How to get tourist visa for Sri Lanka
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Plan to visit Sri Lanka? Then you will need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. You can get a short stay visa online at: Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Tourist visas are normally issued for a maximum period of 30 days. Although it’s still possible to get a tourist visa on arrival, it’s better to get one before you travel. If you arrive in Sri Lanka without a visa, you could face delays.
Note: Sometimes Sri Lankan government grant Visa free entry for certain countries therefore always check latest news in www.srilanka.travel and www.immigration.gov.lk.
What are the general eligibility requirements for Sri Lankan visas?
Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration may issue a visa to you if:- It is satisfied that you are suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
- It approves the purpose for which you are entering Sri Lanka.
- Hold a passport valid for a minimum period of six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka.
- It is satisfied that you have adequate funds for your stay in Sri Lanka and for the payment of your return passage to the country which issued your passport.
- You are in possession of a return air ticket to the country of domicile or a visa to the next country of destination.
Who is eligible for visa exemption?
People who has Sri Lankan dual citizens. Children (up to 21 years of age) born outside Sri Lanka and having Sri Lankan birth certificate and Sri Lankan citizenship certificate.
Ways of obtaining a Sri Lankan visa:
Option 1: Get a 30-day visa from online Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).- Visit the Sri Lanka electronic visa website (www.eta.gov.lk) several days before arriving.
- Follow the online application process and pay with a credit or debit card.
- Once approved, print out the visa confirmation.
Option 2: You can also obtain visas at Sri Lankan embassies abroad.
If you are unable to submit the online application due to technical
reasons, the duly completed application can be forwarded to the closest
Sri Lanka diplomatic mission to apply on your behalf. Documents
required: ETA application form, Two recent passport-size photographs, return air tickets, proof of hotel accommodation or an invitation from
hosts in Sri Lanka, Passport : the validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
ETA processing fee of US$ 35 (Payable by money order, bank certified
check or cash in favor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka.) An additional US$
20 is charged to return the passport to the applicant by post. More on Visa processing fees.
Option 3: Counter at Bandaranaike International Airport
For people who arrive without a visa, although you’ll have to wait with the other visa-less masses (which can take several hours) and pay a higher fee: US$40. For last-minute travelers who travel to Sri Lanka for tourist/transit
purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain the
ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
An additional fee of US$ 5 will apply. More on Visa processing fees.
Most preferred way is 'Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)' | Online Method:
If the length of stay in Sri Lanka is less than 30 days, the applicant or a third party on his/her behalf can apply for the visa by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk. It is advised to keep a copy of the ETA approval notice with the traveler to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka. All applicants, except children below 12 years of age, must pay an ETA processing fee online. The online payment must be paid with a valid debit or credit card.
When applying for an ETA through third parties, payments have to be made through www.eta.gov.lk and an acknowledgement of the ETA application should be obtained. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not valid to process the ETA. Therefore, please ensure that the payment is made on www.eta.gov.lk to avoid having to pay again at the port of entry to Sri Lanka. More on Visa processing fees.
FAQ's regarding ETA online Visa process in Sri Lanka.
Guide to ETA (Online Visa ) application process for Sri Lanka
01. Log on to www.eta.gov.lk and click on Apply to start the application process.
Home page ETA (Online Visa ) application www.eta.gov.lk
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02. Fill out the required details and submit the application after paying the online processing fee of US$ 30. Only Visa, Master and American Express Cards are accepted. (Please see the below screenshots)
Selecting proper Sri Lanka Visa type in ETA www.eta.gov.lk
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Submit details in Sri Lanka visa in ETA www.eta.gov.lk
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Visa payment ETA in ETA www.eta.gov.lk
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03. You may be required to pay the visa fee when you are applying visa for a period more than 30 days as applicable. The Visa fee when applicable can be paid online, or at the port of entry to Sri Lanka or to the nearest Sri Lanka mission. More details of Sri Lankan Visa fees.
04. Receive the acknowledgment notice sent to your email.
Sample acknowledgment notice will be like this.
05. Receive the approval notice or a referral notice in case of your ETA application being rejected sent your email within 24 hours upon the receipt of your acknowledgement notice.
Sample approval notice will be like this.
06. If you receive a referral notice informing that your ETA application has been rejection please contact the consular section of the Sri Lanka Embassy, for further assistance.
Sample referral notice will be like this: Referral notice 1, Referral notice 2, Referral notice 3, Referral notice 4, Referral notice 5
07. In case you did not receive the approval notice or a referral note after 24 hours upon the receipt of your acknowledgement notice you can check the status of your ETA application on the following:
- Log on to ETA website and enter your confirmation code and passport number - from here
- Or contact 24/7 dedicated ETA call center on 00 94 71 99 67 888
08. Please keep a copy of the ETA approval notice to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka with the following:
- A passport valid not less than 6 months from the date of arrival
- A confirmed return ticket
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses
- Hotel booking if needed (Of course nowadays all depend on airbnb stuffs)
The ETA is initially limited upto 30 days from the date of arrival and it can be extended up to six months [Click Here]
09. Diplomatic and Official Visits - Passport holder who is planning to visit Sri Lanka on official purposes should submit their ETA applications to the Department of Immigration and Emigration through the Embassy of Sri Lanka, or the Sri Lanka Consulate, or Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to that particular country. Please check here for more details.
10. If required, you can still submit your ETA applications through the nearest Sri Lanka Mission.
please check here for more details.
Transit Visa for Sri Lanka
The applicants themselves or a third party on their behalf can apply for a transit ETA by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk. If you are unable to submit the online application due to technical reasons, the duly completed application can be forwarded to the closest Sri Lanka diplomatic mission to apply on your behalf.
Documents required:
Documents required:
- Transit ETA application form (click here to download)
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Air ticket
- Passport : The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
- If the transit time exceeds 48 hours, an ETA processing fee of US$ 30 will be charged. (Payable by money order, bank certified check or cash in favor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka.) An additional US$ 20 is charged to return the passport to the applicant by post).
Visa Processing time: 1-2 business days. For last-minute travelers who need to visit Sri Lanka on tourist/transit purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. An additional fee of US$ 5 will apply.
- If the transit time exceeds 48 hours, an ETA processing fee of US$ 30 will be charged. (Payable by money order, bank certified check or cash in favor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka.) An additional US$ 20 is charged to return the passport to the applicant by post).
Visa Processing time: 1-2 business days. For last-minute travelers who need to visit Sri Lanka on tourist/transit purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. An additional fee of US$ 5 will apply.
Customs Regulations for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has the usual list of prohibited imports, including drugs, weapons, fresh fruit and anything remotely pornographic.Items allowed:
- 0.25 L of perfume
- 1.5 L of alcohol.
There are duty-free shops in the arrivals area before you reach baggage claim at the airport. Besides booze, they include appliances like blenders and refrigerators. Sri Lanka Customs has full details on its website (www.customs.gov.lk).
