Sri Lanka Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Tourist ETA to visit Sri Lanka for tourism, family visits, or short business trips. The standard Tourist ETA allows stays of up to 30 days per entry and processing takes 1–3 working days. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Sri Lanka visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 for eligible nationalities — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 1–3 working days (official ETA portal ETA)
- Validity / stay
- Up to 30 days per entry
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Indian passport holders get a free ETA — the Sri Lankan government waived the ETA fee for Indian citizens in 2024 as a tourism initiative. The waiver is still in effect as of August 2026.
Some nationalities can enter Sri Lanka visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Check the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling.
Sri Lanka visa types
- Tourist ETA
- Tourism, family visits, short business — Up to 30 days per entry
- Business ETA
- Short business trips — Up to 30 days per entry
- Visa on arrival
- Emergency travel without ETA — Up to 30 days per entry
- Transit ETA
- Passing through Sri Lanka — Up to 2 days
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Sri Lanka depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Sri Lanka visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — check the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration for your nationality.
Visa-required nationalities need a Tourist ETA for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Sri Lanka visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist ETA · 6+ months validity from your date of entry, one blank page.
- Intended arrival date and port of entryTourist ETA · Intended arrival date and port of entry.
- Accommodation address in Sri LankaTourist ETA · Accommodation address in Sri Lanka.
- Return or onward travel ticketTourist ETA · Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of sufficient fundsTourist ETA · roughly $50/day is recommended.
Sri Lanka visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 for eligible nationalities — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 30 days per entry
- Official processing
- 1–3 working days (official ETA portal ETA)
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Sri Lanka visa
The official route, step by step.
Go to eta.gov.lk. This is the only official Sri Lanka ETA portal. Third-party sites charge processing fees
the official site is free.
Fill in the application
Enter your passport details, travel dates, and accommodation address. The form takes about 3 minutes.
Submit
No documents to upload, no photo required. The system checks your passport details against immigration records.
Receive your ETA
Approval arrives by email within 1–3 working days. Print the confirmation and carry it with your passport.
Travel to Sri Lanka and present your ETA confirmation and passport at entry
Travel to Sri Lanka and present your ETA confirmation and passport at entry.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Sri Lanka's ETA requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Easy to miss a requirement
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Application
- Apply yourself
- You submit at eta.gov.lk yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare and guide you through submission
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check your email and official portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- $0 for eligible nationalities
- With Expedify
- $0 — passed through at cost
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Sri Lanka is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your ETA or visa.
- Printed ETA confirmation email.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your ETA's maximum.
- A Tourist ETA is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a Tourist ETA.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Sri Lanka visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent information
errors in the ETA application form.
Insufficient proof of onward travel
missing return ticket or itinerary.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Previous immigration violations
prior overstays or removals.
Frequently asked questions
Sri Lanka visa questions, answered.
More for your Sri Lanka trip
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.