Travel Guide
Sri Lanka Visa Guide
Who travels fee-free, who pays what, and how to apply safely on the official portal.
Last verified 3 September 2026 against eta.gov.lk and immigration.gov.lk
Pick your passport to see the current fee and stay terms.
Fees verified against eta.gov.lk in September 2026. Always confirm on the official portal before paying.
US$0
40 nationalities
India, UK, Germany, France, Australia, US, China, Russia and 32 more. Waived since 25 May 2026; the ETA itself is still required.
Time-limited scheme, review due Nov 2026
US$20
3 nationalities
Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan pay the reduced SAARC fee. India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Maldives already travel free.
Carry your SAARC passport at attraction gates too
US$50
Everyone else
The standard tourist ETA for all other passports, Lithuania included.
Anything above US$50 is not the official portal
Five minutes, start to finish
How to apply
Open the official portal
Use the direct link below, or type eta.gov.lk yourself. Lookalike sites buy search ads and charge big markups for the same application, so never arrive through an ad.
Open eta.gov.lkFill in the form
Passport and travel details only. No passport scans, no photo uploads, no supporting letters. Children under 12 travel on a free ETA of their own.
Pay by card, if you pay at all
Visa or Mastercard. US$0 for the 40 waiver countries, US$20 for SAARC nationals, US$50 for everyone else. Business ETAs run US$30 to US$55.
Approval lands by email
Usually within 24 hours, sometimes minutes. Manual reviews can take up to 72 hours, so apply at least a week ahead and carry a copy when you fly.
The rules
At a glance
- ETA required
- All visitors, before arrival
- Visa on arrival
- None, ended 15 Oct 2025
- Free ETA
- 40 nationalities, since 25 May 2026
- Standard fee
- US$50 (SAARC US$20)
- Stay
- 30 days, double entry
- Children under 12
- Free ETA
- Passport validity
- 6 months from arrival
- Transit up to 2 days
- Free ETA
The fee waiver is time-limited: a government review is planned around November 2026. Verified September 2026 against eta.gov.lk and immigration.gov.lk.
Before you pay anyone
Spot the fake ETA sites
Lookalike visa sites outrank the government portal in search results and charge multiples of the real fee. The official process is easy to recognise:
- The only official portal is eta.gov.lk. Type it directly.
- The real form never asks for passport scans, photos or documents.
- A tourist ETA never costs more than US$50. Anything higher is a reseller or a scam.
Official sources: eta.gov.lk and immigration.gov.lk.
By passport
Visa rules by nationality
The same 30-day double-entry tourist ETA applies to everyone; what changes is the fee. Here is where the nationalities we host most often stand, as of September 2026.
Sri Lanka visa for Indians
FreeFee-free since the 2023 pilot, continued under the 2026 scheme. 30 days, double entry. On-arrival visas ended October 2025, so apply online before flying. SAARC nationals also get reduced rates at many attraction ticket counters; carry your passport.
Sri Lanka visa for UK citizens
FreeNew saving since 25 May 2026: UK travellers paid US$50 before the waiver. 30 days, double entry, passport valid 6 months.
Sri Lanka visa for Germans
FreeOn the 40-country waiver list since 25 May 2026, previously US$50. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for French citizens
FreeOn the waiver list since 25 May 2026, previously US$50. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Australians
FreeOn the waiver list since 25 May 2026, previously US$50. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Dutch citizens
FreeOn the waiver list since 25 May 2026, previously US$50. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for US citizens
FreeOn the waiver list since 25 May 2026, previously US$50. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Chinese citizens
FreeFee-free since the 2023 pilot, continued under the 2026 scheme. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Russians
FreeFee-free since the 2023 pilot, continued under the 2026 scheme. 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Lithuanians
US$50Not on the 40-country waiver list (confirmed against the official notice). Standard US$50 tourist ETA, 30 days, double entry.
Sri Lanka visa for Hong Kong travellers
Confirm on the formThe live ETA form lists China and Macao SAR separately but has no Hong Kong option; a British National (Overseas) option exists for BN(O) holders. Apply only at eta.gov.lk and confirm the fee shown for your passport before paying.
Longer stays
Extensions and overstays
The initial stay is 30 days. Extensions are applied for online at eservices.immigration.gov.lk or in person in Battaramulla; fees rise in brackets and vary by nationality, so treat the official fee table as final.
Extension fee brackets
- Days 31 to 90
- US$60 to US$100
- Days 91 to 180
- US$150 to US$200
- Days 181 to 270 (top bracket)
- US$200
The published fee table's top bracket runs to day 270; approval of any extension is at the department's discretion.
Overstay penalties (gazetted 2023, still in force)
- Depart within 7 days of expiry
- Visa fee only, no fine
- Overstay 7 to 14 days
- US$250 + visa fee
- Overstay beyond 14 days
- US$500 + visa fee
Fines are collected at departure on top of the applicable visa fee.
Quick answers
Sri Lanka visa questions
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes. Every visitor needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) approved before arrival. Nationals of 40 countries pay nothing for it under the fee-waiver scheme in force since 25 May 2026, but the ETA application itself is still mandatory for everyone.
Is the Sri Lanka visa really free?
For 40 nationalities, including India, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, the US, China and Russia, the tourist ETA fee is waived since 25 May 2026. The scheme is time-limited: the government plans a review around November 2026, so recheck close to your travel date.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka?
No. On-arrival visas were discontinued on 15 October 2025. Apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly.
How much is the Sri Lanka visa for Indians?
Free. Indian nationals have had a fee-free tourist ETA since the 2023 pilot scheme, continued under the current 40-country waiver. The stay is 30 days with double entry.
How long does ETA approval take?
Most approvals arrive by email within 24 hours, and some within minutes. A small share of applications is flagged for manual review and can take up to 72 hours. There is no official guaranteed turnaround, so apply at least a week before departure where you can.
How long can I stay, and can I extend?
The tourist ETA grants 30 days with two entries. Extensions are applied for online at eservices.immigration.gov.lk or in person in Battaramulla, with fees rising in brackets. Exact fees vary by nationality, so confirm on the official fee table.
What happens if I overstay my Sri Lanka visa?
Leave within 7 days of expiry and you pay only the applicable visa fee at departure. Overstay 7 to 14 days and the fine is US$250 plus the visa fee. Beyond 14 days it is US$500 plus the visa fee.
Which Sri Lanka visa website is official?
Only eta.gov.lk. Type the address directly instead of clicking search ads. The official process needs no passport copies, photos or documents, and never charges more than US$50 for a tourist ETA. A site asking for uploads or higher fees is not the official portal.
Facts on this page were verified in September 2026 against the official ETA portal (eta.gov.lk) and the Department of Immigration and Emigration (immigration.gov.lk), including the published 40-country notice. Rules change; the official portal is always final.
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