a visa via http://www.eta.gov.lk.
Table of Contents
- What is a Sri Lankan Visa?
- What type of Sri Lanka visa is available?
- Travelers from the below-mentioned 35 countries will have visa free access to Sri Lanka from October 1, 2024
- How can I be eligible for a Sri Lanka tourist visa?
- What are the general conditions of a Sri Lanka Visit Visa?
- Exgtending Sri Lanka tourist visa
- Embarcation formalities
What is a Sri Lankan Visa?
A Sri Lankan tourist visa is an endorsement issued by the emigration and immigration of Sri Lanka on a passport to facilitate the legal entry of non-Sri Lankans into the country and to regulate the period of their stay and the conditions governing such stay. If a foreigner stays in Sri Lanka without a valid visa, it is a punishable offence, such travellers will be charged a US $ 500 penalty in addition to the visa fee.
Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination in southern Asia and the island attracts a large number of travellers every year. Unlike some other countries such as Singapore, and Seashells, Sri Lanak does not allow travellers to visit the island without a visa. A Sri Lanka tourist visa is a mandatory requirement for all travellers except travellers from Singapore, Maldives and seashells to visit the island since 1st January 2012. Now every business or leisure traveller should obtain Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a Sri Lanka tourist visa before they arrive on the island, however, it has become very easy to obtain a visa and travellers have many options to do it.
What type of Sri Lanka visa is available?
Travellers can apply for four types of Sri Lankan visas. The travellers should choose the proper category of visa depending on their purpose of visit to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Visit Visa
Most travellers who arrive on the island apply for a visit visa and most of them are leisure travellers. The Sri Lanka visit is categorized under two categories.
This type of visa can be used to stay on the island only for a short period of time. This is a type of endorsement issued to bona-fide tourists who want to enter Sri Lanka as tourists and engaged in sightseeing tours, excursions, taking Ayurveda healing packages, relaxation, visiting relatives or yoga training.
As the name suggests this endorsement is granted to foreign travellers, who arrive on the island for the purpose of business. The visa has a short validity period, however, it is extendable. This visa may be issued for single or double journeys.
Sri Lanka Visit Visa Fees
Sri Lanka visit visas for travellers from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries should pay US$ 20.00 if they apply for the visa online. If the travellers obtain the visa on arrival it cost it will cost US$ 25.00. The validity of the visit visa is 30 days.
Sri Lanka visits visa with a validity of 30 days for travellers from countries other than a SAARC Country cost US$ 30.00 and if they obtain the visa on arrival It will cost US$ 35.00.
Sri Lanka visiting visa with a validity of 180 days will cost US$ 35.00, the price applicable to travellers from all countries, however, it can be obtained only online at eta.gov.lk
| Visit Visa | Tourist Purpose(Visit – Tourist) | Online | On arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| For first 30 Days | South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.(Electronic Travel Authorization – ETA) (For first 30 Days ) | 20 | 25 |
| For first 30 Days | Any country other than a SAARC Country.(Electronic Travel Authorization – ETA) (For first 30 Days ) | 35 | 40 |
| For first 180 Days | For Any Country(Electronic Travel Authorization – ETA) (For first 180 Days )(This is available only up to 24.06.2023) | 35 | – |
| 30 Days To 90 Days | For the following designated countries Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia, Mauritius, Iceland, and Cuba(After thirty days up to ninety days) | Online 100 | From the Head Office 100 |
| 90 Days to 180 Days | For United States of America(After Ninety days up to Hundred and Eighty days) | – | Free |
| 30 Days To 90 Days | For Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles, and Czech Republic(After Thirty days up to Ninety days) | – | Free |
| 30 Days To 90 Days | For any country other than a designated country, United States of America, Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles, and Czech Republic(After Thirty days up to Ninety days) | – | 60 |
| 90 Days To 180 Days | For any country other than United States of America(After Ninety days up to Hundred and Eighty days) | – | 150 |
| 180 Days to 270 Days | For any country (after Hundred and Eighty days up to Two Hundred and Seventy days) | – | 200 |
Travelers from the below-mentioned 35 countries will have visa free access to Sri Lanka from October 1, 2024
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Netherland
- Belgium
- Spain
- Australia
- Denmark
- Poland
- Kazakastan
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Nepal
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Russia
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Japan
- France
- United States
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Isreal
- Belarus
- Iran
- Sweden
- South Korea
- Qatar
- Oman
- Bahrain
- New Zealand
Sri Lanka Residence Visa
Sri Lanka residence Visa is granted to foreigners, who are willing to reside on the island for special purposes. There are ten sub-categories under Sri Lanka residence visas.
- Employment Category
- Investor Category
- Religious Category
- Student Category
- Registered Indians covered by the 1954 Indo-Lanka Agreement
- Ex- Sri Lankans and their dependants
- Family Members of a Sri Lankan
- Diplomatic and Official visa
- My Dream Home Visa Programme
- Resident Guest Visa Programme
Sri Lanka Transit Visa
This is a type of endorsement given to foreign travellers to enter the island and stay on the island for a short period of time. The visit of the foreign national in the country is incidential and the traveller is on the way to another destination.
Sri Lanka Gratis Visa
Gratis visa is issued free of charge. Foreigners with diplomatic or official passports with a valid Diplomatic or Official endorsement are eligible for this type of visa.
How can I be eligible for a Sri Lanka tourist visa?
- Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration should decide that you are suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration approves the purpose for which you are entering Sri Lanka.
- You hold a passport that should have a minimum validity of six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka.
- You should prove that you have adequate funds for your expenses during your stay in Sri Lanka and for the payment of your return passage to the country which issued your passport.
- You are in possession of a written assurance (ticket) to return to the country of domicile or a visa to the next country of destination if you are a visit visa holder.
What are the general conditions of a Sri Lanka Visit Visa?
- Foreign travellers on a visit visa are not eligible to engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid. Travellers with a Sri Lanka visiting visa cannot engage in any form of trade or business other than that specified in the visa during the period of their stay in Sri Lanka.
- The visa can be used only during the valid period; before the expiry mentioned on the visa.
- The validity of the visit visa is subject to entry into Sri Lanka during the indicated entry period.
- Foreign travellers, who need to extend their visas should apply for it through the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
Exgtending Sri Lanka tourist visa
Foreign tourist who arrives in Sri Lanka within the period of the landing permit granted by the Immigration officials at the port of entry is eligible to receive a visa extension. They should apply for a visa extension before the expiry of the visa. Two (02) months extension beyond 30 days shall be granted at the Department of Immigration Emigration (Head Office). However further extension shall only be considered with valid reasons.
Embarcation formalities
The government of Sri Lanka has decided to enable air passengers arriving and departing from Sri Lankan airports to complete their embarkation cards online. The average time taken to complete embarkation formalities is about 30 minutes and with nes decision the passenger can save a lot of time on their arrival and departure. The new rule will be in place from 1st January 2023. The passenger can fill out forms through the new system, which is available online. The embarkation card will be online three days prior to their flight. The passenger can access the embarkation card via www.immigration.gov.lk or through the https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk web page.