Sri Lanka

1. Passport Requirements

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
• It should have at least two blank pages for entry stamps and visa sticker (if applicable).
• Machine-readable passports are required for e-Visa and visa-exempt entry.
• Passport must not be damaged or expired – immigration officers can refuse entry.

2. Visa or e-Visa – What You Need Depends on Your Nationality

Sri Lanka offers visa exemption (very limited), visa on arrival or mandatory e-Visa / ETA to citizens of most countries.

• Visa-exempt nationalities (30 days stay, no e-Visa required – full list as of 2026): Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore.
  
  → No visa or e-Visa required for tourism or short visits.
  → Allowed stay: 30 days.
  → Extensions: possible up to 6 months total (apply at Department of Immigration before expiry).


• e-Visa / ETA required nationalities (almost all other countries in the world – full list of countries eligible for e-Visa / ETA): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau SAR, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka (citizens not needed), Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  
  → Apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA / e-Visa) before arrival.
  → Official site: www.eta.gov.lk
  → Cost: USD 50–60 for tourist visa (30 days); USD 35 for transit (2 days); free for SAARC countries in some cases.
  → Valid for 30 days (double entry within validity period), extendable up to 6 months.
  → Processing: usually instant to 24–48 hours (apply at least 3 days before travel).
  → Print or save the approval email – show at immigration.


• Visa on Arrival (VoA) (available at major airports for the same countries as e-Visa)
  
  → Available at Bandaranaike (Colombo) and Mattala Rajapaksa (Hambantota) airports.
  → Same fees and 30-day stay as e-Visa.
  → Queues can be long – e-Visa is strongly recommended to avoid delays and uncertainty.

Quick check: Official e-Visa & eligibility → www.eta.gov.lk or Department of Immigration

3. Length of Stay

• e-Visa / VoA: initial 30 days (double entry within validity period).
• Extensions: up to additional 150 days (total max 180 days) – apply at Department of Immigration in Colombo or regional offices (fee ~USD 50–100 + documents).
• Visa-exempt (Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore): 30 days.
• You cannot work or study long-term without separate visas/permits.
• Frequent visa runs may lead to refusal after several times.

4. Other Important Requirements

• Proof of onward/return ticket — very often checked at check-in or immigration.
• Proof of sufficient funds (~USD 30–50 per day) and accommodation — may be requested (especially for VoA).
• No COVID-19 vaccination, testing, or quarantine required (rules fully removed since 2022–2023).
• Customs: Declare cash over USD 15,000 (or equivalent), restricted items (drones, certain medicines, food, plants, weapons, etc.). Fill out customs declaration on arrival.
• Fingerprinting & photo: taken on arrival for most non-Sri Lankan nationals.

5. Practical Tips for a Smooth Trip

• Apply for e-Visa at least 3–7 days before travel – avoid VoA queues and uncertainty at the airport.
• Verify latest rules directly on official sites (rules can change):
  → e-Visa official portal: www.eta.gov.lk
  → Immigration Department: www.immigration.gov.lk
  → Sri Lanka Tourism: www.srilanka.travel
• Admission is at the discretion of immigration officers – answer questions honestly and have documents ready.
• Avoid overstaying – fines start at LKR 500/day + possible detention/deportation/ban for longer overstays.

Safe travels to Sri Lanka — whether you're heading to Colombo, Kandy, Sigiriya, Galle, Ella, Yala National Park or the beaches of Mirissa!