Since the May 25, 2026, Sri Lanka has taken a major step towards boosting its international appeal. The authorities have officially eliminated consular fees for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for travellers from 40 countries.
This decision was under discussion by the government since July 2025 and is now confirmed from the official ETA application platform.
What's new: The criteria for the new free ETA
The fee waiver does not change the ETA procedure, which remains compulsory, but it does considerably lighten travellers' budgets.
Here are the exact features of this authorization:
Authorized duration Stay of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka.
Multiple inputs : Ease of use double entry is permitted within the 30-day validity period (the countdown begins on the date of first arrival).
Passengers concerneds: Applies to holders of ordinary, diplomatic, official and service passports.
The authorities have specified that ETA fees paid before May 25, 2026 will not be refunded.
💡 Our agency's advice: Planning a trip lasting more than a month? It's always possible to extend your stay beyond the initial 30 days. However, this extension will require payment of current government taxes to the immigration authorities.
Are you eligible? The list of 40 fee-free countries
The measure targets Sri Lanka's main tourist markets. To simplify checking your eligibility, we have classified the 40 nationalities concerned by geographical area:
Europe : Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Americas : Canada, United States.
Asia & Oceania : Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand.
Middle East : Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Specific bilateral agreements (historical exemptions) :
Maldives : Maldivian citizens retain the advantage of a free, valid tourist ETA 90 days.
Seychelles and Singapore: Nationals of these countries also continue to benefit from free ETA processing.
⚠️ Pitfall to avoid: “Free” does not mean “No formality”! The ETA is still strictly compulsory before your departure.
If your country is on the list of 40 eligible nationalities, you are exempt from paying consular fees, but this in no way exempts you from having to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or complete the entry procedure with a visa on arrival.
If your passport is not listed above (e.g. African, Latin American or other Asian countries), the classic procedure remains in force. You will need to apply for your ETA and pay the usual consular fees.
Secure your departure with our agency Even when state fees are reduced to zero, submitting the application requires rigor. To avoid input errors, our experts take charge of your entire procedure. We check your documents for conformity and ensure that your authorization is issued quickly. Entrust my Sri Lanka ETA application to your experts
Fill in a file from ETA Sri Lanka
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