Sri Lanka eTA from Switzerland

The island nation of Sri Lanka, one of Asia’s most popular travel destinations, receives scores of visitors from all over the world.

Citizens of many countries, including Switzerland, can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, for short visits to Sri Lanka for the purposes of tourism, transit, or business.

Yes. All visitors to Sri Lanka arriving on a Swiss passport must present a valid visa in order to enter the country. What they require will depend on the purpose of their visit.

Swiss nationals intending to work or live in Sri Lanka long term are required to obtain a traditional visa by attending an in-person interview and submitting their documents at a Sri Lankan embassy or consulate. Swiss citizens wishing to obtain a Sri Lanka visa from Switzerland for a shorter trip, however, may apply for the Sri Lankan ETA for Swiss citizens in one of three categories:

• Tourist ETA
• Business ETA
• Transit ETA

Both the tourist ETA and business ETA grant the holder permission to visit Sri Lanka for a period of up to 30 days.

Additionally, these ETA types can be extended from within Sri Lanka for a maximum period of 6 months, provided the original ETA has not expired at any point previously.

The tourist ETA is appropriate for those coming to Sri Lanka on vacation, to visit relatives, to receive medical treatment, or to take part in religious, cultural, or sporting events and activities.

The business ETA is suitable for any Swiss citizen traveling to Sri Lanka to attend a meeting, conference, seminar, negotiation, training, or any other professional engagement.

The transit ETA is for travelers who are stopping in Sri Lanka on their way to another country. It permits its holder to stay in Sri Lanka for a maximum of 2 days, and is the right option for Swiss citizens who are catching a connecting flight or other form of transportation from Sri Lanka to somewhere else.

Those applying for a Sri Lanka visa for Swiss citizens should be aware that anyone holding dual Swiss/Sri Lankan nationality, as well as anyone born abroad to Sri Lankan parents but who is registered in Sri Lanka and is currently 21 or younger, does not need to obtain a Sri Lanka visa from Switzerland.

According to the Sri Lanka visa requirements for Swiss citizens, the primary requirement to obtain a Sri Lanka ETA for citizens of Switzerland is a valid Swiss passport.

This passport must be valid both at the time of application and for no less than 6 months following the date upon which the holder intends to enter Sri Lanka. In addition, in order to complete the application process, applicants must also possess the following items:

• A valid, working email address (to receive the electronic ETA)
• An active debit or credit card (for payment of the application processing fee)

Swiss citizens who possess the necessary documentation may apply for a Sri Lankan ETA for Swiss citizens by filling in and submitting a brief, straightforward online application form.

In order to complete this form, applicants will need to provide the following items of personal information:

• Full name, address, date and location of birth
• Passport number, date of issue, and expiry date
• Travel dates and provisional itinerary

The form will also request applicants to choose whether they want to apply for a tourist ETA, business ETA, or transit ETA.

Applicants for the online Sri Lanka visa for Swiss Citizens should be sure to verify all the information they provide on their application form, as details entered incorrectly could lead to the processing delay or rejection of their application.

Since the Sri Lanka ETA for citizens of Switzerland is obtained online, the application time is quicker than both the traditional embassy application, which requires an in-person interview, and the visa on arrival application, which often requires a long wait at the applicant’s Sri Lankan port of entry.

Once an application is submitted, it is generally processed and approved within 24 hours. There is also a Priority Service that allows Swiss visitors to get their ETA within 1 hour.

However, applicants are advised to obtain their Sri Lankan ETA for Swiss citizens at least 2 working days before they intend to leave for Sri Lanka, as processing delays occasionally occur and could potentially disrupt travel plans.

The electronic Sri Lanka visa for Swiss Citizens, once received electronically, should be printed for presentation upon arrival into Sri Lanka along with the holder’s passport.

Other documents which Swiss citizens may be asked to produce at their Sri Lankan port of entry include:

• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the entirety of their trip
• Evidence of a return journey to Switzerland, or an onward journey to a third country, once their Sri Lankan ETA for Swiss citizens expires

As visa requirements and travel conditions for Swiss citizens in Sri Lanka are subject to change, travelers are advised to keep up with news and developments from the country in the run-up to their trip.