Americans who would like to visit Sri Lanka should apply for a Sri Lanka ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before departure. The online ETA for Sri Lanka was introduced to simplify and speed up the visa application process.
On arrival at the airport of entry, US passport holders with an approved ETA authorisation will be issued with a 30-day short stay visitor visa.
What is the Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens?
The Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens allows visitors to obtain a short stay visa on arrival. ETA holders present their ETA and passport at the Sri Lanka port of entry and are issued with a 30-day visit visa for Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan electronic authorisation was introduced to streamline the Sri Lanka visa on arrival procedure. As all relevant information and documents are provided in advance, the ETA can be quickly granted to Us passport holders at the airport.
The online ETA application for Sri Lanka just involves answering some basic questions and paying a fee using a credit or debit card. American citizens receive the approved ETA by email.
The Sri Lanka ETA allows Americans to enter the country for the following purposes:
- Tourism or visiting friends or relatives
- For medical treatment including some alternative treatments and yoga
- To take part in sporting or cultural events, competitions or activities
- To transit to a third country (maximum stay of 2 days in Sri Lanka)
- To participate in a business meeting or negotiation
- To complete a short-term training course (lasting less than a month)
- To take part in a conference, workshop, symposium, or seminar
- To participate in a cultural or religious event
The Sri Lankan ETA cannot be used to work or live in Sri Lanka. US citizens need to obtain a different type of visa from a Sri Lankan embassy or consulate for these purposes (see the full list of US embassies and consulates at the bottom of the page).
What documents do Americans need to apply for the Sri Lanka ETA?
US citizens must meet all the requirements to be able to apply for Sri Lanka ETA from the US. In addition to completing the application form, visitors need to:
- Possess a valid US passport with at least 6 months of validity left
- Pay a fee using a credit or debit card
- Provide a current email address to receive the ETA
When entering Sri Lanka, Us passport holders need to provide the following documentation at the Sri Lankan border:
- A printed copy of the approved Sri Lanka ETA
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover the trip
- Return or onward ticket
How to obtain the Sri Lanka visa or ETA for American citizens
Applying for the Sri Lanka ETA is the first step to being granted access to the country.
The online ETA application form for american passport just involves answering some basic questions with information such as personal details (name, address, date of birth etc.), passport details (number, expiry date etc.), and travel plans. There are also some health and security-related questions.
US citizens also need to pay a fee using a credit or debit card to submit the application. Once the application has been processed, the approved Sri Lanka ETA is sent to travellers by email.
Most Sri Lanka ETA applications only take minutes to be processed, although on rare occasions it can take longer (up to 48 hours.) It is recommended to apply at least 2 business days before travelling to allow for additional processing time.
Standard processing delivers the approved authorisation in 1 to 2 business days. There is also a Priority Service that allows American visitors to get their ETA urgently, within 1 hour.
Embassy registration for US citizens travelling to Sri Lanka
During the application process, American citizens can sign up to register with the nearest embassy or consulate in Sri Lanka. The embassy will send US nationals important safety and travel information during the entirety of their trip.
Advantages of the embassy registration system include:
- Receiving important safety and security information about Sri Lanka
- Be easily located in emergency situations such as a natural disaster
- Have faster contact with friends and family if there is an emergency back home
Sri Lankan embassies and consulates in the US
There are 5 Sri Lanka consulates in USA in addition to the main embassy in Washington DC. Here is a complete list which includes their address and contact details:
Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, D.C., United States
Address: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States Telephone: (+1) 202 483 4025 to 28 Fax: (+1) 202 232 7181
Sri Lankan Consulate in Honolulu, United States
Address: 1703 Paula Drive, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States Telephone: (+1) 808 737-7848 Fax: (+1) 808 254-5300
Sri Lankan Consulate General in Los Angeles, United States
Address: 3250 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2180, Los Angeles, CA 90010, United States Telephone: (+1) 213 387 0210 Fax: (+1) 213 387 0216
Sri Lankan Consulate General in New York, United States
Address: 820 ,2nd Floor, 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, United States Telephone: (+1) (212) 986-7040 to 3 Fax: (+1) (212) 986-1838
Sri Lankan Consulate in Phoenix, United States
Address: 329 W Cyprus Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003, United States Telephone: (+1) (602) 254-1899 Fax: (+1) (602) 254-2625
Sri Lankan Consulate in Chicago, United States
Address: 540 North Loncoln Street, Hionsdale, Chicago, IL 60521, United States Telephone: (+1) (630) 232-5283