Sri Lanka Scraps Tourist Visa Fees for 40 Countries
Sri Lanka eliminates visa fees for tourists from 40 countries, including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and UAE, to boost tourism amid economic recovery.
In a move to revive its economy, Sri Lanka has significantly expanded its policy of waiving tourist visa fees for travelers from 40 countries—including those in Europe, the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. The announcement was confirmed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on July 25, 2025, following cabinet approval to extend the measure to additional nationalities.
Through this initiative, the government aims to attract more tourists and offset an estimated annual revenue loss of nearly $66 million from visa fees by increasing visitor numbers and indirect economic benefits. The policy is justified on the grounds of stabilizing the country’s economy and ensuring steady growth within the tourism sector. It is also designed to enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness against other regional destinations adopting similar measures.
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Eligible Countries Under the New Program
The scheme, initially launched in March 2023 for citizens of seven Asian countries—Iran, India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan—had been planned for six months and has now been extended and broadened.
Eligible travelers must still obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), but will no longer pay visa fees for tourist stays of up to 30 days. Extensions are possible for an additional 30 days with applicable fees.
Below is the full list of 40 countries now exempt from Sri Lankan visa fees, including:
Germany, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
All nationalities eligible for the ETA can also benefit from visa-on-arrival access. However, visa-on-arrival exemptions are not yet in effect, despite announcements from Sri Lankan authorities in late 2024. For updates, see our coverage here.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.
