Sri Lanka ETA & Visa Guide

Almost every visitor to Sri Lanka needs an ETA — an Electronic Travel Authorization — before they board their flight. It is quick to obtain online, costs USD 50 for most nationalities, and failing to have one is one of the most common and easily avoidable reasons tourists are turned back at the airport. This guide covers everything: who needs an ETA, how to apply, what to do if your plans change, and how to extend your stay.

What is the Sri Lanka ETA?

The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an online pre-approval system that allows Sri Lanka Immigration to screen visitors before they arrive. It replaced the old visa-on-arrival system for most nationalities and must be obtained before you travel — you cannot board a flight to Sri Lanka without one. The ETA is linked electronically to your passport and does not involve a sticker or stamp in your passport before you travel; you receive a confirmation email which you should print or save on your phone.

The ETA system is operated by the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka. The official website is eta.gov.lk — be careful of third-party sites that charge additional processing fees for the same service.

Who Needs an ETA?

Citizens of most countries need an ETA to visit Sri Lanka for tourism. This includes nationals of the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, all EU member states, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most other countries worldwide.

The ETA covers tourist visits only. If you are travelling for business, you need a different category (see the Business Visa section below). If you intend to work, volunteer, study or reside in Sri Lanka, a different visa category applies entirely — contact the Sri Lanka High Commission or Embassy in your home country.

Countries That Do Not Need an ETA

A small number of nationalities receive free entry to Sri Lanka without an ETA for short stays. As of 2025, citizens of the following countries receive free entry:

• Maldives — free entry, no ETA required
• Seychelles — free entry, no ETA required
• Singapore — free entry for up to 30 days

This list changes periodically and free-entry arrangements are sometimes introduced as temporary promotional measures. Always check the official eta.gov.lk website or your nearest Sri Lanka diplomatic mission before travelling to confirm the current rules for your nationality.

How to Apply for a Sri Lanka ETA

The application process is straightforward and takes around 10–15 minutes:

1. Go to eta.gov.lk (the official Sri Lanka government ETA portal)
2. Click "Apply for ETA" and select "Tourist" as your visa type
3. Enter your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport — name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry date
4. Enter your travel details: intended arrival date, port of entry (Bandaranaike International Airport for most visitors, or Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the south), and accommodation address for your first night in Sri Lanka
5. Pay the fee by credit or debit card
6. Receive confirmation by email — usually within minutes, sometimes up to 24 hours
7. Print the confirmation or save it on your phone — you may be asked to show it at check-in and at the airport immigration counter

Important: Only use eta.gov.lk for your application. Numerous third-party sites offer to process ETA applications for an additional fee — these are unnecessary middlemen charging a markup for a process you can complete yourself in minutes on the official site.

ETA Cost

The standard tourist ETA costs USD 50 per person (approximately LKR 16,000 at 2025 exchange rates). This covers a double-entry, 30-day tourist visa.

Children under 12 travelling on their own passport also require an ETA and pay the standard fee. Children listed on a parent's passport (which some older passports allow) follow the rules for the parent's passport.

The fee is non-refundable if your application is rejected, so ensure all details are correct before submitting.

Processing Time

In the vast majority of cases, ETA approvals are issued within minutes of a completed online application. Occasionally — particularly if there is a technical issue or if your application is flagged for manual review — processing can take up to 24–72 hours. Apply at least 72 hours before your flight to give yourself a buffer. Do not wait until the day before you travel.

ETA Validity and Entry

The standard tourist ETA is valid for:

• Stay duration: 30 days per entry
• Entries: Double entry (you can leave Sri Lanka and re-enter once within the ETA's validity period — useful if you are combining Sri Lanka with a side trip to India or the Maldives)
• Validity window: The ETA must be used within 6 months of the date of issue. If you apply now but travel in 5 months, your ETA is still valid — but your stay on each entry is limited to 30 days from arrival

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Sri Lanka. Immigration officers at Bandaranaike will check this and can deny entry if your passport expires sooner.

Visa on Arrival

Sri Lanka does offer a limited visa-on-arrival facility, but it is not a reliable alternative to the online ETA. The on-arrival process is slower, queues can be long, and in some periods it has not been available to all nationalities. It is also more expensive than the online ETA. Always apply for your ETA online before travelling — do not rely on obtaining one at the airport.

Extending Your Stay Beyond 30 Days

If you want to stay longer than 30 days, you can apply for an extension through the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. Extensions are granted in increments and allow stays of up to a maximum of 6 months for most tourist visitors.

How to extend:

1. Visit the Department of Immigration and Emigration at 41 Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10 (near Maradana)
2. Bring your passport, ETA approval confirmation, proof of onward travel, and proof of sufficient funds (a bank statement or credit card)
3. Pay the extension fee (this changes periodically — check the current rate at immigration.gov.lk)
4. Extensions are typically processed same-day or within one to two working days

It is also possible to do a "visa run" — leaving Sri Lanka and re-entering on the second entry of your double-entry ETA. Some travellers combine this with a quick trip to India (Chennai or Kochi are the closest cities by air) or the Maldives. Be aware that immigration officers can question travellers who appear to be living in Sri Lanka on repeated tourist visas.

Business Visa

If you are travelling to Sri Lanka for business purposes — meetings, conferences, trade, or professional activities — you need a business ETA rather than a tourist ETA. The business ETA is also applied for at eta.gov.lk and costs USD 50. It allows the same 30-day stay but specifically authorises business activities. Working for a Sri Lankan employer on a tourist visa is not permitted.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a third-party site: Only use eta.gov.lk. Third-party services charge a premium for no additional benefit.
• Name mismatch: Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport — middle names, hyphens, and the order of given names must match precisely. A mismatch can cause problems at immigration.
• Wrong passport number: Double-check your passport number. A single digit error means your ETA approval will not match your passport at the immigration counter.
• Not printing or saving the confirmation: Have your ETA confirmation available at check-in and on arrival — some airlines will not let you board without it, and some immigration counters ask to see it.
• Applying too late: Apply at least 72 hours before your flight. Processing is usually instant but delays can happen.
• Passport expiry: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure from Sri Lanka.

Practical Tips

• Apply at eta.gov.lk — the official site. Bookmark it before you search so you don't land on a copycat site.
• Take a screenshot of your approval confirmation and save it offline — airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable when you need to show it.
• The address you give for your first night in Sri Lanka does not need to be your only accommodation — most visitors just enter their first hotel.
• If you are travelling as a family, each person needs a separate ETA and separate payment.
• If your ETA application is rejected (rare for tourist applications), contact the Sri Lanka High Commission or Embassy in your home country for guidance.
• Take out travel insurance before you fly — it is not a requirement for the ETA but is strongly recommended. Medical costs in private hospitals in Sri Lanka can be significant.