Visitors to Sri Lanka must obtain a visa, either on arrival to Sri Lanka or in advance, unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries. Most visitors entering for tourism purposes are required to obtain a visa on arrival, unless they are exempt from obtaining one.[1] However, citizens of some countries must obtain a visa in advance before being allowed to enter Sri Lanka. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
In 2012, Sri Lanka launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, created and operated by Mobitel, a state-owned enterprise.[2] Sri Lanka Guardian described the ETA system as having operated "flawlessly" when it was in operation from 2012 to 2024.[3]
On 17 April 2024, Sri Lanka replaced its previous Electronic Travel Authorisation system with a new e-Visa system,[4] operated by VFS Global.[5] [2] However, the new e-Visa system's increased fees were criticised by Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who claimed that Russian airline Red Wings Airlines had ceased operating flights to Sri Lanka due in part to the increased visa fees, and warned that the tourism industry could be brought to a "standstill".
On 2 August 2024, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim order, which suspended the e-Visa system operated by VFS Global and ordered the restoration of the previous ETA system operated by Mobitel;[6] Sajith Premadasa welcomed the court order.[6] On 4 August 2024, Ada Derana reported that the Ministry of Public Security would make a final decision the next day, and noted that the suspension of the e-Visa system meant that tourists needed to obtain their visas on arrival.[7]
On 5 August 2024, the Department of Immigration and Emigration notified the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions around the world of the discontinuation of the e-Visa system.[8] According to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, the old ETA system has yet to be reinstated due to changes made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration's computer system.[9]
On August 21, 2024, a cabinet decision was made to allow visa-free travel to 35 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Russia, Thailand, and Indonesia, from October 1, 2024. This pilot program to last for 6 months.[10]
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, for stays up to the duration listed below:[11]
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Alternatively, nationals of visa-exempt countries who instead choose to apply for a "Standard tourist visa" online are exempt from paying visa fees.[4]
Holders of diplomatic, official, service or special passports of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, for stays up to the duration listed below:[13] [14]
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D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports
Sp - Special passports
PA - Passports endorsed for "public affairs".
1 - 90 days
2 - 30 days
3 - 60 days, 90 days within any 1 year-period.
4 - 90 days within any 180-day period.
5 - 30 days within any 60-day period.
Visa-waiver agreement for holders of Diplomatic, Official and Service Passports was signed with Benin in January 2024, however they have it is yet to come into force.[15]
Citizens of all other countries except the visa-exempt countries and countries whose citizens require a visa in advance may obtain a visa on arrival which is good for double entry for tourist or good for multiple entries for business, valid for a maximum stay of 30 days. Visas obtained on arrival are generally discouraged as such visas are not automatically approved for entry into Sri Lanka.[16]
Due to the discontinuation of the e-Visa system, citizens of the following 7 countries may obtain a gratis visa (single entry) upon arrival in Sri Lanka for tourism purposes only, valid for a maximum stay of 30 days.[8]
Citizens of all other countries except the countries whose citizens either require a visa obtained on arrival or in advance may also obtain an e-Visa online.
Prospective visitors can apply for the following types of tourism/business e-Visas (unless otherwise noted):
| Validity | Number of entry | Duration of stay* | Visa fee | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | Single | up to 30 days | Gratis | Only tourists who are citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia or Thailand may obtain this type of visa. For more details see below. | |
| 6 months | Double | up to 60 days | SAARC member states: 35 USD Non-SAARC member states: 75 USD | ||
| 1 year | Multiple | up to 90 days | 200 USD | People who engage diplomatic or consular activities may get visa fee waived. | |
| 2 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 300 USD | ||
| 5 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 500 USD | ||
| 10 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 1000 USD |
Moreover, a US$18.50 service fee[5] as well as a US$5 "convenience fee" is charged by VFS Global for each visa application, regardless of the type of e-Visa.[17]
| class=nowrap style="padding:0 2em 0 0" | Citizens of Taiwan must select "China (Special Administrative Region of China)" as their nationality when applying for an e-Visa. |
Citizens of the following countries are ineligible to apply for both an e-Visa and a visa on arrival independently, and thus must obtain a visa in advance from one of the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions around the world:[18]
When obtaining a visa at a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission, they must present the following documents:
Citizens of the following countries must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival in order to enter Sri Lanka:[18]
Czech Republic
Hong Kong
Maldives
Seychelles
Singapore
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Brazil
Cambodia
Chile
China
Cuba
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Myanmar
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Romania
Thailand
Ukraine
Japan
Malaysia
Cameroon
Cote d'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Angola
Argentina
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Panama
Peru
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Suriname
Togo
Uganda