Visa exemption
Ordinary passports
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, for stays up to the duration listed below: [3] [4] [5]
- Alternatively, citizens of visa-exempt countries who choose to apply for a "Standard tourist visa" online are exempt from paying visa fees. [7]
- Holders of a United Nations Passport, regardless of nationality, do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka for a maximum stay of up to 90 days.
- Holders of a Interpol Passport, regardless of nationality, do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka for a maximum stay of up to 90 days.
- Planned pilot visa-free program
On August 21, 2024, a cabinet decision was made to allow visa-free travel to 35 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Russia, Thailand, and Indonesia, from October 1, 2024. This pilot program to last for 6 months. [8] [9] On 1 October 2024 it was announced that the plan did not come into effect and that it needs to go through parliamentary approval process which needs to await for the new parliament to convene. [10] . On 25 July 2025 it was announced that the plan will proceed with decision. [11] [12]
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of diplomatic, official, service or special passports of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, for stays up to the duration listed below: [3] [13] [14]
D – Diplomatic passports
O – Official passports
S – Service passports
Sp – Special passports
PA – Passports endorsed for "public affairs".
1 – 90 days
2 – 30 days
3 – 60 days, 90 days within any 1 year-period.
4 – 90 days within any 180-day period.
5 – 30 days within any 60-day period.
Electronic Visa
Citizens of all other countries except the countries whose citizens either require a visa obtained on arrival or in advance may also obtain an e-Visa online. [1] The system was suspended in mid-2024 but restarted in September 2024. [17]
Prospective visitors can apply for the following types of tourism/business e-Visas (unless otherwise noted):
| Validity | Number of entry | Duration of stay* | Visa fee | Note |
|---|
| 30 days | Single | up to 30 days | Gratis | Only tourists who are citizens of China(including Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia or Thailand may obtain this type of visa. For more details see below. |
| 6 months | Double | up to 60 days | 35 or 75 USD | SAARC member states: 35 USD
Non-SAARC member states: 75 USD |
| 1 year | Multiple | up to 90 days | 200 USD | People who engage diplomatic or consular activities may get visa fee waived. |
| 2 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 300 USD | |
| 5 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 500 USD | |
| 10 years | Multiple | up to 180 days | 1000 USD | |
* - Duration of stay demonstrates how many days visitor may stay in each entry.
Moreover, a US$18.50 service fee [18] as well as a US$5 "convenience fee" is charged by VFS Global for each visa application, regardless of the type of e-Visa. [19]
e-Visa restrictions
| Citizens of Taiwan must select "China (Special Administrative Region of China)" as their nationality when applying for an e-Visa. |
History
In 2012, Sri Lanka launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, created and operated by Mobitel, a state-owned enterprise. [21]
On 17 April 2024, Sri Lanka replaced its previous Electronic Travel Authorisation system with a new e-Visa system, [7] operated by VFS Global. [18] [21]
On 2 August 2024, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim order, which suspended the e-Visa system operated by VFS Global and ordered the restoration of the previous ETA system operated by Mobitel. [22]
On 4 August 2024, Ada Derana reported that the Ministry of Public Security would make a final decision the next day, and noted that the suspension of the e-Visa system meant that tourists needed to obtain their visas on arrival. [23]
On 5 August 2024, the Department of Immigration and Emigration notified the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions around the world of the discontinuation of the e-Visa system. [16] According to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, the old ETA system has yet to be reinstated due to changes made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration's computer system. [24]
On 2 September 2024, Sri Lanka decided to implement visa-free access for citizens of 38 countries, including India, China, Thailand, the UK, the USA, and Indonesia. Although it was initially planned to be implemented on 1 October 2024, the decision was advanced due to the inconvenience caused to tourists at the visa-on-arrival counters, where overcrowding was a significant issue. [25]
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