Sri Lanka brings back single-entry e-Visa with lower fee
Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a new, more affordable single-entry e-Visa after tour operators and foreign visitors protested cost hikes tied to the previous ETA rollout. Implementation is targeted for June 2024, with a 35 USD base fee plus processing costs.
The Sri Lankan government has approved the reintroduction of a single-entry tourist visa after industry bodies and overseas visitors protested rising costs linked to the shift from ETA to e-Visa and drastic fee increases.
The decision was made by the cabinet on 25 April 2024 following recommendations from tourism stakeholders.
The new single-entry visa will be introduced by June 2024 after final parliamentary approval in May.
Single-entry permits will be valid for 30 days and may be obtained online or on arrival.
The base cost of a single-entry visa will be US$35, excluding VFS and payment processing fees.
In addition to the single-entry introduction, multi-entry visas will remain available and mainly target digital nomads and frequent visitors.
Tourism Minister Harin Fernando acknowledged security flaws in the existing ETA system—citing risks from fake account creation—while insisting that visa requirements must safeguard national security despite their potential impact on visitor numbers. He said a special committee is exploring temporary exemptions for certain countries, similar to the recent waiver granted to seven nations through 30 April 2024.
