Sri Lanka eTA for Australians

Sri Lanka is a top destination for Australian travellers. Located in the Indian Ocean off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is famous for its elephants blend of cuisines, and golden beaches.

The Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was introduced in 2012 in order to expedite the visa application process. The ETA replaces the traditional visa, which means that Australians no longer need to visit a consulate or embassy in their home country or wait for hours in long lines upon arrival.

The Sri Lanka ETA was designed to be completed entirely online in as short a time as possible. Upon submitting a correctly filled-out application. Australian passport holders can expect a response in 1 to 2 business days leaving them more time to plan their holiday.

Although there are many countries in the world that do not require Australian passport holders to have a pre-approved visa upon arrival, Sri Lanka is not one of them.

Australian citizens need a visa to visit Sri Lanka, the ETA makes it easy to get pre-approval.

The reason for travel and the amount of time they anticipate spending in Sri Lanka will dictate the type of ETA or visa an Australian should apply for.

There is not only one type of Sri Lanka's ETA, in fact there are three types of ETAs that Australian citizens who are planning their trip to Sri Lanka can apply for:

• The Tourist ETA is the most popular kind of ETA and is valid for a total of 180 days once it is issued. This does not mean that the traveler is allowed to spend 180 days inside of Sri Lanka as the ETA is only valid for 30 days upon arrival. The tourist ETA allows for up to two separate entries provided that the second entry takes place within the first 30 days
• The Business ETA is also valid for 180 days from the date of issue. A traveler holding the business ETA is allowed to enter Sri Lanka on multiple instances provided that they do so within 30 days. The business ETA allows for 20 days of stay in Sri Lanka before a new visa is required
• The Transit ETA is valid 180 days from the date of issue. However, the transit ETA does not allow for the holder to exit the airport under any circumstances. The transit ETA allows travelers to stay for up to 48 hours inside the airport terminal, meaning they must exit on their connecting flight before two days have passed

Note: Passports must have a minimum of 180 days of validity from the date of entry into Sri Lanka no matter what type of visa or ETA the traveler holds.

Acceptable reasons for travelling to under the 3 Sri Lanka ETAs are leisure, tourism, transit, and business.

Should Australian passport holders wish to visit Sri Lanka for humanitarian or religious purposes, it is necessary for them to visit their local embassy or consulate to apply for a specific visa in person.

Once the ETA has been granted, a hard copy should be printed out and carried in your passport. Sri Lankan border officials will ask that you also provide proof of financial autonomy as well as proof of onward travel before the expiration of your ETA before issuing the short-stay visa.

No matter which Sri Lanka ETA Australian citizens decide is right for them, there are a number of requirements that they will need to provide authorities while submitting their application:

• A current email address must be provided as all correspondence will be done via email. The final decision and the ETA itself will also be sent via email
• A valid credit or debit card is necessary as each individual ETA application carries with it a non-refundable processing fee
• A scanned copy of the passport data page

Australians can apply for the Sri Lanka ETA online by following these steps:

• Fill out the ETA Sri Lanka application form
• Pay the ETA fees for Australians
• Submit the ETA application for approval

Most Australians receive ETA approval in 1 to 2 business days. Australian travellers should print the approval email and present it to Sri Lanka border officials on arrival.

What questions are on the Sri Lanka ETA application for Australians?

Australians need to complete all the questions on the Sri Lanka ETA application form. The following basic personal details and passport information is required:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Passport country, number, and issue and expiry date
• Intended date of arrival in Sri Lanka

Australians also need to answer some eligibility questions. The online application form can be completed in a few minutes.

Each type of Sri Lanka ETA for Australians is valid for 180 days from the date of issue. This means the Australian visitor must travel to Sri Lanka with the ETA within 6 months of receiving the travel authorisation.

The Tourist ETA and Business ETA are valid for stays of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka. The Transit ETA is valid for a maximum of 2 days in Sri Lanka and departure from the airport is not permitted.

The price of a Sri Lanka visa for Australians depends on the type of visa required. Electronic travel authorisations are generally less expensive than embassy visas.

Australians pay the ETA fees securely online by debit or credit card.