Sri Lanka tourist visa

The Department of Immigration and Emigration issues the tourist visa to bona fide visitors for sightseeing and holidays, visits to friends and relatives, medical treatment including Ayurveda and yoga, and participation in sports events, competitions and cultural performances.

It does not cover business meetings, conferences, short training courses or art, music and dance festivals; those need the business visa. Any paid or unpaid job, self-employment, and using repeated visits to live in Sri Lanka for long periods are also excluded.

Immigration officers check that your passport is valid for at least six months from arrival, that you hold a confirmed return or onward ticket if you travel by air, and that you have enough money for your stay. An approved ETA does not guarantee admission, and false statements in the application can lead to permanent refusal.

The ETA portal lists 40 countries whose nationals receive a free 30-day tourist visa, among them Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, India, China and Türkiye. Singapore and Seychelles nationals get the same under reciprocal agreements, and Maldivians receive 90 days free. Children under 12 of any nationality also get a free 30-day ETA.

Nationals of countries not on the list pay US$50 for a tourist ETA (US$20 for South Asian countries), whether they apply themselves, through a third party, at a mission or at the DIE head office. Buying the visa on arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport costs more: US$60, or US$25 for South Asian nationals. The Department does not refund fees.

Extensions are requested from inside Sri Lanka on the DIE eServices portal or in person at "Suhurupaya", Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla; applications made through other websites are not considered. 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. Children under 12 pay the extension fee once they stay beyond 30 days.

Your planned stay must end at least two months before your passport expires. The double-entry facility can only be used during the first 30 days, and requesting an extension within that period cancels it. A paid extension lapses when you leave Sri Lanka, so returning later needs a new visa. If an online request fails or gets no reply, visit the head office within three working days with your passport and a photograph.

Departing within seven days after the visa expires carries no penalty, although the visa fee for the extra days is collected at the departure port. Under Gazette 2337/10 (in force since 21 June 2023) an overstay of more than 7 and up to 14 days costs a US$250 penalty plus the applicable visa fee, and more than 14 days costs US$500 plus the fee. Fees are calculated from your arrival date, and filing an extension online does not protect you from a fine if your visa has already run out.