With the exception of citizens of 3 visa-free countries (the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore), all foreign travellers are required to get some kind of visa to meet the Sri Lanka entry requirements.
The majority of passport holders can apply for a Sri Lankan ETA online. With the ETA visitors are issued a 30-day visa on arrival for short tourism or business trips, or transit purposes, providing they first meet the Sri Lanka visa requirements.
Those not eligible to apply for the Sri Lanka ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) online are required to get a visa in advance from a Sri Lankan Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. Depending on the purpose and length of the intended stay, this could be a Sri Lanka Business Visa, a Sri Lanka Tourist visa or another visa type.
Before applying for the Sri Lankan ETA online, eligible citizens must first meet the Sri Lanka visa requirements for documents. These involve having:
After completing the application and receiving the approved Sri Lankan ETA, travellers will also need to provide some supporting documentation at the border. This involves presenting:
After meeting the Sri Lanka entry requirements for documents, it’s necessary for the applicant to complete the Sri Lanka ETA application online with a range of personal and passport information. The total application only takes minutes to fill in, with the required data involving:
The Sri Lanka online visa waiver is valid for a stay of up to 30 days for either tourism, transit or business purposes, with a total 6-month validity from the date of issue. Sri Lanka ETA holders who wish to stay for longer for touristic purposes are required to renew their visa once in the country and can get a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa for stays of up to 6 months.
Apart from citizens of the 3 Sri Lanka visa-exempt countries, there are a number of other cases in which travellers do not need to meet the Sri Lanka travel authorization requirements, including:
Excluding this list and the citizens of 21 countries who are obliged to get a visa in advance from a Sri Lankan Embassy or Consulate, passport holders of all of the following countries are eligible to apply for the ETA, providing they first meet the Sri Lanka entry requirements: