Apply for your Sri Lanka Business ETA online

You can use a Business ETA to participate in business meetings, commercial negotiations, conferences, workshops, seminars, short-term training programs (under one month), symposiums, and religious or cultural events. It strictly prohibits engaging in local employment, running a business, or retail trade.

No. The free visa-on-arrival and ETA schemes apply strictly to tourist visits. If you're traveling for commercial purposes, you aren't exempt and must apply for a standard paid Business ETA regardless of your nationality.

A standard online Business ETA is valid for 30 days from your initial arrival date and grants a double-entry facility. Your second entry must be made within that same 30-day window, using up the remaining balance of days from your first entry.

No. Even if you're traveling strictly for a standard business meeting or a conference, journalists, media producers, and professional photographers can't use the online ETA portal. You must apply for a special visa directly at a Sri Lankan overseas mission.

Yes. You can extend your short-visit Business ETA for up to 6 months. You must submit an extension application and pay the required fees directly to the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office in Battaramulla before your current stay expires.

Overstaying is a legal offense that incurs daily fines ranging from 5,000 LKR to 10,000 LKR. You won't be permitted to clear airport immigration to exit the country until you settle these fines at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, and you may face detention or an entry ban.

If you're remaining in the airport transit area for less than 48 hours without passing border control, you don't need a visa. However, if you plan to leave the transit zone, clear immigration, or stay longer, a Transit ETA (free for stays up to 48 hours) or a standard short-stay ETA is required.

Once your Sri Lanka Business ETA application is approved, you'll receive an email. We recommend printing a physical copy to present to immigration officers at the border point of entry, along with your passport.

The Sri Lanka Business ETA is usually processed quickly. With iVisa, you choose your processing speed at checkout, and the option you pick is shown with its delivery time before you pay. We recommend applying at least 2 days before your departure date to account for any unexpected government delays.

If denied, you will receive a notification via email. The most common reason for denial is incorrect passport details. You can usually re-apply by submitting a completely new application with corrected information. iVisa offers denial protection. Our experts manually review your application before submission to prevent issues.