VISA TO SRI LANKA
With effect from 1st January 2012, all Holiday or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter in to Sri Lanka.
Please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more information.
The ETA requirement is applicable to all nationalities except nationals of the Republic of Maldives, the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Seychelles, who on the basis of reciprocity, are exempt from this requirement. (Those who hold passports of listed countries in this URL and travel to Sri Lanka from 01.08.2019 to 31.01.2020 for tourist purposes are exempted paying ETA fee, in view of enhancing tourist arrivals from designated countries – Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka)
The objective of the Sri Lankan visa is to facilitate the legal entry of non-Sri Lankans into Sri Lanka and to regulate the period and conditions governing their stay.
The competent authority for issuing Sri Lankan visas is the Department of Immigration and Emigration. On behalf of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka diplomatic missions abroad have been authorized to issue visas.
What are the general eligibility requirements for Sri Lankan visas?
Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration may issue a visa to you if:
It is satisfied that you are suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
It approves the purpose for which you are entering Sri Lanka.
You hold a passport valid for a minimum period of six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka.
It is satisfied that you have adequate funds for your stay in Sri Lanka and for the payment of your return passage to the country which issued your passport.
You are in possession of a return air ticket to the country of domicile or a visa to the next country of destination.
Who is eligible for visa exemption?
Sri Lankan dual citizens.
Children born to Sri Lankan parents whose birth have been registered under section 5(2) of Citizenship Act – 1948 up to 21 years of age.
Children born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents under 21 years of age, now living abroad.
You may please visit the following to obtain further details in relation to each category of visas to Sri Lanka
You should apply for a tourist visa if you are travelling for one or several of the following purposes:
Sightseeing, holidaying, excursions & relaxation
Visiting friends and relatives
Medical treatments including Ayurveda treatments and yoga
Participating in sporting events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance
The applicant or a third party on his/her behalf can apply for the visa by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk
It is advised to keep a copy of the ETA approval notice with the traveler to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka.
All applicants, except children below 12 years of age, must pay an ETA processing fee online. The online payment must be paid with a valid debit or credit card. Click here to see the ETA processing fee.
For last-minute travellers who travel to Sri Lanka for tourist/transit purposes without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain the ETA is available at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. An additional fee of US$ 5 will apply. (Please refer the ETA processing fee.)
When applying for an ETA through third parties, payments have to be made through www.eta.gov.lk and an acknowledgement of the ETA application should be obtained. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not valid to process the ETA. Therefore, please ensure that the payment is made on www.eta.gov.lk to avoid having to pay again at the port of entry to Sri Lanka.
However, if you wish our Consulate General to submit your ETA online application on your behalf or if you are unable to submit the online application through the ETA website due to technical reasons, please hand over your duly completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
There are two categories of tourist visa as follows.
a) Short-Term Tourist Visa
If the length of stay in Sri Lanka is less than 30 days, the applicant or a third party on his/her behalf can apply for the visa by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk
It is advised to keep a copy of the ETA approval notice with the traveller to be produced at the port of entry in Sri Lanka.
All applicants, except children below 12 years of age, must pay an ETA processing fee online. The online payment must be paid with a valid debit or credit card. Click here to see the ETA processing fee.
However, if you wish our Consulate General to submit your ETA online application on your behalf or if you are unable to submit the online application through the ETA website due to technical reasons, please hand over your dully completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
ETA application form (Download Application Form Below)
Original Passport
Passport Copies – Face page & UAE Residence Visa page
Two recent passport-size photographs (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
Return air ticket
Proof of hotel accommodation or an invitation from hosts in Sri Lanka
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
For SAARC region Passport Holders – US$ 20 ( AED 75)
For All Other Country Passport Holders – US$ 35 (AED 130.00)
b) Long-term Tourist Visa
If you wish to stay more than 30 days in Sri Lanka for tourism purposes, please hand over your dully completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below to obtain a long term single or double entry tourist visa to Sri Lanka.
Single or Double entry visa application form (click here to download)
Two recent passport-size photographs (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
Invitation /sponsor letter from hosts in Sri Lanka
Copy of the bank statement showing adequate funds for your stay in Sri Lanka and for the payment of your return passage out of Sri Lanka. (This requirement is not applicable to Sri Lankan Americans.)
A letter explaining the requirement of a long stay visa
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Sri Lanka.
A) Single Entry/ 90 days
For SAARC region Passport Holders – US$ 20 (AED 75.00) + Relevant Country Fee*
For All Other Country – US$ 35 (AED 130.00) + Relevant Country Fee*
B) Double Entry/ 90 days
For SAARC region Passport Holders – US$ 20 (AED 75.00) + Twice the Relevant Country Fee*
For All Other Country Passport Holders – US$ 35 (AED 130.00) + Twice the Relevant Country Fee*
For relevant country fee, please refer the following link. : www.immigration.gov.lk
You should apply for a business visa if you are travelling to Sri Lanka for one or several of the following purposes:
Participation in business meetings and negotiations
Conferences, workshops and seminars
Short term training programmes
Participation in art, music and dance events
Participation in symposiums
Participation in religious events
As per the entry type and the length of your stay in Sri Lanka, the following categories of Business Visa can be applied by the applicant or a third party on his/her behalf by submitting a business ETA application from the ETA website, www.eta.gov.lk
Category of Business ETA ETA Processing Fee Reciprocal Visa Fee in US$
For SAARC countries PPT holders All Other countries PPT holders
US $ AED US $ AED
1 Business Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days 30 110 40 150 —
2 Business Visa with Single Entry up to 90 days 30 110 40 150 Relevant country Fee
3 Business Visa with Double Entry up to 90 days 30 110 40 150 Twice the Relevant country Fee
4 Business Visa with Multiple Entry up to 90 days 30 110 40 150 Thrice the Relevant country Fee
However, if you wish our Consulate General to submit your ETA online application on your behalf or if you are unable to submit the online application through the ETA website due to technical reasons, please hand over your dully completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
Business ETA application form (Download Application From Below)
Two recent passport-size photographs (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
The invitation from the host company in Sri Lanka.
No Objection Letter from the company of U.A.E
Proof of hotel accommodation or an invitation from hosts in Sri Lanka
Return air tickets
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
Original Passport
Passport copies – Face page & UAE Residence visa page.
Tourist visa for the SAARC Countries – US$ 30 (AED110)
Tourist Visa for All other Countries – US$ 40 ( AED 150)
Please note that if you do not exit the airport during your transit, a transit visa is not required.
The applicants themselves or a third party on their behalf can apply for a transit ETA by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk
However, if you wish our Consulate General to submit your ETA online application on your behalf or if you are unable to submit the online application through the ETA website due to technical reasons, please hand over your dully completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
Transit ETA application form (click here to download)
Two recent passport-size photographs.(Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
Air ticket
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
Passport Copies – Face page and UAE Visa Page
Holders of diplomatic or official passports visiting Sri Lanka for official purposes have to apply for visa at the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai.
Visas will be issued free of charge by the Consulate General for diplomatic and official passport holders traveling to Sri Lanka for official purposes. Please note that diplomatic and official passport holders traveling to Sri Lanka for other purposes must follow the relevant application procedure.
Diplomatic/official ETA application (Download ETA Application Form Below)
Two passport-size photographs, (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
TPN Letter from the respected Embassy
A copy of the Diplomatic Identity card of the officer
Note : It is required to obtain a prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka in order to issue a Diplomatic Visa.
All media personnel visiting Sri Lanka should obtain a visa prior to arrival in Colombo from the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai. Media personnel who wish to visit to Sri Lanka on a media assignment cannot enter on a tourist or normal business visa.
Application for entry visa ‘Form B’ (Download Application Form Below)
Journalist Attestation Form (Download Journalist Attestation Form Below)
Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
Two recent passport-size photographs
Letter of Commission: a letter from the respective media organization detailing the tentative programme with dates, places and if it contains interviews, the persons to be interviewed etc. (For freelance journalists, a letter from the editor of the publication)
Equipment list for electronic media along with a carnet or bank guarantee for customs purposes
Letter undertaking that the equipment will be re-exported at the end of the visit
Return air ticket
Residence visa is issued to non-Sri Lankans to whom it has been decided to extend residence facilities for the purpose of investment or otherwise, in circumstances where the prescribed authority is satisfied that their stay in Sri Lanka and the pursuit of their vocations are not prejudicial to the best interests of Sri Lanka.
To obtain a residence visa, the applicant must enter Sri Lanka on an entry visa issued by a Sri Lanka diplomatic mission abroad. Entry visa will be issued by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai only upon approval by the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration. The applicant must clearly state that he/she wishes to apply for a residence visa when applying for the entry visa and submit the necessary supporting documents.
NOTE : A TOURIST VISA CANNOT BE CONVERTED INTO A RESIDENCE VISA.
For more information on residence visa, please visit www.immigration.gov.lk
Entry visa application(Download ETA Application Form Below )
A copy of the entry visa approval notice from the Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka
Two passport-size photographs. (Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
Passport – n.b. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka.
For SAARC region Passport Holders – US$ 20 (AED 75.00) + Relevant Country Fee*
For All Other Country Passport Holders – US$ 35 (AED 130.00) + Relevant Country Fee*