Sri Lanka ETA and Free Visa 2026

Apply only at eta.gov.lk, the Department of Immigration and Emigration's official site. The tourist ETA is free for nationals of 40 countries from 25 May 2026; otherwise it costs US$20 for SAARC nationals or US$50 for other countries online (US$25 and US$60 on arrival), per the Fees page on that site, checked 15 October 2026 (the same rates appear on the Department's immigration.gov.lk fee table).

How do I apply for a Sri Lanka ETA?

Use the "How To Submit an ETA Application" page on eta.gov.lk. Checked 15 October 2026:

1. Open eta.gov.lk only. Lookalike sites are listed below; they are not official.
2. Choose to apply yourself on the site (the page also lists third party, overseas mission, head office, or on-arrival options). An intended traveller must obtain an ETA before arrival.
3. Click Apply, fill in the form, and submit it. If a fee applies, pay with Visa, Master or American Express Cards. If you cannot pay by card, the same page says to use one of the alternative options.
4. If the application is submitted, you receive an acknowledgement promptly, then an approval notice or a referral notice. If you get a referral, contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
5. Keep a copy of the ETA approval to show at the port of entry.

The Department states a no-refund policy on that page. No official page we read states a processing time, so apply well before you fly. Free-list nationalities still complete this application; only the fee is waived.

Is the Sri Lanka visa free in 2026? (Checked 15 October 2026)

Yes, for 40 nationalities. From 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 countries can get a Sri Lanka tourist visa (ETA) free of charge, valid for 30 days with double entry. You still have to apply for the ETA before you fly, and only on the official site, eta.gov.lk. Everyone else pays the standard fee.

• Who: the 40 countries listed below, on the official eta.gov.lk notice (re-read 15 October 2026) and the Department of Immigration and Emigration's special notice (PDF).
• From when: 25 May 2026. Until when: the official notice gives no end date.
• What you get: 30 days, double entry within that period (Maldivian nationals get 90 days).
• Still required: an approved ETA before arrival, for every foreign national.

Which countries get a free Sri Lanka ETA?

The official list, exactly as published (spellings normalised). Use this table as the visa-free quick check; do not look for a second country list on this page.

The scheme covers diplomatic, official, service and ordinary passports of these countries. ETAs for nationals of Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore are also processed free under bilateral reciprocal agreements. ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refunded.

Not on the list? You fall under the general ETA rules and pay the fee below. Nationals of Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Afghanistan apply through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department's head office in Battaramulla, according to the same eta.gov.lk page.

Do I still need to apply for an ETA?

Yes. The official notice states that all foreign nationals, including the 40 free-visa nationalities and those from Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore, must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization before arriving. The fee is waived; the application is not.

When did the free visa start, and when does it end?

It took effect on 25 May 2026. Newswire reported on 25 May 2026 that the Department's circular followed Cabinet approval on 30 March 2026 and parliamentary approval of the amended regulations (Newswire). The official notice we re-read on 15 October 2026 does not state an end date. Earlier free-visa schemes in Sri Lanka were time-limited, so if you are travelling months from now, re-check eta.gov.lk before you apply.

What does the free 30-day ETA allow?

A tourist stay of 30 days, with a double-entry facility counted from your first arrival and only within those 30 days. To stay longer you apply for a paid visa extension (see below).

How much is the ETA if my country is not on the free list?

From the Fees page on eta.gov.lk and the Department's official fee table, both checked on 15 October 2026:

The same page says an ETA or on-arrival visa is valid for up to 30 days. The eta.gov.lk notice still requires an ETA before arrival, so do not plan around arriving without one.

Some nationalities cannot use the standard online route. Alerts 03 and 04 on eta.gov.lk, last read in detail on 10 October 2026, say that visitors from Taiwan-China, Kosovo and Syria who want a tourist or business visa may apply through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office in Battaramulla. For Taiwan-China and Kosovo (Alert 03), the documents are: a request letter from the Sri Lankan sponsor; an affidavit from the Sri Lankan sponsor signed before a Justice of the Peace or lawyer; a certified copy of the national identity card or passport photocopy of the Sri Lankan sponsor; the applicant's passport photocopy; and proof of accommodation. For Syria (Alert 04), the same documents are required plus the applicant's police clearance report.

How do I extend my stay beyond 30 days?

Extensions are paid, including for free-visa holders. The official chart (checked 15 October 2026) sets fees by nationality and length of stay:

Overstaying costs more: under Gazette 2337/10 of 21 June 2023, a US$ 250 penalty plus the visa fee for 7–14 days over, and US$ 500 plus the visa fee beyond 14 days. Leaving within 7 days of expiry means paying only the visa fee at departure.

Which ETA websites are fake?

Only eta.gov.lk (and the Department's own immigration.gov.lk) is official. Government warnings name lookalike sites that charge high fees. The High Commission of India in Colombo and the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pakistan both list these as unauthorised, among others:

• eta.org.lk
• srilankavisa.org.lk
• e-visa.lk / e-visa.org.lk
• srilankavisa.lk
• go-sri-lanka.com
• srilanka-visaonline.com, srilankaetavisa.com, srilanka-etaonline.com
• visa-srilanka.net, srilankavisa.net, srilankanetavisa.net
• ivisa.com's Sri Lanka visa pages
• srilankavisa.org
• srilankaevisa.lk (named by the Controller General of Immigration, Ceylon Today, 26 April 2024)

Before you type passport details, check the address bar says eta.gov.lk. If your nationality is on the free list and a site asks for money, it is not the official free ETA.

How do I check my ETA status?

The Department runs an online Visa Application Status Inquiry. No official page we read states a processing time, so apply well before you fly.

Sri Lanka visa for Indian citizens (checked 17 October 2026)

India remains on the official free-tourist-ETA list in the Department notice already cited on this page (re-read 17 October 2026). You still complete the ETA application; only the fee is waived. The High Commission of India in Colombo's visa advisory warns Indian nationals about unofficial ETA websites.

Plan the rest of the trip

Flying from the UK or Europe? The direct flights to Sri Lanka guide covers the London and Zurich nonstops for winter 2026/27. Once entry is settled, set your dates with the best time to visit guide, choose a trip length in how many days in Sri Lanka, and line up transfers with getting around Sri Lanka. Sort data before landing with the Sri Lanka eSIM and SIM guide, and add up costs in the trip cost guide. The one-week first visit and ten-day classic itineraries both start in Colombo. Travelling from India? The 5-day Sri Lanka itinerary from India pairs the free ETA with flight, ferry and rupee checks.