Getting a Sri Lanka visa was never easier
Are you planning a vacation to Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is one of the destinations on the rise for independent travellers and it has made the Sri Lanka tourist visa process really easy since the beginning of 2012.
No Sri Lanka visa required for
citizens of Singapore, Seychelles and the Maldives for a short stay of maximum 30 days.
Sri Lanka visa on arrival
is not available
Where to get the Sri Lanka tourist visa
Everyone now has to perform a visa application online here. This process is called ETA, electronic travel authorisation.
You are required to enter your personal details, the details of your passport, a contact address of your residence country and a contact address in Sri Lanka. As a contact address in Sri Lanka the address of your first hotel or hostel should be sufficient.
Which documents have to be provided
That’s the cool thing: If you apply with the ETA application, the answer is: None
Sri Lanka visa characteristics
An ETA visa is valid for three months right after issuing. The usual visa you’ll get is a double entry. Each entry allows you to stay for30 days. So with an interruption inbetween this would allow you to stay 60 days in Sri Lanka.
Visa fee
For citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan the fee is 15 USD.
For everyone else it is 30 USD. Children below the age of 12 don’t have to pay a fee.
Process at the immigration desk of airport or land boarder
With an ETA visa for Sri Lanka proceed to the immigration counter and have these documents ready:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival
- Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of sufficient money for your stay
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If I apply for a 90 day tourist visa from the high commission (£110 – send them the passport, they add the visa to the passport then send back) – do I also need to get the ETA visa….or are these the same thing?
Dear Steve,
what is you nationality?
Hi Charles – I’m British – I’ve spoke to HC in London and will be sending them my passports for the 90 days but they did not answer clear enough whether I also need to apply for ETA
I can’t give you a cristal clear answer, but ETA is more for short trips and you seem to have asked for a 90 day visa. I don’t think – but do not know for sure – that you have to apply for an ETA.
thanks for sharing this helpful blog it seems very helpful, i was looking for same kind of content.
Well summed up Charles. Also do remember that after you obtain your Sri Lanka visa through http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ always carry a COPY OF THE VISA to show on arrival. Makes it easier at immigration.
Hello Chamintha,
Thanks for your tip and comment!
Dear Sean,
You’re welcome.
So I wish you a good trip. Enjoy Sri Lanka!
Thank you for this useful post and for sharing the online visa application form. This has been invaluable for me. I will be staying at Bentota beach and can’t wait to get there 🙂