All Tourists (Non-Sri Lankan) should apply for Sri Lanka Entry Visa when arriving to Sri Lanka. Direct quote from the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka, the exact text would be, “Every tourist should apply the e-Visa prior to their visit to Sri Lanka“. On the same website, it mentions: “With effect from 17th April 2024, all Tourist or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have e-Visa for entering in to Sri Lanka.“.

update: no online visa from august 2024:

Sri Lanka Entry Visa Update [August 2024]

So this means the previous systems on-arrival visa and on-line visa are no more active. The only visa type is the E-Visa. The Sri Lanka Visa process got a new website starting 17th April 2024 and here’s our guide about the Sri Lanka Visa starting April 2024.

Sri Lanka Visa Website

Starting 17th April 2024, the previous website (www.eta.gov.lk) is no longer working. If you click, this could redirect to the new visa website.

The new website to apply for Visa to Sri Lanka is: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/

This is the only authorized website for the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Government of Sri Lanka, operated exclusively by IVS-GBS and VFS Global.

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Who can Apply for Sri Lanka Visa?

All eligible nationalities planning to enter Sri Lanka, whether by air or sea, for the purposes of tourism, business, or transit.

Nationals of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Syria and North Korea are required to apply for a visa through the Sri Lankan embassy or through the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka. Below are the documents required:-

1.     Police Clearance report.
2.     If the applicant is coming from another country after staying for more than 6 months, are required to provide Police clearance from that country and copy of the Visa.
3.     Certificate from a Sri Lankan guarantor & a photocopy of the guarantors NIC.
4.     Affidavit from a Sri Lankan JP (Justice of Peace) or a Lawyer.
5.     Accommodation information (Place of stay)

Nationals of Taiwan would need to select People’s Republic of China (Special Administrative Region of China) as their nationality while applying for the eVisa.

Nationals of Kosovo are eligible for Visa On Arrival only.

Sri Lanka Visa Exemptions

On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of The Republic of Singapore, The Republic of Maldives, The Republic of Seychelles and The Czech Republic are exempt from the requirement of obtaining tourist standard 6 months eVisa to visit Sri Lanka.

All nationals are eligible for an eVisa waiver, if transiting from any of the Sri Lankan airports. Waiver is valid for a 2 day transit period only.

You can verify whether your nationality qualifies for exemption from applying for an eVisa based on the passport type and eVisa duration by accessing the provided link. https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/assets/docs/visa-exemption-list.pdf

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Sri Lanka Visa Guide – updated May 2024

Okay, so let’s break down the process step by step. For the Demonstration, let’s say you are an American or Australian travelling. The prices don’t change unless you are a SAARC Country resident.

List of SAARC Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan (and Sri Lanka but that’s not relevant to this)

Special Note: On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of The Republic of Singapore, The Republic of Maldives, The Republic of Seychelles and The Czech Republic are exempt from the requirement of obtaining tourist standard 6 months eVisa to visit Sri Lanka.

Until Arrival Date = 31st May 2024 (30 Day Sightseeing Entry Visa)

For China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan = USD 0 + USD 10 Service charge ==> USD 10.00 per person

For rest of the World = USD 50.00 per person

After Arrival Date = 01st June 2024

USD 50.00 net per person (unless special rate extended ~ in discussions)

Visit the Homepage to Apply for Sri Lanka Visa

Website to Apply the Sri Lanka Visa: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/

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Step 01: Visit the new Sri Lanka Visa applying website and click on the Apply Now button

Step 02: Select the Country (Sri Lanka) and the Language (English)

Then Choose “Sri Lanka” – or “Srilanka” as mentioned on the website’s list of Destinations you can apply the visa to. Here, the list is long probably because VFS is a Global Agent for handling Visas. So, Select Srilanka (even though Sri Lanka is officially two words).

Step 03: Choose to Sign Up or Login if you already have signed-up

Step 04: Sign Up on the Visa Portal

Step 05: Portal Page

Step 06: Eligibility Criteria

This is easy filing. Fill in with your details.

Since most of you are Tourists visiting Sri Lanka for the Holidays, you can select Visa Category: Tourist and then Purpose of Travel as Sightseeing and Holidaying. For the Sub Visa Type, it’s Standard Visitor Visa (6 Months) and select Ordinary Passport for the Type of Travel Document.

Step 07: Document Details

Upload a Passport Size Coloured Photo and an Image of the Passport Bio Page here. If the images are larger than 1 MB, use a JPG/PNG Compress too like TinyPNG or ILoveIMG. Next, click Save and Continue.

Step 08: Passport Details

Enter the Passport details as per the Passport’s Bio Page. These some standard information to fill in.

Step 09: Contact Details

Enter the contact details on this page. You can also add your Facebook and Socials links (paste the URL) to build a better profile. Only the email, phone number are the mandatory fields here.

Step 10: Additional Details

Fill in with the Stay details. You can enter the Address of the first-stay Hotel, your travel agent’s here.

Step 11: Review and Payment

After the 01st June 2024 (arrival date) = USD 50.00 net per Tourist for 30-Day Sightseeing Entry Visa will be applied.

The Fees might get a revision since many Tourism Stakeholders in Sri Lanka has raised concerns over this immediate raise in prices. If and when the prices might be revised is still not decided. This post will be updated with that information.

Step 12: Payment for Sri Lanka Visitor Visa

After reviewing your details, please click the Continue to Payment button.

You can enter your Payment details and complete the Visa process.

Afterwards, you will be directed to the Visa Portal Page and the In-Process Visa details will be displayed.

Step 13: Visa Approval Email

Once the Visa is Approved, you will receive the email with the details of your Approved Visa.

Make sure you carry a printed copy of your approval eVisa when you travel to Sri Lanka. All details of what you need to carry when you arrive to Sri Lanka are listed next.

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Documents that needs to be carried to Sri Lanka’s Airport with the Visa Approval

1. A printed copy of your eVisa approval letter issued by the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.
2. Your passport with at least six months validity from the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
3. A return ticket or proof of onward travel from Sri Lanka.
4. Applicants of the below nationalities need to submit yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in Sri Lanka in order to comply with international health regulations.
   • Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Zaire.

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And that’s all about the Sri Lanka Visa Guide – Updated on 07 May 2024

Hope you enjoyed getting to know the new visa Process to Sri Lanka. Enjoy your Sri Lanka Trip 😃