Sri Lanka approves free visas for 40 countries, but ETA still required

Parliament passed the regulations on 7th May 2026, but no implementation date has been announced

Sri Lanka's Parliament has approved free visa entry for citizens of 40 countries as part of the government's efforts to boost tourism, though travelers will still need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. However, no implementation date has yet been announced.

According to an article in the Sri Lankan newspaper The Morning, which was published on May 7, 2026, Parliament approved the regulations under the Immigration and Emigration Act.

Minister of Public Security and Parliament Affairs Ananda Wijepala stated that the new regulations will provide free 30-day visas to citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand.

Expansion from seven countries

Previously, free visas were only available for China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand. The new regulations significantly expand the list to include major tourism markets in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

ETA remains mandatory

The Minister explained that while the visa fee will be waived, travelers from the 40 eligible countries must still adhere to all other entry procedures, including obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The policy removes the cost barrier but does not eliminate the application process.

Economic impact

While the government anticipates a loss of approximately US$75 million due to waiving visa fees, it estimates the initiative will attract an additional 247,000 tourists, generating around US$317 million in revenue. This would result in a net profit of US$242 million for the country.