Sri Lanka — the emerald island to the south-east of India, heir to ancient Ceylon — welcomes hundreds of thousands of travellers each year who come to explore its ancient temples, beaches and tea-covered landscapes. For most nationalities, entry does not require a traditional visa but an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization): an entirely online travel authorisation issued within a few days on simple presentation of passport details. The ETA is not an e-Visa in the strict sense: it is the document reserved for nationals already exempt from a traditional visa. Understanding how it works, its conditions and its limits will allow you to prepare your departure with peace of mind.
01 · The essentials
The ETA can no longer be requested at an embassy: the entire procedure is carried out online only, regardless of the option chosen.
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the intended arrival date in Sri Lanka — a requirement for all travellers, across all ETA types.
Only passport details are needed to complete the application; no additional photos or invitation letter are required.
The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is the electronic travel authorisation introduced by Sri Lanka for nationals exempt from a traditional entry visa. It is not an e-Visa as such: it is the specific document for exempt nationalities wishing to enter Sri Lanka for tourism, business or a short transit.
After briefly attempting to implement an electronic visa (e-Visa) system, Sri Lanka reinstated the ETA in September 2024. This document is now the only one to use for the nationalities concerned: it is no longer possible to obtain this type of authorisation from the embassy. The entire procedure is carried out online.
Once the ETA is approved, you have 6 months to make your first entry into Sri Lanka. The length of stay begins from your actual arrival in the country, not from the date the document was issued. The ETA will be sent to you in PDF format: print it in colour and keep it with you throughout your stay.
The Sri Lanka ETA application process is among the simplest in the world: only your passport details are required to complete the application. No additional passport photos, no invitation letter, no embassy appointment.
02 · Eligibility
The ETA is the entry document for Sri Lanka for nationals of countries already exempt from a traditional consular visa. It is essentially the minimum formality replacing a straightforward exemption, enabling the Sri Lankan authorities to check arrivals in advance.
The ETA covers three travel purposes:
If you plan an international transit without leaving the airport terminal, check with your airline whether an ETA is required in your specific case.
Yes. Every traveller, regardless of age, must have their own ETA. Minors cannot be included on a parent's ETA. The application must be made individually for each member of the family group. A French child travelling without both parents must also carry an exit authorisation (autorisation de sortie du territoire — AST).
No. Flight tickets are not mandatory when submitting the ETA application. However, you will need to present a return ticket to immigration upon arrival.
The Tourism/Family ETA allows two entries into Sri Lanka during its 6-month validity period. The authorised length of stay is a maximum of 30 days per entry.
The Business ETA permits unlimited return trips during the 6-month validity. Each stay must not exceed 30 days. Information about the inviting company in Sri Lanka may be requested during the application.
Reserved for passengers making a maritime stopover (cruises), the Transit ETA is valid for a single entry and a maximum stay of 2 days on the territory.
Minors must have their own ETA, independent of that of their parents. French minor nationals travelling without a legal guardian must also carry an exit authorisation.
Numerous fraudulent websites offer Sri Lanka ETAs at exorbitant prices and do not always meet their stated processing times. Before submitting your application, verify that the website you are using is trustworthy. If in doubt, consult specialist travel forums and guides. The Sri Lanka embassy no longer issues ETAs — any embassy procedure is now obsolete.
03 · The procedure
The Sri Lanka ETA application is entirely paperless. It is completed online from any country, before your departure. Here are the items to gather before you begin:
Flight tickets and hotel reservations are not mandatory for the online application, but may be requested by immigration on arrival.
Identify the type of ETA you need: Tourism (up to 30 days, 2 entries), Business (up to 30 days, multiple entries) or Transit (up to 2 days, 1 entry). The choice matters as the document type and information required vary.
Have your passport, valid for at least 6 months after the intended entry date, to hand. Note the number, expiry date and personal details exactly as they appear on the document. Any error may result in the application being rejected.
Fill in the application form with your personal details, passport data, your address in Sri Lanka and your travel details. For a Business ETA, provide the full contact details of your Sri Lankan counterpart.
Once the form is completed, submit the required documents (copy of your passport, where applicable). The information is then verified before being forwarded to the Sri Lankan authorities.
Payment is made by bank card. Fees vary depending on the type of ETA and the applicant's nationality. From 25 July 2025, nationals of 40 countries — including EU, British, American, Canadian and Australian citizens — benefit from a fee waiver for the Tourism ETA.
The standard processing time is 48 h, but it may occasionally be slightly longer depending on the period and volume of applications. It is advisable to submit your application at least 15 days before departure to avoid any last-minute stress.
Once approved, your ETA is sent to you in PDF format by email. Print it in colour and also keep a digital copy. You will need to present it at check-in and at immigration upon arrival in Sri Lanka.
If your travel dates change after the ETA has been issued, you cannot amend the document: a new application is required. Submit your application early enough to give yourself some flexibility in case your plans change.
04 · Documents & immigration
Obtaining the ETA is not enough: on arrival in Sri Lanka, you will need to present yourself at immigration with a set of documents. The immigration officer has the final say on whether you are actually admitted to the territory, even if your ETA has been approved.
No vaccinations are mandatory to enter Sri Lanka, with one exception: yellow fever vaccination is required for nationals arriving from countries where the disease is endemic (Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mayotte, Niger, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Although not mandatory, several vaccinations are strongly recommended by health authorities for travel to Sri Lanka: tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies. Consult your doctor or an international vaccination centre before departure.
It is also advisable to take out travel insurance covering hospitalisation costs abroad and medical evacuation. Health conditions and risks can change: check the current recommendations from your country's health authorities before departure.
Sri Lanka has amended its entry policy several times in recent years — switching to an e-Visa, reverting to the ETA in September 2024, then introducing fee measures in July 2025. It is essential to check the most up-to-date information with the Sri Lankan authorities before your departure, as conditions may change without much notice.
05 · Fees & validity
Sri Lanka ETA fees vary depending on the type of document chosen and the applicant's nationality. For a Tourism or Business ETA, consular fees are approximately 43 € to 47 € (based on 50 to 55 USD depending on the applicable exchange rate).
From 25 July 2025, nationals of 40 countries benefit from a waiver of tourist visa fees. This measure applies in particular to citizens of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. For nationalities eligible for this fee exemption, only any service fees charged by the chosen provider remain payable.
The Transit ETA, intended for cruise passengers making a maritime stopover, may have different fee conditions.
The ETA can be extended, but only once, in-country, by visiting the Immigration Services Centre in Colombo. This must be done at least 8 days before your current ETA expires. The exact conditions and fees for extension should be confirmed with the local immigration authority, as they may change.
If your travel dates change before departure and your ETA has already been issued, please note that it is not possible to amend an ETA once issued. In that case, a new ETA application is required.
If the Sri Lankan authorities refuse to issue your ETA, a refund may be arranged according to the conditions of the provider that processed your application. ETA approval does not guarantee entry into the territory: the final decision remains at the discretion of the immigration officer at the border.
06 · Before you go
Nicknamed the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean', the island of Sri Lanka is a territory of extraordinary cultural and natural density. Nestled to the south-east of India, at the tip of the subcontinent, it covers approximately 65,000 km² — barely larger than Ireland — yet concentrates a biodiversity and heritage that rival those of far larger countries.
Sri Lanka's history is both ancient and complex. The earliest traces of human civilisation date back more than 30,000 years. The Kingdom of Sinhala, founded in the 5th century BCE according to Buddhist chronicles, makes Sri Lanka one of the cradles of Theravada Buddhism, the religion still practised by the majority on the island today. European colonisation began in the 16th century with the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century, then the British who renamed the island Ceylon and made it a Crown possession until independence in 1948. It was not until 1972 that the country reclaimed its ancestral name: Sri Lanka.
This layering of cultures — Sinhalese, Tamil, Malabar, Malay, Burgher (of European descent) and Muslim — gives Sri Lanka a unique culinary, architectural and linguistic richness. Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages, while English remains widely used in tourism and business.
The Cultural Triangle (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy) brings together the island's greatest archaeological and religious sites. The sacred city of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth, which houses a relic of the Buddha — one of the most revered sites in South Asia.
Sri Lanka is one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots. Its national parks (Yala, Minneriya, Wilpattu) are home to elephants, leopards, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species, many of them endemic to the island.
The Hill Country region, around Nuwara Eliya and Ella, is the heart of Ceylon tea production — one of the most renowned in the world. Mountain roads wind between lush plantations in a setting of mist and cool air.
Sri Lanka has more than 1,500 km of coastline. Depending on the season, the choice of coast (west and south, or east) is crucial: the monsoon affects both sides at different times of year. Mirissa, Unawatuna and Arugam Bay are among the most popular beaches with travellers.
Sri Lanka is served from Europe via Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (CMB), the country's main air entry point. Direct or connecting flights are available from major European cities.
On the ground, transport options are varied: scenic train journeys (notably the Kandy–Ella route, reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Asia), tuk-tuks, buses and car hire with driver. The road network is generally reasonable, but distances can feel long due to the terrain and traffic density on certain routes. Allowing more travel time than expected is advisable.
The local currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Bank cards are accepted in hotels and tourist restaurants in major cities, but it is advisable to carry cash for rural areas and local markets. ATMs are available in all main towns.
The Sri Lanka ETA is an electronic travel authorisation — not an e-Visa in the strict sense — intended for nationals exempt from a traditional consular visa. It covers tourist stays (30 days, 2 entries), business stays (30 days, multiple entries) and maritime transits (2 days, 1 entry). The application is entirely online, quick and requires only your passport details. Validity is 6 months from approval for the first entry; the length of stay begins on actual arrival. From 25 July 2025, nationals of 40 countries — including Europeans, British, Americans, Canadians and Australians — benefit from a fee waiver for the Tourism ETA. Apply in advance: at least 15 days before departure is recommended to avoid any processing delays.
FAQ
Visamundi production team
Page reviewed and kept up to date by our production team.
Visa rules, fees and processing times change fast. We track official sources continuously and refresh every page as soon as something changes — so you never travel on outdated information.
