How to obtain a Visa on Arrival for Sri Lanka

The Visa on Arrival for Sri Lanka is available for a number of countries. The majority of foreign travelers need some type of Sri Lanka visa to enjoy a short stay for tourism, transit or business purposes.

There are only 3 visa-exempt countries: the Maldives, the Seychelles, and Singapore.

A total of 21 countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, and Sudan, must get a visa in advance from a Sri Lankan Diplomatic mission.

All other foreign nationals can get Sri Lanka visa on arrival. Citizens eligible for the visa on arrival can in fact, pre-register online through the Sri Lanka ETA online application.

In this article we explain what the Sri Lanka Visa on Arrival is, how to get it, and the advantages of pre-registering online.

Does Sri Lanka Have Visa on Arrival?

Sri Lanka features visa on arrival services for most foreign visitors. The Visa on Arrival may be used for tourism, business, or transit. It grants short-term stays.

Since 2012, Sri Lanka offers the possibility of pre-registering for an ETA, an Electronic Travel Authorization, through an online application.

The ETA for Sri Lanka allows for smoother arrivals and custom border checks. Completing the online form can save travelers time as they can avoid queuing to process a visa after arriving in the country.

Can I get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka

Yes, travelers can get a visa on arrival at several ports of entry in Sri Lanka.

However, getting an ETA is much faster and will expedite going through border control.

Most nationalities are eligible to pre-register for the Sri Lanka visa on arrival online.

Only nationals from Maldives and Seychelles are not eligible for the ETA and must wait in line to get their visa.

Sri Lanka Visa on Arrival Countries

The Sri Lanka visa on arrival is available to nationals from over 230 countries.

Citizens from the following countries can get the Sri Lanka visa on arrival as well as registering through the ETA online application.

Sri Lanka ETA: Country list

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

How Can I Get a Sri Lanka ETA on Arrival?

To gain quick entry to Sri Lanka at the border, eligible travelers can complete a simple online application for the Sri Lanka ETA before traveling to the country.

The form only takes minutes to complete, with applicants required to fill in a selection of personal and passport information, including:

Name and Surname
Date of Birth
Country of Birth
Nationality
Telephone
Travel Document Number
Passport Issue and Expiry Date

It’s also necessary to select the purpose of the visit: whether for tourism, business or transit.

The ETA for tourism or business allows a stay of up to 30 days in the country, while the transit ETA allows up to 2 days to transit through Sri Lanka to an onward destination.

After completing the Sri Lanka ETA on arrival application, it’s essential to double-check all the data entered on the form, to avoid rejection, delays or having to re-apply.

Sri Lanka visa on arrival ETA applications normally take around 24 hours to process.It is recommended to apply at least a couple of working days before the trip to guarantee delivery in time.

The ETA visa on arrival for Sri Lanka will be sent to a provided email address upon approval.

Sri Lanka Visa on Arrival Requirements

To apply for the Sri Lanka ETA on arrival before travel, eligible citizens must first meet some Sri Lanka visa requirements.

The most important requirement is having a passport valid for 6 months upon entry to the country.

Additional requirements include:

A scanned copy of the applicant’s passport information page
A valid current email address at which to receive the visa on arrival for Sri Lanka ETA
Paying a Sri Lanka visa on arrival fee using a credit or debit card.

After receiving the approved ETA visa on arrival for Sri Lanka, travelers should gather the following supporting documentation to present at the border to guarantee entry to Sri Lanka:

A completed Ski Lanka disembarkation card
A printed copy of the approved ETA Sri Lanka
A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable
Proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of the stay in Sri Lanka
A confirmed return ticket to the applicant’s country of residence, or an onward ticket to a third destination
A visa or other travel document for the onward destination, if applicable.

How much is the Sri Lanka Visa on Arrival?

The Sri Lanka visa on arrival carries a fee. The fee must be paid upon arrival, in cash, with US dollars.

NOTE: Even if the fee is paid in US dollars, change is given in Sri Lankan Rupees only.

Alternatively, if travelers register through the Sri Lanka ETA form, they may cover the visa fee with their debit or credit card.

Paying for the ETA online is safe and hassle-free. Most travelers benefit from completing the visa on arrival for Sri Lanka online. Once approved, it is immediately sent to the traveler’s email.

All foreign visitors are expected to pay the visa fee except citizens from Maldives and Seychelles, who can get the visa for free.