Sri Lanka Visa
All about the Sri Lanka ETA for Tourism, Business and Transit.
Over 97% Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorizations approved in less than a day
International tourists from most countries need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka.
Eligible travellers can apply for the ETA online and receive the approved entry permit by email.
The ETA for Sri Lanka is valid for stays of up to 30 days in the country, for tourism or business.
What is ETA for Sri Lanka?
The Sri Lanka ETA is an official Electronic Travel Authorisation. Passport holders from most countries need the ETA to visit Sri Lanka for tourism or business.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation simplifies the visa application process for Sri Lanka. Eligible foreigners can complete the online ETA form in minutes.
Standard processing delivers the approved authorisation in 1 to 2 days. There is also a Priority Service that allows visitors to get their ETA within 1 hour.
Travellers present the ETA approval letter on arrival in Sri Lanka. The ETA is valid for stays of up to 30 days.
Information about the Sri Lanka ETA
This is the most important information about the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorisation:
| Visa validity | 6 months after issue date |
| Maximum stay in Sri Lanka | 30 days |
| Number of entries | Double (Tourist ETA) or Multiple (Business ETA) |
| Reasons for travel | Tourism, business, transit |
The ETA may be extended for up to a total of up to 270 days.
What is the difference between an ETA and a visa for Sri Lanka?
Both the ETA and visa are entry documents for Sri Lanka. The ETA is available 100% online, traditional visas are obtained through the embassy.
The ETA visa is the correct option for tourists and business travellers who will stay for up to 30 days. The electronic application is quick, and foreigners with an ETA are automatically granted access on arrival.
There are some further benefits of the ETA compared with traditional embassy visas:
- Online application process, no need to visit the embassy
- Valid for tourism, business, or transit purposes
- Simple electronic application form
- Fast processing, ETAs approved in 1 or 2 days (within an hour with the Priority Service)
- No sponsor required
Most nationalities can use the ETA system. Certain travellers must instead obtain a tourist visa for Sri Lanka in advance.
Sri Lanka ETA eligible countries
Citizens of all countries travelling to Sri Lanka require a visa, except for 3 visa-exempt countries (the Maldives, the Seychelles, and Singapore).
Citizens of 21 countries are obliged to get a visa in advance from a Sri Lankan Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence.
All other foreign passport holders should apply for the Sri Lanka ETA online before travelling for tourism or business purposes.
They will then be granted a visa at the port of entry. Passport holders from the following countries are eligible to apply for the Sri Lanka ETA online:
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Japan
- France
- Bangladesh
- India
- United States
- Norway
- Denmark
- United Arab Emirates
- Italy
- Pakistan
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- Russian Federation
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
Travel to Sri Lanka with an ETA
Sri Lanka is a unique destination in South Asia: a tropical island with a rich cultural history and a huge range of both natural and man-made wonders to explore.
To visit Sri Lanka eligible passport holders must meet the Sri Lanka visa requirements before applying for the ETA.
These involve having a passport valid for 6 months upon entry to the country. A copy of the passport information page, a valid credit or debit card to pay the Sri Lanka ETA fee, and a current email address at which to receive the ETA for Sri Lanka are also all required.
To complete the ETA for Sri Lanka online form, applicants are required to provide basic personal information as well as the travel itinerary for the trip.
The entire application will only take minutes to complete. On approval, a copy of the Sri Lanka ETA should be printed and kept by the applicant to later present for entry at the Sri Lankan border.