Sri Lanka ETA for Dutch Citizens

The Sri Lanka electronic travel authorization o eTA, was introduced by the Sri Lankan Government in 2012 to facilitate the immigration process and improve the border security of the country.

Citizens of most countries including The Netherlands who travel to Sri Lanka for either tourism, business, or transit, are eligible to apply for a Sri Lankan ETA. The application process is simple and fast and can be done at any time from anywhere in the world.

Standard processing delivers the approved authorisation in 1 to 2 business days. There is also a Priority Service that allows Dutch visitors to get their ETA within 1 hour.

The Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an electronic approval system, which negates the need to either visit a consulate or embassy or wait in long lines for a visa on arrival.

Every Dutch passport holder who intends on traveling to Sri Lanka must have pre-approval to do so in the form of either a visa or an ETA.

The type of approval required will be dependent on what type of travel the visa holder is doing, as well as how long they intend on being in the country.

ETA Types for Dutch Passport Holders

There are three different types of ETAs that Dutch citizens who are planning their trip to Sri Lanka are eligible to apply for:

• The Business ETA is valid for a period of 180 days from the date of issue. The business ETA allows for stays of up to a total of up to 20 days in Sri Lanka. The business ETA allows for multiple entries into Sri Lanka, provided that the final entry is within the initial 30 days and the total number of days does not exceed the allotted 30
• The Transit ETA is valid for 180 days from the date it is issued. The transit ETA is given only under circumstances when the traveler does not need to exit the airport as it does not grant permission to do so. The transit ETA is only valid for two days, meaning the traveler must have a connecting flight departing Sri Lanka within 48 hours of arrival
• The Tourist ETA is valid for 180 days from the time it is issued to the traveler. It grants the traveler 30 days to stay inside of Sri Lanka and each traveler is allowed to exit and re-enter the country one time provided that the second entry takes place within the initial 30 days

Note: Dutch 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.

Dutch travelers who are looking to apply to any of the ETAs listed above are required to provide a few extra documents and details in addition to their Dutch passport with at least 180 days of validity on it.

• A valid email address must be provided as all correspondence regarding the ETA will be entirely online. The ETA itself will also be sent electronically so an email address is imperative
• A debit or credit card must be provided so that the one-time visa fee can be paid. It is important to remember that the fee is non-refundable, meaning if the ETA is denied for whatever reason, there will be no refund
• A scanned copy of the passport information page

All Dutch passport holders who wish to apply for a Sri Lanka ETA can fill out the application form. It will be necessary to provide basic information such as first and last names, date of birth, passport details, and travel plans.

It is crucial that Dutch citizens understand their reason for visiting Sri Lanka as it will affect which type of ETA or visa they apply for.

ETAs are only valid for purposes of leisure, transit, travel, and business. Any Dutch person who is interested in visiting Sri Lanka for religious or humanitarian purposes must apply for a specific visa at their local embassy or consulate.

Once the ETA has been granted via email, it is necessary to print out a hard copy and carry it with you.

Sri Lankan border authorities will ask you to provide the physical copy of the ETA and match it to their digital records. They may also ask to see proof of funds for your trip as well as proof of onward journey from Sri Lanka.