Visa | Sri Lanka

SUSPENSION OF VISAS IN SRI LANKA DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Please be informed that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the following will be implemented with immediate effect:

All types of visa issuance to enter Sri Lanka for all foreign nationalities will be temporarily suspended until further notice.
All types of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA), Entry Visas, Landing Endorsements, Multiple Entry Visas and Residence Visas already granted to all foreign nationals and not arrived to Sri Lanka yet, will be temporarily suspended and they will not be allowed to enter Sri Lanka until further notice.

WARNING ABOUT UNOFFICIAL VISA WEBSITES

Please be aware that there are unofficial websites soliciting visa seekers to apply for Sri Lankan visa through their online portals charging exorbitant amounts as visa/service fee.

Please note the following:

The issuing authority of the Sri Lankan ETA visa is the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Sri Lanka and the link for its website is www.immigration.gov.lk

Travellers are strongly advised to use only the official Government of Sri Lanka ETA website www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa and to be cautious of the following unofficial websites that appear legitimate.

x https://www.eta.org.lk

x h https://www.srilankavisa.org.lk

x h https://www.e-visa.lk

x h https://www.srilankavisa.lk

x h https://www.go-sri-lanka.com

x h https://www.srilanka-visaonline.com

x h https://www.srilankaetavisa.com

x h https://www.srilanka-etaonline.com

x h https://www.visa-srilanka.net

x h https://www.srilankavisa.net

x h https://www.srilankanetavisa.net

x h https://www.ivisa.com/visa/sri-lanka

x h https://www.srilankavisa.org/se

x h https://www.ivisa.com/sri-lanka-visa

x h https://www.srilankavisa.org

Implementing free visa scheme for designated countries

Foreign nationals who hold the passport of list countries and travel to Sri Lankan for tourist purposes are exempted paying ETA fee till 30th April 2020. The list of countries are as follows;

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canda
China
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece

Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Israel
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
New Zealand

Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America

However, any foreign national who will be visiting Sri Lanka for a short period is required to apply ETA and ensure pre-approval before the journey to avoid unnecessary delays at the port of entry and to adhere with enhanced pre-clearance.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

With effect from 1st January 2012, all Holiday or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter into Sri Lanka. Please visit www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa for more information.

The ETA requirement is applicable to all nationalities except nationals of the Republic of Maldives, the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Seychelles, who on the basis of reciprocity, are exempt from this requirement.

The objective of the Sri Lankan visa is to facilitate the legal entry of non-Sri Lankans into Sri Lanka and to regulate the period and conditions governing their stay.

The competent authority for issuing Sri Lankan visas is the Department of Immigration and Emigration. On behalf of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka diplomatic missions abroad have been authorized to issue visas.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

All applicants, except children below 12 years of age, must pay the ETA processing fee online. (However, ETA should obtain also for children below 12 years of age.) The online payment must be paid with a valid debit or credit card.

Applicants who have obtained the visa through ETA website are advised to keep a copy of the ETA approval notice with the passport to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka.

Applicants are strictly advised to use the official Sri Lankan ETA website on applying the ETA and to avoid facing frauds involve with payments made online. This Mission or Department of Immigration & Emigration in Sri Lanka is not responsible for any incidents involved with any third party ETA websites or ETA agents. Payments made in this circumstance are not refundable anyway and you must pay again at the port of entry in Sri Lanka for ETAs applied through other than official ETA website.

For last-minute travelers who need to visit Sri Lanka on tourist/transit purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. An additional fee of USD 5.00 will apply.

When applying ETA by third parties payments are to be made through the arrangement made in our website www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa and obtain the acknowledgment of ETA application. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not valid to process a valid ETA. Therefore, always ensure that the payments made by accessing to Sri Lanka ETA website and avoid making repayment at the port of entry to Sri Lanka.

Eligible parties for visa exemptions

Sri Lankan Dual Citizens (Must provide Original Dual Citizenship certificate at the arrival)
Children born to Sri Lankan parents in overseas and whose birth have been registered under section 5(2) of Citizenship Act – 1948 in Sri Lanka, up to 21 years of age
Children born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents under 21 years of age, now living abroad.

VISA CATEGORIES

• Tourist Visa

• Business Visa

• Transit Visa

• Diplomatic & Official Visa

• Journalist Visa

• Residence Visa