Sri Lanka visa at a glance
- Government visa fee
- Free for 40 countries; otherwise US$50 tourist (US$55 business); transit free
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Validity
- 30 days from first arrival, double entry
- Maximum stay
- 30 days (extendable at Immigration Dept for a fee)
- Visa required?
- All visitors except Maldives/Seychelles/Singapore-style short exemptions — everyone applies for ETA online or on arrival.
Do you need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Travellers from FREE ETA (from 25 May 2026) for 40 nationalities incl. Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, NZ, USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Saudi, UAE — 30 days double entry (Maldives 90 days). Others pay. can generally enter Sri Lanka without a visa. All visitors except Maldives/Seychelles/Singapore-style short exemptions — everyone applies for ETA online or on arrival.
Who does NOT need a visa
Passport holders from FREE ETA (from 25 May 2026) for 40 nationalities incl. Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, NZ, USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Saudi, UAE — 30 days double entry (Maldives 90 days). Others pay. do not require a visa for Sri Lanka for eligible short visits. Always confirm your passport type and length of stay against the official source before travelling.
Reviewed against official government sources (Sri Lanka Dept of Immigration & Emigration) · Last verified 19 August 2026 · HolidaySG — licensed Singapore travel agency (TA04014).
Official Sri Lanka visa options
Verified from government sources · 19 Aug 2026Tourist ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Official fee: Free for 40 countries; otherwise US$50 tourist (US$55 business); transit free- Validity
- 30 days from first arrival, double entry
- Max stay
- 30 days (extendable at Immigration Dept for a fee)
- Processing time
- Usually within 24 hours (up to 3 days)
- Where to apply
- eta.gov.lk (official) or ETA counter on arrival (higher fee)
Who needs it: All visitors except Maldives/Seychelles/Singapore-style short exemptions — everyone applies for ETA online or on arrival.
Visa-free: FREE ETA (from 25 May 2026) for 40 nationalities incl. Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, NZ, USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Saudi, UAE — 30 days double entry (Maldives 90 days). Others pay.
Required documents
- Passport valid ≥6 months
- Return ticket
- Proof of funds
- Card payment (paid nationalities)
Arrival card: None
Only use eta.gov.lk — many look-alike sites overcharge.
Source: Sri Lanka Dept of Immigration & Emigration · verified 16 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Free Tourist ETA (waiver nationalities incl. India & Singapore)
Official fee: US$0 (tourism/family/short transit only)- Validity
- Enter within the ETA validity window; double entry
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Time to verify
- Minutes to hours
- Time to approval
- Typically within a few hours
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Where to apply
- https://eta.gov.lk
Who needs it: 40 free-list nationalities (India, Singapore, USA, UK, China, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, etc.); children under 12 free for all nationalities
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Passport bio page
- Return/onward ticket
- Accommodation details
Extra charges: Extension fees apply beyond 30 days, per nationality
Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Tourist ETA (non-waiver / other countries)
Official fee: US$50 online (US$60 on arrival)- Validity
- Double entry within validity
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Time to verify
- Minutes to hours
- Time to approval
- Typically within a few hours
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Where to apply
- https://eta.gov.lk
Who needs it: Nationalities not on the free list and not SAARC
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Return/onward ticket
- Accommodation details
Extra charges: Extension fees beyond 30 days
Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Tourist ETA - SAARC nationals (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan)
Official fee: US$20 online (US$25 on arrival)- Validity
- Double entry
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Time to verify
- Minutes to hours
- Time to approval
- Typically within a few hours
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Where to apply
- https://eta.gov.lk
Who needs it: SAARC nationals not otherwise on the free list (India is on the free list, so not charged this rate)
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Return/onward ticket
Extra charges: Extension fees
Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Business ETA
Official fee: US$55 (other countries) / US$30 (SAARC); not available on arrival; the free waiver does NOT cover business- Validity
- As issued
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Time to verify
- Minutes to hours
- Time to approval
- Typically within a few hours
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Where to apply
- https://eta.gov.lk
Who needs it: Business travellers (meetings, conferences, professional engagements)
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Supporting business documents
Extra charges: Extension fees
Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Transit ETA
Official fee: Free (all nationalities)- Validity
- Single transit
- Max stay
- 2 days
- Time to verify
- Minutes to hours
- Time to approval
- Typically within a few hours
- Processing time
- Typically within a few hours
- Where to apply
- https://eta.gov.lk
Who needs it: Transit passengers
Required documents
- Passport
- Onward ticket
Extra charges: None
Source: Official government source · verified 19 Aug 2026. Government fees & rules change — we re-confirm at the time of your application.
Sri Lanka visa — frequently asked questions
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