What is Sri Lanka e-Visa
Sri Lanka e-Visa or ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system was introduced in 2012 to make visiting Sri Lanka easier.
An e-Visa for Sri Lanka comes in three types, all available for eligible travellers online after completing the intuitive application process.
Travellers can use their approved Sri Lanka e-Visa to visit Sri Lanka for up to 30 days for either leisure or business reasons, or for a short 2-day transit stay if they plan on taking a layover through Vietnam.
The e-Visa application should be submitted no later than 3 business days to allow for the needed processing time. Once approved by the Sri Lankan Immigration and Emigration Department, the issued e-Visa will be delivered to the applicant’s email inbox in PDF form.
Who needs an e-Visa for Sri Lanka
Travellers from the following countries may submit a Sri Lanka e-Visa application:- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla (UK)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba (NL)
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands (UK)
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands (UK)
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Channel Islands (UK)
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- East Timor
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (DK)
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar (UK)
- Glorioso Islands (FR)
- Greece
- Greenland (DK)
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe (FR)
- Guam (US)
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Isle of Man (UK)
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Jan Mayen (NO)
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Korea, South
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau (SAR)
- Macedonia (North)
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique (FR)
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte (FR)
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat (UK)
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Navassa Island (US)
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles (NL)
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue (NZ)
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paracel Islands (CN)
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands (UK)
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico (US)
- Qatar
- Reunion (FR)
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena (UK)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Svalbard (NL)
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau (NZ)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City (Holy See)
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wake Island (US)
- Wallis and Futuna (FR)
- Western Sahara
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Types of Sri Lanka e-Visa
Sri Lanka e-Visa comes in three types that differ in terms of the purpose of the visit and the length of stay allowed.
Eligible travellers can choose from:- a tourist e-Visa
- a business e-Visa
- a transit e-Visa
The tourist and business Sri Lanka e-Visa operates as a double-entry travel authorization that allows a total of 30 days spent in Sri Lanka, while the transit e-Visa is issued as a 2-day travel authorization for layover purposes.
Sri Lanka e-Visa Requirements
The only document required for completing the Sri Lanka e-Visa application process is a valid passport.
Please note that your passport must remain valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of entering Sri Lanka for your e-Visa application to get approved.
Check the validity of your document before applying for the Sri Lanka e-Visa online and renew it if necessary.
Validity of Sri Lanka e-Visa
Sri Lanka e-Visa stays effective for six months from the day it’s been issued.
The validity period is six months long, no matter the Sri Lanka e-Visa type selected.
Please note! The length of the stay allowed differs between the tourist/business and transit Sri Lanka e-Visa. The tourist and business e-Visa allow its holders to visit Sri Lanka for a total of 30 days, while the transit e-Visa makes it possible to take a 2-day layover visit.
How to apply online for the Sri Lanka e-Visa
Applying for the Sri Lanka e-Visa consists of three simple steps, all taking place online. Now, with your valid passport on hand, complete the application process by:-
Providing the required details into the online application form:
Fill out the application form with the needed information, such as your basic personal details, contact information, passport data, and details of the planned stay in Sri Lanka.
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Covering the Sri Lanka e-Visa issuing fee:
Choose any preferred method of online payment to cover the Sri Lanka e-Visa fees.
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Checking your email inbox for the approved document:
The processed e-Visa for Sri Lanka will get delivered directly to your email inbox in the form of a PDF file.
The best way to avoid any delays or issues with approval is to double-check the completed application form before submitting it for processing since all the details provided must be correct.
How to Use Your e-Visa in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka e-Visa, once approved, links directly to the traveller’s passport, meaning that it does not need to be printed out for the planned trip.
The approved document allows a stay of either 30 or 2 days in Sri Lanka while travellers can choose between a visits relating to:
- leisure – taking vacation, exploring the Sri Lankan tourist attractions, making friends and family visits
- business – taking a business trip to Sri Lanka, attending business meetings, events, trade fairs, seminars, and conferences
- transit – taking a layover trip through Sri Lanka while reaching another country