Sri Lanka Tourist ETA: Apply Online for Your Travel Permit

What you need to know

  • The Sri Lanka Tourist Visa is an online visa required for short visits to Sri Lanka for sightseeing, visiting family and friends, or medical treatment.

  • The application process is entirely online.

  • The Sri Lanka Tourist Visa has different validity options, from 30 days to 10 years.

Apply today for the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa with us

Last updated: May 2024

If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, it’s important to know about the visa requirements.

We’re here to help you understand the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa, including who is eligible and how to apply for it. Let’s get started on your journey to this South Asian nation.

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What is the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

The Sri Lanka Tourist Visa is an online travel authorization that allows eligible foreign nationals to enter Sri Lanka by land, air, or sea for a short period of time. This new eVisa system replaces the previous ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) and aims to simplify the visa application process.

What can you do with the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

  • Sightseeing and holidaying in Sri Lanka.

  • Visit friends and relatives.

  • Undergo medical treatments, including ayurvedic and yoga treatments.

  • Participate in sporting events, competitions, and cultural performances.

What can you not do with the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

  • Engage in any form of employment, paid or voluntary work.

  • Take part in business or trade activities.

  • Attend meetings, conferences, art, music, and dance events/festivals.

  • Study in Sri Lanka.

  • Engage in political activities or media/journalism without proper endorsements and visas

  • Live in Sri Lanka through frequent or successive visits.

Who requires the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

Nearly all nationalities need to apply for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa, including Australia, Brazil, the USA, and the UK. To find out if you’re eligible for one, select the nationality of your passport at the top of this page and put your destination as Sri Lanka.

Before you apply for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa, make sure you meet the following requirements:

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned date of arrival in Sri Lanka.

  • You must be a genuine traveler with good intentions behind the purpose of your trip.

  • You must possess sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay in Sri Lanka.

  • You must have strong ties in your home country to ensure you will return home after your visit.

Visa-exempt: Who doesn't need to apply for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

  • Nationals from the following countries do not need to apply for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa due to visa-exemption agreements: Singapore, the Maldives, Seychelles, and the Czech Republic.

  • Citizens of the following countries are not eligible to apply online for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa and need to apply for one through a Sri Lankan embassy or the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration & Emigration: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Syria, and North Korea.

  • Citizens of Kosovo are only eligible for a Sri Lankan visa on arrival.

  • If you’re transiting through any of the Sri Lankan airports (for a period not exceeding 2 days).

For up-to-date information about visa exemptions for Sri Lanka, you can visit the Department of Immigration & Emigration website or contact the nearest Sri Lankan embassy or consulate.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa validity: How long can I stay in Sri Lanka?

There are several options for the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa:

  • Single-entry visa valid for 30 days.

  • Double-entry visa valid for 6 months with a maximum stay of 60 days per visit. This visa is also known as the Standard Visitor Visa.

  • Multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year with a maximum stay of 90 days per visit.

  • Multiple-entry visa valid for 2, 5, or 10 years with a maximum stay of 180 days per visit.

We currently only handle visa applications for the Standard Visitor Visa. If you would like to apply for any of the other Tourist Visa options, please visit the Department of Immigration & Emigration website.

Can I extend my Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

You can extend the Standard Visitor Visa for another 2 months.

To apply for an extension, visit the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo, Sri Lanka, before your current visa expires.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa required documents

To get a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa, the following documents are typically required from visa applicants:

  • A recent, colored passport photo that meets the standards laid out by the Sri Lankan government.

  • A scanned copy of the bio-page of your passport.

  • Invitation letter from Sri Lankan company/organization.

Depending on the Tourist Visa option you select, you may be required to provide additional supporting documents, such as an invitation letter from a Sri Lankan sponsor or a travel itinerary.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an application reference number. When your visa is approved, you’ll receive a notification via email. We recommend printing out the visa and saving a digital copy on your mobile device before your trip to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa costs and processing times

When you apply for the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa through our platform, we offer three different processing times to suit your travel needs:

  • Standard Processing (5 days): Our most affordable option. Perfect for travelers who are applying well in advance of their journey.

  • Rush Processing (3 days): This is designed for travelers who have a limited time to apply for their visas and need it faster than the Standard option.

  • Super Rush Processing (2 days): For those who need their visas as fast as possible and are willing to pay for a quick turnaround time.

Each processing time has its own fee that is not inclusive of the government visa fee, which varies according to the option you choose:

  • 30-day Tourist Visa: USD$40

  • Standard Tourist Visa: USD$75

  • 1-year Tourist Visa: USD$200

  • 2-year Tourist Visa: USD$300

  • 5-year Tourist Visa: USD$500

  • 10-year Tourist Visa: USD$1,000

It’s important to note that VFS Global, which handles eVisa applications for the Sri Lankan government, charges an additional USD$10 or 18.50 service fee.

You can conveniently pay all these fees online when applying with us.

Benefits of applying for a Sri Lanka Tourist Visa with us

Wondering why you should apply with us? Here’s a quick breakdown of the benefits you can expect.

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Do you have more questions about the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa?

If you want to learn more about the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa or have questions about the application process, we’re here to help.

Our dedicated online team of customer service agents is available via [online chat], or you can speak with them via WhatsApp.

Sri Lanka Tourist ETA Certified customer reviews

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How to Apply: Tourist ETA

How to Apply: Embassy Registration

Why Register with the Embassy

Travel Registration is a service provided by the government. This service allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad to the Department of State so it can be used to assist you in case of an emergency. People residing abroad can also get routine information from their nearest embassy or consulate if registered.

Required Information to Apply

Once You Have Registered With Your Embassy Or Consulate, You Will Need To Update Your Data If:

  • your contact details change,
  • your civil status changes,
  • you are going back to your home country.

Questions?

Don’t worry! Sometimes errors happen, due to internet problems, payment issues, or something else. Simply contact our customer team via [online chat] or email at [email protected], and they’ll make sure to check your application and how to process. They are available 24/7.

Cancelations are rare within the iVisa platform because our expert team checks each application carefully for mistakes or missing documents.

Still, it is possible that the Sri Lanka government cancels or rejects your application due to specific reasons. If that’s the case, iVisa may return the iVisa processing fee based on the amount of rejected applicants. Please note that the government fees are not refunded.

If you want to reapply for the Sri Lanka Tourist ETA, you can do so with the support of iVisa.

Depending on the stage of your application, there are different outcomes. For example, if you have not uploaded the required documents yet, you can make a note of the error(s) and send this to our customer service team to be amended.

If you have already submitted all documents and information to iVisa, or you already have received your confirmed ETA for Sri Lanka, it is not possible to make changes anymore.

You must apply for a new Sri Lanka ETA with the correct details. Always first communicate with our experts before reapplying to check what the status of your application is.

Once you have paid for the visa service, it is not possible to cancel the application. Please contact the iVisa experts for further advice.
We can assure that all your data is safely processed on both the secured online iVisa environment and the Sri Lanka government website. Your details are only used to submit your application and obtain the Sri Lanka Tourist ETA. Banking details are never stored, so you can feel confident that your data is safe.
At iVisa, we understand that your time is valuable, and we strive to provide you with the fastest service possible. Our processing times are estimated based on the average duration it takes governments to process visa applications. These estimated times begin from the moment we receive all the correct information for your application until you receive your visa. While we work diligently to expedite the process, it’s important to note that we are reliant on the processing times set by the government authorities.

Sri Lanka offers different types of visas, including business and transit visas, depending on the purpose of your visit.

You can learn more here.

No. If your Sri Lanka Tourist Visa application is denied, you cannot apply for another one online. Please contact the nearest Sri Lankan embassy or consulate for further assistance.

There are two ways to track the status of your Sri Lanka Tourist Visa application:

  1. Through iVisa (if you’ve applied through our platform or app): Log in to your iVisa account and check your orders in your account profile. Click on the green icon next to your order for more detailed information and next steps.

  2. Through the official government application portal: You can track the status of your application through the official VFS website. All you need to enter is your web reference number, passport number, and date of birth.

If you've already submitted your application to us and later realize one of your answers isn’t correct, contact our support team as soon as possible. We’ll do our best to correct any mistakes, but we can’t guarantee any fixes after submission. We always recommend double-checking all information before submitting your application to avoid issues.
If we encounter delays, we’ll email you as soon as possible. In rare instances, delays can occur due to government processes or workload. To avoid issues, we recommend applying for your visa as early as possible.
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