Sri Lanka ETA for Transit Purposes
Apply for Transit ETADepending on how much time is spent in Sri Lanka before moving on to an onward destination, travelers passing through the country may require a Sri Lanka ETA for transit.
Passengers in transit who do require a visa should apply in advance for the Sri Lanka transit ETA. Travellers are issued with the single-entry transit visa on arrival when they present their approved ETA and passport. Foreigners are not permitted to leave the airport with a Sri Lanka transit visa.
What is the Sri Lankan ETA for transit?
The Sri Lanka ETA for Transit is an online Electronic Travel Authorization introduced in 2012, it allows eligible citizens to pre-register a visa waiver application for short stays for tourism, transit, or business purposes.
The majority of foreign passport holders are able to apply for a Sri Lanka transit visa or online ETA to pass through the country. This excludes 3 visa-exempt countries (Seychelles, the Maldives, and Singapore), as well as citizens of 21 countries who are required to get a visa from a Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission in their own country before traveling.
How does transit ETA for Sri Lanka work
The transit eTA for Sri Lanka can be obtained through the simple Electronic Travel Authorization application online. Eligible citizens are required to fill in some personal information and passport details, as well as to select ‘transit’ as the purpose of the stay.
Applicants will need to meet the Sri Lanka eTA requirements for transit in order for the eTA approval to be successful. It’s necessary to have:
- A passport from a Sri Lanka ETA transit-eligible country valid for 6 months upon arrival
- A valid debit or credit card to pay the Sri Lanka transit authorization fee
- A current email address at which to receive the transit eTA for Sri Lanka
The following should be presented upon arrival at the border:
- A printed copy of the transit ETA for Sri Lanka
- A confirmed ticket to the traveler’s onward destination
- A visa or other travel document for the onward destination, if applicable.
Before submitting the application, it’s essential to double-check all the information provided in order to correctly receive the Sri Lanka transit ETA. Applications are usually processed within 24 hours, with the Sri Lanka ETA for transit sent by email on approval.
Do I need a Sri Lanka transit visa or ETA for transit?
The Sri Lanka transit ETA is only available for the purposes of transiting through Sri Lanka on the way to an onward destination. So, if the traveler want to travel through Sri Lanka to change the airport or mode of transport on their way to a third destination, the traveler will require a transit visa or ETA for transit.
The ETA transit for Sri Lanka is not required for passengers in transit who:
- Will leave the country within 8 hours
- Have a ticket or evidence of their onward travel
How long you can stay in Sri Lanka with transit ETA
The Sri Lanka ETA for transit allows a stay of up to 2 days in the country.
However, if the ETA holder wishes to stay for longer and/or for purposes other than to pass through, then the transit ETA for Sri Lanka is not eligible, and another Sri Lankan visa type will be required.