Visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Sri Lanka.
As of 2024, Sri Lankan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 44 countries and territories, ranking the Sri Lankan passport 97th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index. [1] This has hampered the ability of Sri Lankan business people to travel and connect with peers and maintain a globally competitive outlook. [2]
Although Sri Lanka is a middle-income country, successive Sri Lankan governments have made little or no efforts to improve the standing of the passport. [3] [4] The Sri Lankan passport continues to rank in the bottom 10% of Henley's Annual Passport Rankings. [5] Considering the extent of the Sri Lankan diaspora, a passport with wider access to the world could contribute to a more competitive and future-ready society. [6]
Sri Lanka has limited personal or business contacts with the ASEAN, a region with which it shares significant historical and cultural relations. Within the SAARC region, the Sri Lankan government has made little effort to encourage religious tourism from countries such as Nepal and Bhutan. [7] Sri Lanka and Thailand have signed a Free Trade Agreement in February 2024, and agreed to enable visa-free travel. [8]
Sri Lankans are unable to travel to Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and the Philippines, four of the world's most important markets, without a complex visa application process with a hefty visa fee. [9] The inability to access the financial markets of Hong Kong has been especially detrimental to the growth of businesses in Sri Lanka. [10]
Despite demands from citizens and civil society groups, Sri Lanka has largely been unsuccessful in expanding visa-free travel for its citizens. [11] The Sri Lankan government has been able to negotiate visa-free travel to numerous countries for diplomatic and official passport holders, effectively developing a 2-tiered system that benefits state officials and politicians over ordinary citizens. [12] [13] [14] [15] Likewise, the Sri Lankan state spends millions on maintaining an extensive diplomatic service, which is said to bring little or no benefits to its citizens.[ citation needed ]
In July 2024, Sri Lanka announced it will issue biometric passports to its citizens in order to address the poor standing of the passport. [16]
Most recently, Sri Lanka signed a visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders with Cambodia. [17] The Sri Lankan state has made statements from time to time that it wishes to enhance links within the Indian Ocean littoral but has largely struggled to convert these statements into reality. [18] In 2023, the Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe noted that Sri Lanka had applied for membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and is actively seeking to establish trade relations with countries in ASEAN. [19]
Country | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Visa required [20] | ||
Albania | eVisa [21] [22] |
| |
Algeria | Visa required [23] | ||
Andorra | Visa required [24] |
| |
Angola | Visa required [25] | ||
Antigua and Barbuda | eVisa [26] [27] | ||
Argentina | Visa required [28] | ||
Armenia | Visa required [29] | ||
Australia and territories | Online Visa required [30] [31] |
| |
Austria | Visa required [32] | ||
Azerbaijan | eVisa [33] [34] | 30 days | |
Bahamas | Visa not required [35] | 3 months | |
Bahrain | eVisa / Visa on arrival [36] | 14 days |
|
Bangladesh | Visa required [37] | ||
Barbados | Visa not required [38] | 6 months | |
Belarus | Visa required [39] | ||
Belgium | Visa required [40] | ||
Belize | Visa required [41] |
| |
Benin | eVisa [42] [43] | 30 days |
|
Bhutan | eVisa [44] [45] | ||
Bolivia | Online Visa / Visa on arrival [46] | 30 days [47] | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa required [48] |
| |
Botswana | eVisa [50] [51] | 3 months | |
Brazil | Visa required [52] | ||
Brunei | Visa required [53] | ||
Bulgaria | Visa required [54] |
| |
Burkina Faso | eVisa [55] [56] | ||
Burundi | Visa on arrival [57] | 1 month |
|
Cambodia | eVisa / Visa on arrival [59] [60] | 30 days | |
Cameroon | eVisa [61] [62] | ||
Canada | Visa required [63] | ||
Cape Verde | Visa on arrival [64] | ||
Central African Republic | Visa required [65] | ||
Chad | Visa required [66] | ||
Chile | Visa required [67] | ||
China | Visa required [68] |
| |
Colombia | Online Visa [70] [71] | ||
Comoros | Visa on arrival [72] | 45 days | |
Republic of the Congo | Visa required [73] | ||
Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa [74] [75] | 7 days | |
Costa Rica | Visa required [76] | ||
Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa [77] [78] | 3 months |
|
Croatia | Visa required [79] |
| |
Cuba | Visa required [80] | ||
Cyprus | Visa required [81] | ||
Czech Republic | Visa required [82] | ||
Denmark | Visa required [83] | ||
Djibouti | eVisa [84] [85] | 90 days | |
Dominica | Visa not required [86] | 6 months | |
Dominican Republic | Visa required [87] | ||
Ecuador | Visa required [88] | ||
Egypt | Visa required [89] | ||
El Salvador | Visa required [90] | ||
Equatorial Guinea | eVisa [91] [92] | ||
Eritrea | Visa required [93] | ||
Estonia | Visa required [94] | ||
Eswatini | Visa required [95] | ||
Ethiopia | eVisa [96] [97] | 90 days |
|
Fiji | Visa required [98] | ||
Finland | Visa required [99] | ||
France | Visa required [100] | ||
Gabon | eVisa [101] [102] |
| |
Gambia | Visa not required [103] | 90 days |
|
Georgia | Visa required [105] [106] |
| |
Germany | Visa required [107] | ||
Ghana | Visa required [108] | ||
Greece | Visa required [109] | ||
Grenada | Visa not required [110] | 3 months | |
Guatemala | Visa required [111] | ||
Guinea | eVisa [112] [113] | 90 days | |
Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival [114] | 90 days | |
Guyana | Visa required [115] | ||
Haiti | Visa not required [116] | 90 days | |
Honduras | Visa required [117] | ||
Hungary | Visa required [118] | ||
Iceland | Visa required [119] | ||
India | eVisa [120] [121] | 30 days | |
Indonesia | Visa required [122] | ||
Iran | eVisa [123] [124] | 30 days | |
Iraq | Visa required [125] | ||
Ireland | Visa required [126] |
| |
Israel | Visa required [128] | ||
Italy | Visa required [129] | ||
Jamaica | Visa required [130] | ||
Japan | Visa required [131] | ||
Jordan | Visa required [132] | ||
Kazakhstan | eVisa [133] [134] | ||
Kenya | Electronic Travel Authorisation [135] [136] | 90 days |
|
Kiribati | Visa not required [137] | 90 days |
|
North Korea | Visa required [138] | ||
South Korea | Visa required [139] |
| |
Kuwait | Visa required [140] |
| |
Kyrgyzstan | eVisa [141] [142] | 60 days | |
Laos | eVisa / Visa on arrival [143] [144] | 30 days | |
Latvia | Visa required [145] | ||
Lebanon | Visa required [146] |
| |
Lesotho | Visa not required [147] | 90 days | |
Liberia | Visa required [148] | ||
Libya | eVisa [149] [150] | ||
Liechtenstein | Visa required [151] | ||
Lithuania | Visa required [152] | ||
Luxembourg | Visa required [153] | ||
Madagascar | Visa on arrival [154] | 60 days | |
Malawi | Visa not required [155] | 30 days | |
Malaysia | eVisa [156] [157] | 30 days | |
Maldives | Free visa on arrival [158] | 30 days | |
Mali | Visa required [159] | ||
Malta | Visa required [160] | ||
Marshall Islands | Visa required [161] | ||
Mauritania | Visa on arrival [162] |
| |
Mauritius | Visa on arrival [163] | 60 days [164] | |
Mexico | Visa required [165] |
| |
Micronesia | Visa not required [166] | 30 days | |
Moldova | Visa required [167] |
| |
Monaco | Visa required [169] | ||
Mongolia | Visa required [170] | ||
Montenegro | Visa required [171] |
| |
Morocco | Visa required [172] | ||
Mozambique | eVisa [173] [174] | 30 days |
|
Myanmar | eVisa [175] [176] | 28 days |
|
Namibia | Visa required [177] | ||
Nauru | Visa required [178] | ||
Nepal | Online Visa / Visa on arrival [179] | 90 days [180] | |
Netherlands | Visa required [181] | ||
New Zealand and territories | Online Visa required [182] |
| |
Nicaragua | Visa required [184] | ||
Niger | Visa required [185] | ||
Nigeria | eVisa [186] [187] | 90 days | |
North Macedonia | Visa required [188] |
| |
Norway | Visa required [189] | ||
Oman | Visa required [190] |
| |
Pakistan | ETA / Online Visa [191] [192] | 30 days / 3 months | |
Palau | Free visa on arrival [196] | 30 days | |
Panama | Visa required [197] | ||
Papua New Guinea | eVisa [198] [199] | 60 days |
|
Paraguay | Visa required [200] | ||
Peru | Visa required [201] | ||
Philippines | Visa required [202] | ||
Poland | Visa required [203] | ||
Portugal | Visa required [204] | ||
Qatar | eVisa [205] [206] |
| |
Romania | Visa required [207] |
| |
Russia | Visa required [208] | ||
Rwanda | Visa not required [209] | 30 days | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa not required [210] | 3 months | |
Saint Lucia | Visa required [211] | ||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa not required [212] | 3 month | |
Samoa | Visa not required [213] | 60 days | |
San Marino | Visa required [214] | ||
São Tomé and Príncipe | eVisa [215] [216] | ||
Saudi Arabia | Visa required [217] | ||
Senegal | Visa required [218] | ||
Serbia | Visa required [219] |
| |
Seychelles | Electronic Border System [220] [221] | 3 months |
|
Sierra Leone | Free visa on arrival [222] | 30 days | |
Singapore | Visa not required [223] | 30 days | |
Slovakia | Visa required [224] | ||
Slovenia | Visa required [225] | ||
Solomon Islands | Visa required [226] | ||
Somalia | Visa on arrival [227] | 30 days |
|
South Africa | Visa required [228] | ||
South Sudan | eVisa [229] [230] |
| |
Spain | Visa required [231] | ||
Sudan | Visa required [232] | ||
Suriname | eVisa [233] [234] | ||
Sweden | Visa required [235] | ||
Switzerland | Visa required [236] | ||
Syria | Visa required [237] | ||
Tajikistan | Visa not required [238] [239] | 30 days | |
Tanzania | eVisa [240] | ||
Thailand | Visa not required [241] | 60 days | |
Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival [242] | 30 days | |
Togo | eVisa [243] [244] | 15 days | |
Tonga | Visa required [245] | ||
Trinidad and Tobago | Visa required [246] | ||
Tunisia | Visa required [247] | ||
Turkey | Visa required [248] |
| |
Turkmenistan | Visa required [249] | ||
Tuvalu | Visa on arrival [250] | 1 month | |
Uganda | eVisa [251] [252] | 3 months | |
Ukraine | Visa required [253] | ||
United Arab Emirates | Visa required [254] |
| |
United Kingdom | Visa required [256] | ||
United States and territories | Visa required [257] | ||
Uruguay | Visa required [258] | ||
Uzbekistan | eVisa [259] [260] | 30 days |
|
Vanuatu | Visa not required [262] | 30 days | |
Vatican City | Visa required [263] | ||
Venezuela | Visa not required [264] | 90 days |
|
Vietnam | eVisa [265] [266] |
| |
Yemen | Visa required [267] | ||
Zambia | eVisa [268] [269] | 90 days | |
Zimbabwe | eVisa [270] [271] | 3 months |
Countries | Conditions of access | Notes |
---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Visa required [272] | |
Kosovo | Visa required [273] | Do not need a visa—a holder of a valid biometric residence permit issued by one of the Schengen member states or a valid multi-entry Schengen Visa, a holder of a valid Laissez-Passer issued by United Nations Organizations, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe or European Union a holder of a valid travel documents issued by EU Member and Schengen States, United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan based on the 1951 Convention on Refugee Status or the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, as well as holders of valid travel documents for foreigners (maximum 15 days stay). [274] |
Northern Cyprus | Visa not required [275] | |
Palestine | Visa required [276] | Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed. [277] |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Undefined visa regime in the Western Sahara controlled territory. | |
Somaliland | Visa on arrival | 30 days for US$30, payable on arrival. [278] [279] |
South Ossetia | Visa not required [280] | Multiple-entry visa to Russia and three-day prior notification are required to enter South Ossetia. [281] [282] |
Taiwan | Visa required [283] [284] | |
Transnistria | Visa not required [285] | Registration required after 24 hours. [286] [287] |
Country | Conditions of access | Notes |
---|---|---|
China | ||
Hong Kong | eVisa [288] | |
Macau | Visa required [289] [290] | |
Denmark | ||
Faroe Islands | Visa required | |
Greenland | Visa required | |
Netherlands | ||
Aruba | Visa required [291] | |
Caribbean Netherlands | Visa required [292] | Includes Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba |
Curaçao | Visa required [293] | |
Sint Maarten | Visa required [294] | |
France | ||
French Guiana | Visa required [295] | |
French Polynesia | Visa required [296] | |
French West Indies | Visa required [297] | Includes overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy |
Mayotte | Visa required [298] | |
New Caledonia | Visa required [299] | |
Réunion | Visa required [300] | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visa required [301] | |
Wallis and Futuna | Visa required | |
New Zealand | ||
Cook Islands | Visa not required [302] | 31 days |
Niue | Visa not required [303] | 30 days |
Tokelau | Visa required [304] | |
United Kingdom | ||
Anguilla | Visa required [305] | |
Bermuda | Visa not required [306] | |
British Virgin Islands | Visa not required [307] | |
Cayman Islands | Visa not required [308] | |
Falkland Islands | Visa required [309] | |
Gibraltar | Visa required [310] | Visa exemptions for holders of a valid UK multiple-entry visa or EU family residence permit |
Guernsey | Visa not required | |
Isle of Man | Visa required [311] | |
Jersey | Visa required [312] | |
Montserrat | Visa not required [313] | |
Saint Helena | eVisa [314] |
Many countries require passport validity of no less than 6 months and one or two blank pages. [315]
Visitors holding an Israeli passport or any passports showing evidence of travelling to Israel are not allowed to enter some countries due to the Arab League boycott of Israel. Some Arab League countries refuse entry to travelers whose passport shows evidence of entry into Israel or hold an unused Israeli visa.
Some countries (e.g., Canada and the United States [316] ) routinely deny entry to non-citizens who have a criminal record.
Many countries require the passport presented to have a minimum number (generally one or two) blank pages. [317] Endorsement pages, which often appear after the visa pages, are not counted toward the minimum number.
The government of a country can declare a diplomat persona non grata , banning their entry into that country. In non-diplomatic use, the authorities of a country may also declare a foreigner persona non grata permanently or temporarily, usually because of unlawful activity. Attempts to enter the Gaza Strip by sea may attract a 10-year ban on entering Israel. [318]
Several countries including Afghanistan, Argentina, Cambodia, China (applies for ages 14 to 70), Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States demand all passengers to be fingerprinted on arrival. [319] [320] [321] [322] [323] [324] [325]
Additionally, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar conduct iris scanning on arrival and on visitors that need to apply for a UAE visa. [326] [327]
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Australian citizens and permanent residents can visit, work and live in New Zealand. You do not need a visa before you travel to New Zealand.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)The breach of privacy is probably the biggest threat to the biometric technique of iris recognition. Secondly, a device error can false reject or false accept the identity which can also have some heinous consequences. Lastly, the method is not the most cost-effective one. It is complex and therefore expensive. Furthermore, the maintenance of devices and data can also be relatively burdensome. However, thanks to the oil money and spending ability of Dubai, they are economically equipped to effectively embrace this system.
Visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.
Visa requirements for Egyptian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of Egypt by the authorities of other states.
Visa requirements for Malaysian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Malaysia.
Visa requirements for Angolan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Angola. As of 09 October 2023, Angolan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 62 countries and territories, ranking the Angolan passport 75th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Bahamian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of The Bahamas. As of October 22nd 2024, Bahamian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 161 countries and territories, ranking the Bahamian passport 21st in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Barbadian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Barbados. As of 10 October 2024, Barbadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 165 countries and territories, ranking the Barbadian passport 20th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Botswana citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Botswana. As of 15 June 2024, Botswana citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 91 countries and territories, ranking the Botswana passport 59th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Burundian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Burundi. As of 11 January 2022, Burundian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 51 countries and territories, ranking the Burundian passport 92nd in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Cameroonian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Cameroon. As of 15 June 2024, Cameroonian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Cameroonian passport 89th in terms of travel freedom (tied with passports= from Angola according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Democratic Republic of the Congo citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Visa requirements for Swiss citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Switzerland.
Visa requirements for Comorian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Comoros.
Visa requirements for Cape Verdean citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Cape Verde. As of 24 January 2024, Cape Verdean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 69 countries and territories, ranking the Cape Verdean passport 73rd in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Zimbabwean citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Zimbabwe. As of 2 July 2019, Zimbabwean citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 64 countries and territories, ranking the Zimbabwean passport 80th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Mozambican citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Mozambique.
Visa requirements for Beninese citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Benin. As of 25 October 2024, Beninese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 65 countries and territories, ranking the Beninese passport 76th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Central African citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Central African Republic. As of 2 July 2019, Central African Republic citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 49 countries and territories, ranking the Central African passport 94th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Chad citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Chad. As of 25 October 2024, Chadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Chadian passport 88th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Burkinabe citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Burkina Faso. As of 2 October 2024, Burkinabe citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 60 countries and territories, ranking the Burkinabe passport 81st in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.