Updated 2026-08-22
Sri Lanka Visa Eligibility
Three questions decide what you pay and what you apply for: your nationality, your purpose of travel, and how long you intend to stay. Here is how each one works.
1. Does your nationality need an ETA?
Nearly every foreign national does. Three nationalities enter under bilateral agreements without one: the Maldives (90 days), Singapore and Seychelles (30 days each).
Free
40 nationalities
Free 30-day double-entry tourist ETA since 25 May 2026. Application still mandatory.
$50
Most others
Standard online tourist fee, or USD 60 on arrival.
$20
SAARC nationals
Reduced South Asian rate for the online tourist ETA.
The 40 free-ETA countries
AustraliaAustriaBahrainBelarusBelgiumCanadaChinaCzech RepublicDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIndiaIndonesiaIranIsraelItalyJapanKazakhstanKuwaitMalaysiaNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayOmanPakistanPolandQatarRussiaSaudi ArabiaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandThailandTurkeyUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States
2. What is your purpose of travel?
| Purpose | Correct category | Fee treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism, family visit, sightseeing | Tourist ETA | Free for 40 nationalities |
| Meetings, conferences, technical work | Business ETA | USD 55 for all nationalities |
| Connecting flight, stay under 2 days | Transit ETA | Free for all nationalities |
| Paid employment in Sri Lanka | Residence visa | Employer-sponsored, not an ETA |
Applying in the wrong category causes problems
Conducting business on a tourist ETA can lead to fines and removal, and the categories cannot be switched after arrival. Choose correctly before you apply.
3. How long are you staying?
| Length of stay | What you need |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 days in transit | Free transit ETA - or nothing at all if you stay airside |
| Up to 30 days | Tourist ETA, no extension required |
| 31–90 days | Tourist ETA plus a first extension of 60 days |
| Beyond 90 days | Further extensions in stages, up to roughly 270 days total |
Conditions that cause refusal
- Passport with less than six months validity beyond your intended departure date.
- Name, passport number or date of birth that does not match the passport exactly.
- No confirmed return or onward ticket out of Sri Lanka.
- Previous overstay, deportation, or an immigration offence in Sri Lanka.
- Applying in the wrong category for your actual purpose of travel.
- Inability to show sufficient funds - around USD 50 per day is the commonly cited benchmark.
Sources & verification. Eligibility and fees per the official ETA fee schedule and the Department of Immigration & Emigration. Last reviewed 2026-08-22. Also see how to check eligibility.