Sri Lanka Visa Types
Travelers from all around the world are welcome in Sri Lanka. However, in order to enter its boundaries, you need to apply for a few travel authorizations, such as a conventional visa and a paper known as an eTA.
Sri Lanka Visa
You can either apply for a standard visa in advance or a visa on arrival if you want to travel to Sri Lanka. Except for inhabitants of the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore, every international tourist traveling for tourism needs to get an eTA, or electronic travel authorization document.
Additionally, despite Sri Lanka's lenient visa regulations, people of the 20 nations listed below are not permitted to apply for a visa upon arrival. They must therefore apply for a visa beforehand:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Syria
- Uganda
Sri Lanka eTA
To make travel easier for all foreign visitors, the Sri Lankan government established the eTA permit in 2012. It can be acquired electronically at home prior to the trip or upon arrival in Sri Lanka. The document is valid for 180 days after the date of issuance and permits a 30-day stay inside the nation.
The immigration officials in Sri Lanka will require you to show them your printed travel authorization document and your current passport when you arrive. There is no need for additional paperwork because your name, surname, date of birth, country of origin, and reason for travel are all included in eTA.
eTA Types
The Tourist eTA is designed for people who want to travel or visit family while on vacation in Sri Lanka. The applicant may pick it up in person at the Department of Immigration and Emigration office, the Sri Lankan abroad mission, or at the port of entry upon arrival. For a period of one month, double admission is permitted.
The Business eTA enables you to enter Sri Lanka twice for up to 30 days each time in order to undertake business meetings and negotiations. The Department of Immigration and Emigration office or the Sri Lankan foreign mission are the only places where you can get the Business eTA.
You are allowed to transit through the Sri Lankan territory, however, you must apply for the Transit eTA. The permit stays valid for 48 hours.
eTA Application
Although you can apply for the eTA document when you arrive in Sri Lanka, it is recommended that you do it online in order to avoid standing in long lines at the airport. Your valid passport, a functional electronic device, and an online payment option are all you need.
The signup process is easy. Fill out the application form first with your personal data and passport information. Make sure there are no grammatical errors. After that, pay the required processing fee. The Sri Lankan eTA will be sent to the email address you provided during registering once the payment has been made.
Sri Lankan Visa Types
You must apply for one of Sri Lanka's visas if you want to visit the country for a reason other than tourism or if you are from a nation where you must have an entry permission in order to cross the border. Only with approval from the Department of Immigration and Emigration may a visa be issued.
Visit Visa
The tourist visa and the business visa are the two subcategories of the Sri Lanka Visit Visa. Both of them are given out upon arrival and are valid for free domestic travel. Typically, they are valid for 30 days. Keep in mind that a visit visa is not a work permit, thus you cannot labor for pay or for free. It only permits going on vacation, visiting relatives, or taking part in commercial activities like conferences.
Official Visa
Holders possessing diplomatic and official passports are eligible for the Official Visa, often known as the Gratis Visa. It is still good for 30 days or three months. A deal between Sri Lankan officials and the foreign government allows for the issuance of this document to the tourist. Send your eTA application to the Department of Immigration and Emigration before requesting the Sri Lanka Official Visa.
Transit Visa
A transit visa enables you to travel from one place to another through Sri Lanka. It's good for two days. A visa is not necessary if you stay inside the airport while in transit.
Residence Visa
Foreign nationals are allowed to live in Sri Lanka with a residence visa. First, let the diplomatic mission in Sri Lanka know that you intend to travel. Next, send in the supporting paperwork. There are several types of residence visas, each depending on the reason for the journey:
- Employment Category
Employees of private businesses, volunteers for non-governmental organizations, and staff members working on projects for the Sri Lanka Board of Investment are all eligible for the Employment Residence Visa. Generally speaking, it permits workers to stay in Sri Lanka for a year (or longer if recommended by the authorities).
- Investor Category
You must apply for the Investor Residence Visa if you want to invest money in Sri Lanka or conduct other types of business. The permit has a one-year expiration date and a renewal option.
- Religious Category
Clergy members visiting Sri Lanka are granted a Religious Residence Visa good for a year. Its duration of validity may be increased.
- Student Category
Any foreign national desiring to enroll in a Sri Lankan university or join a local educational institution must apply for a student residence visa. It allows access for a year or more for educational purposes; the Sri Lankan Embassy chooses the length of the stay.
- Family Member Category
For a foreign spouse and children of foreign nationality of Sri Lankan nationals, the Family Member Residence Visa may be issued. The spouse is eligible to apply for a visa after at least six months of marriage. The permission can be renewed after its initial two-year term.
Sri Lanka Visa Requirements
To be allowed a visit to Sri Lanka, you must meet the basic entry requirements. No health declaration is required anymore, however, the border check control will ask for:
- eTA registration confirmation
- passport with a validity of 6 months
- two copies of your formal photo
- one copy of the visa approval notice
- airplane tickets
You need to fulfill the minimal entrance requirements in order to be permitted to enter Sri Lanka. Although a health declaration is no longer necessary, the border check control will still require:
Sri Lanka Visa Application
The Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration's main office in Colombo is where applicants must submit their online visa application; however, this office is not the only location where it may be done.
Your entire name, nationality, gender, date and place of birth, marital status, identity marks, occupation, phone number, and email address must be included into the questionnaire. Additionally, you need to include your passport information and indicate the sort of visa you want to apply for.
