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Journalist Visa

All media personnel visiting Sri Lanka should obtain a visa from this this Mission, prior to arrival in Colombo. Media personnel visiting Sri Lanka on a media assignment cannot enter Sri Lanka on a tourist or business visa.
 
Documents required
  • Duly filled visa application (download)
  • Duly filled ETA application (download)
  • Valid passport (The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Sri Lanka)
  • Two photographs (standard photo format)
  • Letter of Commission: a letter from the respective media organization detailing the tentative programme with dates, places and if it contains interviews, the persons to be interviewed etc. (For freelance journalists, a letter from the editor of the publication)
  • Equipment list for electronic media along with a carnet or bank guarantee for customs purposes
  • Letter undertaking that the equipment will be re-exported at the end of the visit
  • Return air ticket
The Prescribed Fee
ETA Category
Charges in US Dollars
ETA Processing Fee
Reciprocal Visa Fee
SAARC Countries
All Other Countries
1 Journalist Visa /
Multiple Entry / 30 days
USD 20.00 USD 40.00 Not applicable
2
Journalist Visa /
Single Entry / 90 days
USD 20.00
USD 40.00
Relevant country fee
3
Journalist Visa /
Double Entry / 90 days
USD 20.00
USD 40.00
Twice (x2) the relevant country fee
4
Journalist Visa /
Multiple Entry / 90 days
USD 20.00
USD 40.00
Thrice (x3) the relevant country fee
 
Refer country fee schedule for relevant country fee.
 
Processing Time
03 - 04 business days
 
Submission of applications
You can submit the application to the consular division of this Mission by post or by hand. The Consular Division is open from Monday to Friday between 09 am to 01 pm EST. The physical and mailing address is as follows:
 
Consular Division
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
820, 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
 
Payment Options
Payments should be done at this Mission by cash / money orders / bank drafts /cheques.
Money orders / Certified cheques should be made payable to the “Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, New York”.

Card payments are not acceptable.

 

Return of the documents
You will be informed once the visa is processed and the passport is ready to collect. You may provide cash receipt issued to collect the passport.
 
If you are unable to collect the passport personally you should authorize your representative in writing to collect the passport on your behalf. The representative should provide an authorization letter along with the cash receipt, and his / her photo identification.

 

For inquiries and further assistance;

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, New York
Consular Division
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
820 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
 
+1 212 986 - 7040 (Ext: 118)
 
Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka
Controller (Visa and Border Management)
Department of Immigration and Emigration
“Suhurupaya”, Sri Subhuthipura Road,
Battaramulla
Sri Lanka
 
+94 11-53 29400 (Ext. 9400)
+94 11-532 9000 (Hotline)