Sri Lanka’s entry rules have changed since 2022, so the old pandemic checklist should not be used. This practical guide reflects the official information checked on 3 September 2026: who needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which passports receive a free tourist regime, what may be requested at the border, how arrival works and what to do if you want to stay longer.
The decisive factor is the nationality and travel document used for entry, not the departure airport or the language of the website. Before paying for a ticket, check your exact passport on the official Sri Lanka ETA portal. Avoid websites that imitate the government service and add an unnecessary service fee.
Quick tourist checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival.
- A tourist ETA or another permission matching your nationality and purpose. A free ETA is still not an automatic admission guarantee.
- Confirmed return or onward ticket and evidence of sufficient funds.
- ETA approval or referral notice, first accommodation address and telephone number saved offline.
- Disembarkation Card completed on arrival, followed by immigration, baggage claim and customs.
The 2022 requirements for PCR tests, quarantine, Covid insurance, vaccination certificates and a universal health QR code have been removed. The current ETA, Immigration and airport pages do not list these as universal requirements for an ordinary tourist trip. Airlines or health authorities can introduce temporary rules, so check current notices before departure.
ETA, visa and purpose of travel
ETA is the electronic travel authorization handled through Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration system. Enter the passport number, nationality and date of birth exactly as shown in the document. If the details are wrong, the application can be refused or another payment can be required. Enter with the same travel document used in the application.
Tourist permission covers sightseeing, holidays, visiting friends and relatives, medical or wellness visits, and short sporting or cultural activities within the conditions of the authorization. It does not authorize employment, unpaid work, trade or business outside the permission. Journalists, volunteers, business travellers and people planning a long stay should check the appropriate visa before travelling.
Passports with a free tourist regime
The current ETA notice states that from 25 May 2026 nationals of the following 40 countries can receive a tourist ETA free of charge for up to 30 days. The notice includes ordinary, official, service and diplomatic passports, although official travel may require a different type of permission.
| Passport group | Short tourist visit | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| 40-country free scheme | Tourist ETA free of charge, up to 30 days, with a second entry possible within the original 30-day period | Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom and United States. The current ETA notice says to apply before arrival. |
| Singapore and Seychelles | Free tourist regime for 30 days under bilateral arrangements | Official pages currently differ: the new scheme describes ETA before arrival, while the ETA exemption page says these passports are exempt from ETA. Confirm the exact procedure before the flight. |
| Maldives | Free tourist regime for up to 90 days under the bilateral arrangement | The same official pages differ on prior ETA. Check the current portal and Immigration before departure. |
| Other SAARC passports | Published standard indication: USD 20 online or USD 25 on arrival for a tourist ETA up to 30 days | Do not use this line for a nationality with a special referral procedure. Check the amount shown for the exact passport. |
| Other passports, for example Ukraine | Published standard indication: USD 50 online or USD 60 on arrival for a tourist ETA up to 30 days | Agreements, restrictions or additional documents can change the result. The application page is the final fee reference. |
Free does not mean indefinite and does not guarantee entry. For the 40-country scheme the basic period is 30 days; a second entry within that period receives only the remaining days. The current fee table also says that children under 12 of any nationality can receive a free tourist ETA up to 30 days, but their details still need to be checked in the official system.
Restricted and special cases
The ETA portal lists a sponsor-based procedure for visitors from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. A Sri Lankan sponsor submits a request letter, affidavit, identity document copy, the applicant’s police clearance, passport copy and accommodation proof to the Immigration head office in Battaramulla. Taiwan-China and Kosovo are also listed for sponsor-based submission, while Syria has additional documents. These travellers should not rely on ordinary visa-on-arrival procedures; contact Immigration in advance.
How to apply correctly
- Open only eta.gov.lk and select Tourist.
- Enter passport number, nationality and date of birth exactly and check them before submitting.
- Save the acknowledgement, application number and approval notice. A referral notice is not an approval; follow the Department’s instructions.
- Keep the approval offline and carry a copy to the port of entry.
- If a fee is shown, confirm the amount and currency immediately before payment. The official terms say the processing fee is non-refundable and requirements can change.
A limited airport facility for applying on arrival at BIA is described by the official portal and carries an additional fee. It is a fallback, not a reason to travel without checking: restricted nationals cannot use the standard arrival process and incorrect details can lead to another payment. Most travellers should settle the issue before boarding.
Documents at immigration
ETA holders should be ready to show a passport valid for at least six months from arrival, a confirmed return ticket and sufficient funds. Also keep the first accommodation address and phone number, booking confirmation and itinerary available. Immigration can still assess the purpose and conditions of the visit at the border.
Do not describe paid work, unpaid work or business as a tourist activity. A tourist ETA is not a work permit or a residence visa. A separate visa is needed where the activity requires it.
Arrival at BIA
- Disembarkation Card. The airport says foreign passengers complete this card and hand it to immigration. Prepare passport details, occupation, Sri Lankan address and purpose of visit.
- Immigration. Present your passport and ETA or other permission, answer questions and wait for the entry endorsement.
- Baggage. Collect your bags. Contact the relevant quarantine staff if you bring plants or animals.
- Customs. Declare currency, valuable equipment, jewellery and gems. Use the Green Channel only when you have nothing to declare. Check Sri Lanka Customs rules for medicines, drones, commercial goods and food before packing.
The current airport arrival procedure does not list a universal Covid QR code or health declaration for an ordinary entry. Do not confuse old 2022 forms with the current Disembarkation Card. If you have fever, diarrhoea or feel unwell, the airport directs passengers to the Health Inspector’s Room.
Health documents and yellow fever
A yellow-fever certificate is not required from every visitor. Sri Lanka’s Quarantine Unit says it may be required for travellers aged nine months or older who arrive from, or have visited or transited for 12 hours or more through, a yellow-fever endemic country. Check the current country list and transit route with official health sources. Routine vaccination and travel insurance are personal travel preparations, not substitutes for ETA.
Transit
The ETA system describes a free transit permission for up to 48 hours when supporting documents are available. If you remain airside and do not leave the terminal, the airport describes a separate transit scenario; confirm it with the airline, especially with separate tickets or checked baggage. If you need to cross the border, stay outside the airport or collect baggage, arrange the appropriate transit permission and check the visa for your final destination.
Extending your stay
The initial tourist period is normally 30 days, although some bilateral regimes differ. Immigration directs tourists to use the official visa extension system or the head office in Battaramulla; some older six-month visas have a separate route. Apply before the current permission expires. Submitting an application after expiry does not automatically remove possible penalties.
Typical extension documents include a valid passport, return ticket, accommodation address and phone number, photograph and application. An extension is single-entry and is cancelled when you leave, so a new permission is needed for a later return. A free first month does not make the extension free. The current fee table shows different amounts: for example USD 100 for 31–90 days for many European passports, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand; separate rates for the United States; and USD 60 for many other passports. Check your exact nationality before submitting.
Final check before buying the ticket
- Passport valid for at least six months and undamaged.
- Nationality entered from the passport, not from residence or departure country.
- Correct route identified: free ETA, paid ETA, sponsor/referral or another visa.
- Return or onward ticket and accommodation address available offline.
- Customs limits checked for cash, medicines, plants, animals, drones, valuables and commercial goods.
- ETA.gov.lk, Immigration.gov.lk and airline requirements checked on the day of departure. If official pages conflict, ask Immigration at 1962 or +94 11 210 1500.
For flight planning, see the updated article Flights and visas for Sri Lanka, but always re-check entry status against the official sources for your travel date.
Sources checked 3 September 2026: Sri Lanka ETA — official portal and notices, ETA — fees and free tourist regimes, ETA — application and border requirements, ETA — exemptions, Department of Immigration — general visa requirements, Department of Immigration — fees and extensions, official extension system, BIA — arrival procedure, Quarantine Unit — yellow fever.
