Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka visa guide

11 visa types
checked 24 October 2026

How visas for Sri Lanka work

Sri Lanka separates short visits from long stays. Tourists, business visitors and transit passengers obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on the official portal eta.gov.lk before travelling; Sri Lankan missions remind travellers that an ETA has been mandatory for tourists since 15 October 2025. Nationals of 40 listed countries receive the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge, while the standard tourist ETA for other non-South Asian nationals costs US$50 and the business ETA US$55.

Every stay beyond 30 days is handled inside Sri Lanka by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) at its head office "Suhurupaya" in Battaramulla or through its eServices portal. Tourist visas can be extended against a fee that grows with the length of stay (US$60 for days 31 to 90 for most nationalities). Overstaying for more than seven days triggers a penalty of US$250 or US$500 on top of the visa fee.

Long stays fall under the Residence Visa, a family of categories issued for one year at a time on the recommendation of a sponsoring authority: employment, investment, education, medical treatment, NGO work, religious work, spouses of Sri Lankans and, since 2026, digital nomads. Applicants usually enter on an entry visa authorised by the Controller General and then collect the residence visa in Battaramulla. The older My Dream Home and Resident Guest schemes are now only extended for existing holders.

Permanent residence is open only to people of Sri Lankan origin, their spouses after five years of marriage and their children; there is no points-based route for other foreigners.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, family visit or Ayurveda treatment up to 30 days: tourist ETA (free for 40 listed nationalities, otherwise US$50 or US$20), extendable in Sri Lanka. Meetings, conferences or short training: business ETA (US$55). Changing planes or a stopover of up to two days: free transit ETA.

Remote work for foreign clients: Digital Nomad residence visa (US$2,000 monthly remittance). Job with a Sri Lankan, BOI or project employer: employment residence visa sponsored by the employer. Investment of US$100,000 or US$200,000: investor visa for 5 or 10 years. Studies: educational residence visa. Long medical treatment: medical residence visa. Married to a Sri Lankan: spouse residence visa, then permanent residence after five years of marriage.

Visa types for Sri Lanka

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Tourist Visa (short visit, issued as an ETA)
Sri Lanka's tourist visa covers holidays, visits to friends and relatives, medical and Ayurvedic treatment, and taking part in sports or cultural events.
Maximum stay: 30 days from arrival; extendable inside Sri Lanka (published fee bands run to day 270)
Transit visa Transit Visa (two days, issued as a transit ETA)
Travellers who pass through Sri Lanka on their way to another country and need to enter can obtain a free transit ETA valid for two days.
Maximum stay: 2 days
Medical treatment visa Residence Visa – Medical category
Short medical, Ayurvedic or yoga treatment can be done on the 30-day tourist ETA, which is extendable.
Maximum stay: Tourist ETA: 30 days, extendable; medical residence visa: one year or the period the doctor recommends

Business and self-employment

Business visa Business Visa (non-residence visa, issued as a business ETA)
The business visa lets foreigners visit Sri Lanka for a short period for meetings and negotiations, conferences, seminars and workshops, short training programmes, art, music and dance events and religious events.
Maximum stay: 30 days on a business ETA; missions can issue business visas for up to 90 days; extensions in Sri Lanka up to day 180
Investor visa Investor Visa (Residence Visa, investor category)
Foreign nationals who invest at least US$100,000 in Sri Lanka can receive a five-year residence visa, and those investing at least US$200,000 can stay for ten years.
Maximum stay: 5 years (US$100,000) or 10 years (US$200,000)

Study and training

Student visa Residence Visa – Educational category (students)
Foreign students in Sri Lanka hold a residence visa in the educational category, issued for one year and renewed annually against a performance report.
Maximum stay: One year per visa, renewable for the length of studies

Work

Work visa Residence Visa – Employment category
Foreigners can work in Sri Lanka only on an employment residence visa obtained through their employer.
Maximum stay: One year or the period recommended by the authority, renewable
Digital nomad visa Digital Nomad Visa (Residence Visa-10)
Sri Lanka's Digital Nomad Visa is a one-year, renewable residence visa for people aged 18 or over who work remotely, freelance or run a business registered outside Sri Lanka for clients abroad.
Maximum stay: Up to 12 months per visa, renewable annually

Family

Spouse and partner visa Residence Visa – Spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen (Residence Visa-5)
The foreign spouse of a Sri Lankan citizen can live in Sri Lanka on a residence visa once the marriage has lasted more than six months.
Maximum stay: 1 year at first; then 2-year extensions up to 5 years; then 5 years at a time

Residence

Permanent residence Permanent Residence Visa (PRV)
Sri Lanka's Permanent Residence Visa, set out in Extraordinary Gazette 2383/17 of 7 May 2024, lets former citizens and people of Sri Lankan descent, foreign spouses married to Sri Lankans for more than five years and their children live and work in Sri Lanka without annual renewals.
Validity: PRV card valid for up to 10 years, renewable (LKR 1,000 per card)

Online travel permits

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
The ETA is Sri Lanka's pre-arrival authorisation for holidays, short business trips and transit, issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration through eta.gov.lk.
Maximum stay: 30 days on arrival (transit ETA: 2 days)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Every foreign visitor needs an ETA from eta.gov.lk before arrival. For tourism it is free for nationals of the 40 countries on the portal's list and for children under 12; others pay US$50, or US$20 if they are South Asian nationals.

Where do I apply for a Sri Lankan visa?

Short-visit ETAs are applied for online on eta.gov.lk. Sri Lankan embassies and high commissions can also submit ETA or visa applications and issue entry visas for residence and work once the Controller General in Colombo has approved them.

Can I stay longer than 30 days?

Yes. Tourist visas are extended inside Sri Lanka online or at the DIE head office in Battaramulla. For most nationalities the fee is US$60 for days 31 to 90, US$150 for days 91 to 180 and US$200 for days 181 to 270.

What happens if I overstay?

Leaving within seven days after expiry carries no penalty, but the visa fee for the extra days is collected at the departure port. An overstay of more than 7 and up to 14 days costs US$250 plus the visa fee; more than 14 days costs US$500 plus the visa fee.

Can I work on a tourist or business ETA?

No. Paid or unpaid employment and self-employment are excluded on both. Work requires an employment residence visa obtained through a sponsoring employer.

What passport validity does Sri Lanka require?

At least six months from the date of arrival for an ETA, together with a confirmed return ticket when flying and enough money for the stay.