Heading to Sri Lanka soon? Let’s get your visa sorted first!

Hi Reader,

I’ve lost count the number of times I have applied for an ETA visa to Sri Lanka. It’s a simple form to complete and within minutes I get a response to confirm that its been approved.

It is quite simple, but for many it causes a bit of confusion. We have seen several questions pop up, around visa applications to Sri Lanka.

So, we’re going to run through everything you need to know about an ETA visa and how to apply for it.

The process

It’s quite a simple process; you just need to complete the online form, make the payment, and within less than 10 minutes, you should receive an email confirming that your visa has been approved.

You will need your passport to hand, so you can enter the details according to your passport details, including passport number. You'll also need an address of where you'll be staying in Sri Lanka. So have your accommodation address to hand.

I’ve only ever experienced one issue when applying for my visa. It was due to a website error. I was a little apprehensive, but I arrived at the airport, spoke with an official, who said the best option was to apply for a new visa on arrival and then claim any money back from the Sri Lanka Immigration office in Colombo.

I have returned to Sri Lanka, since and had no further issues.

How does the ETA visa work

After applying for an ETA visa, you should receive an email to confirm receipt of the application and then a further email confirming your approval.

In my experience, approval has been granted within a couple of minutes of sending the application through, but in some cases, it can take up to 48 hours to receive approval.

If you are granted an ETA visa, it will entitle you to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days, if you wish to stay longer, you'll need to apply for an extension at the Sri Lanka Immigration office in Colombo.

While I have never been asked to provide evidence of my visa approval, proof of funds, hotel reservation details and a return ticket, it would be a good idea to keep a physical copy or at least a copy in an email, in the event you are requested to prove these details.

To apply for a visa online, then head over to the official government website at https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/

You can apply for the visa online anything between a day or two before travel and we would recommend no earlier than a couple of weeks before travelling. Alternatively you can get the visa on arrival at the airport.

Sri Lanka news

There have been some rumors that Sri Lanka are offering free ETA visas. This has been doing its rounds for several years, but nothing has been confirmed to date.

If at any point in the future that Sri Lanka offer the visa for free, it is likely that you will need to apply for a visa in advance either via the official website or on arrival.

As soon as we hear anything official, we will be sure to keep you updated.

Currently a visa online via the official website costs $50 and a visa on arrival is $60.

Anything more than this, is likely to be an unofficial website, and we would recommend leaving the site immediately.

If you want to take the stress out of all your trip planning (from visas to itineraries and packing lists), you’ll find even more helpful tips inside our Sri Lanka First-Time Starter Pack, designed to make planning your dream trip smooth and simple.

Get the Sri Lanka Starter Pack

Do you have any questions you'd like to ask us about visiting Sri Lanka? Hit us with your questions, as we are here to help.

Happy travelling

Bev & Shams