Sri Lanka steps up a gear to boost its tourism sector. In a move eagerly awaited by the travel industry, the Sri Lankan government has confirmed the introduction of a free tourist visas for nationals of 40 countries. Travelers can benefit from this program if they are staying in Sri Lanka for a short visit (tourism, business, transit).
This measure has been under discussion since july 2025, The agreement was approved by the Council of Ministers on March 30, 2026. It is now officially in force, and you can now benefit from visa fee exemption, depending on whether you are a citizen of one of the countries concerned.
Why are visa fees waived?
Approved by the Council of Ministers following a proposal by the Ministry of Public Safety and Parliamentary Affairs, this initiative is part of a pilot plan for six months. Colombo's objective is clear:
-Make the destination more financially attractive to Asian competitors.
-Supporting the post-crisis growth of the local tourism industry.
-Facilitating international passenger flows.
Is your passport eligible?
This program strategically targets both historic issuing markets and new growth areas. Here is the list of nationalities covered by this tariff exemption, classified 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, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand.
Middle East & Central Asia
Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
The Sri Lankan government has announced 39 eligible nationalities. According to the official list published, 40 nationalities are concerned.
Not on the list? No problem
Our agency accompanies travelers from all over the world. If you are a citizen of Africa, Latin America or any other country not listed above, the classic ETA process remains in force, with the usual consular fees.
Our technical team handles these requests on a daily basis, using an optimized procedure to avoid any delays in obtaining your travel document.
Fee waiver vs. visa waiver
Many travellers confuse visa fee waiver (Visa Fee Waiver) and visa exemption (Visa Free Entry). In practical terms, even if the Sri Lankan government abolishes the government tax for these countries :
- Pre-registration remains compulsory: You will most likely still need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA / e-Visa) before departure.
- What's new : The cost of this authorization will rise to 0 $ for consular fees (excluding service charges if you wish to obtain assistance with your application).
- Customs control : On arrival at Colombo airport (BIA), you will need to present a passport valid for at least 6 months and proof of your approved travel authorization.
Don't take the risk of presenting yourself at the boarding gate without any documents, on the pretext that the visa is “free”: the airline will refuse you boarding.
Why go through our agency, even for a free visa?
Even at €0, government portals often present challenges: technical bugs when uploading passports, strict size criteria, complex English-language forms, or the absence of responsive customer support in the event of a blockage.
Our added value to secure your departure:
📝 Simplified form in your native language.
🛡️ Human verification of your documents (passport, plane tickets) to avoid rejection.
⏱️ Save time We manage interactions with the Sri Lankan immigration portal.
📞 Customer Support to answer your questions
👉 Start your Sri Lanka ETA application in just a few clicks via our secure platform.
🌎 Global context : Due to the cancellation of international flights from Sri Lanka to the Middle East, a free visa extension is available. The visa is renewed for 4 weeks from its expiry date. For further information, please visit Official website of the Ministry of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka.
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