Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
With effect from 1st January 2012, all holiday or business travellers visiting Sri Lanka must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.
Please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more information.
The ETA requirement is applicable to all nationalities except nationals of the Republic of Maldives, the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Seychelles, who on the basis of reciprocity, are exempt from this requirement. (Those who hold passports of listed countries in this URL and travel to Sri Lanka from 01.08.2019 to 31.01.2020 for tourist purposes are exempted paying ETA fee, in view of enhancing tourist arrivals from designated countries – Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka)
When applying ETA by third parties, payments should be made through the provision on our website www.eta.gov.lk and an acknowledgment should be received. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not valid to process a valid ETA. Therefore, always ensure that the payments made by accessing to www.eta.gov.lk website and avoid making repayment at the port of entry to Sri Lanka. (Visa will not be issued for Syria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa and Pakistan Nationalities)
The purpose of the Sri Lankan visa is to facilitate the legal entry of non-Sri Lankans into Sri Lanka and to regulate the length and conditions applicable on their stay.
The competent authority for issuing Sri Lankan visas is the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Diplomatic Missions of Sri Lanka abroad are authorized to issue visa on behalf of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka.
Launching of New Sri Lanka Visa Sticker
The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka has introduced a new Machine Readable Visa Sticker (MRV), replacing the present visa issuance system, which complies with the standards of ICAO, while also incorporating universally recognized security features.
The newly introduced visa sticker has been launched with effect from 15 June 2016 at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo.
[1] Tourist Visa
1. Reason for Travel
- Sightseeing, holidaying
- Visiting friends and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurveda and yoga
- Participate in sporting events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance
- Visiting project related matters
2. Requirements
- Duly filled Application – Download Application
- Original Passport
- Passport Copies – Face page & Qatar Residence Visa page
- Two recent passport-size photographs (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
- Return Air ticket
- Proof of hotel accommodation or an invitation from hosts in Sri Lanka
- Passport – (The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Sri Lanka.)
3. Important Note
Those who are intending to travel to Sri Lanka for the above purposes are required to apply for visa through www.eta.gov.lk website.
Travellers who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for less than 30 days can obtain Tourist visa with double entries through www.eta.gov.lk . The visa approval will receive within two days.
The ETA is limited to 30 days stay in Sri Lanka from the date of arrival, but it could be extended for up to 90 days from the Department of Immigration & Emigration, in Sri Lanka by paying the relevant fee.
It is advised to keep a copy of the ETA approval notice with the traveller to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka.All applicants, except children below 12 years of age, must pay an ETA processing fee online. The online payment must be paid with a valid debit or credit card. Click here to see the ETA processing fee.
If the applicant does not receive the visa approval notice within 2 working days, you may login to www.eta.gov.lk on the home page and check your visa status. Please go to the ETA home page followed by the “check status” and enter your reference or passport number with the nationality. If the status indicates, “ETA is approved” please take a print out of that to take with you when you are going to Sri Lanka.
However, if anyone is unable to apply online or to submit applications through www.eta.gov.lk, please hand over your duly completed application form to the Embassy together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
4. Fees
For those who are travelling on an emergency to Sri Lanka for tourist/transit purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain the ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. An additional fee of US$ 5 will apply. Payment could be made by USD (United States Dollars) only at the On arrival counters at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Download Application
[2] Business Visa
1. Reason for Travel
- Participate in business meetings and negotiations.
- Conferences, Workshops and Seminars.
- Short training courses.
Participate in art, music and dance events. - Participate in Symposiums.
- Participate in Religious events.
2. Requirements
- Duly filled Application – Download Application
- 02 Passport size (4.5cm*3.5cm) Photographs
- An Invitation/Visa requesting letter from the Company/Organisation in Sri Lanka.
- A detailed Visa request letter from the company or organization in the State of Qatar.
- Valid Passport and a copy of the data page of the Passport and QID
- Passport should be valid more than six months (180 days) from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka
3. Fees
4. Additional Notes
All nationals intending to travel to Sri Lanka for the above purposes are required to apply for visa through www.eta.gov.lk website.
However, if anyone is unable to apply online or to submit applications through www.eta.gov.lk , please hand over your duly completed application form to the Embassy together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
[3] ETA for Official and Diplomatic Passport Holders
Official and Diplomatic Passport holders travelling for tourist purpose is expected to apply for visa online as per the above.
However if they are travelling for other purposes other than tourism prior Visa should be obtained through the Embassy stating the purpose of visit and specific period of travel.
1. Requirements
- Duly filled Application – Download Application
- Applicant’s valid Passport together with a copy of the Passport.
- Passport should be valid more than six months (180 days) from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.
- Formal note from the respective government stating the purpose of the visit.
- Fee as appropriate.
2. Fees
3. Additional Notes
Diplomatic & Official/Service passport holders from the following countries are exempted from the ETA processing fee and the ETA procedures for their official and private visits to Sri Lanka. A visit visa will be issued on arrival to Sri Lanka for passport holders of these countries.
[4] Transit Visa
Transit Visa currently issued at www.eta.gov.lk
[5] Journalist Visa
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications one month prior to their departure. Please note that visa will be issued only after obtaining the clearance from the Foreign Ministry in Colombo.
1. Requirements
- Duly filled Visa Application Form for each member – Download Application
- Two passport size photographs for each member.
- Copy of the passport and QID
Duly completed Agreement Form
Itinerary. - Equipment list and Carnet.
Letter from organization requesting Visa, encapsulating Details of Visit/ Programme. - Relevant Visa Fee
2. Fees
Relevant Visa Fee
[6] Residence Visa
Residence visa is issued to non-Sri Lankans to whom it has been decided to extend residence facilities for the purpose of investment or otherwise, in circumstances where the prescribed authority is satisfied that their stay in Sri Lanka and the pursuit of their vocations are not prejudicial to the best interests of Sri Lanka.
1. Requirements
To obtain a residence visa, the applicant must enter Sri Lanka on an Entry Visa issued by a Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission abroad. Entry Visa will be issued by the Embassy of Sri Lanka only upon the approval by the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration. The applicant must clearly state that he/she wishes to apply for a Residence Visa when applying for the Entry Visa and submit the necessary supporting documents.
2. Fees
Fee as appropriate.
3. Additional Notes
A TOURIST VISA CANNOT BE CONVERTED INTO A RESIDENCE VISA.
For more information on Residence Visa, please visit www.immigration.gov.lk