Visa Requirements for Sri Lankan Citizens
Visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens are regulations that apply to Sri Lankan passport holders when crossing borders with other countries.
Pre-established conditions determine whether a traveler needs a visa or not. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka still does not have much freedom of international travel as 131 countries still require them to have an embassy visa upon arrival.
This type of visa is only issued from the embassy or consulate, usually several weeks before the planned trip. However, some destinations still offer other visa options. More than 30 countries offer eVisa options for visiting Sri Lankan citizens.
Electronic visas make travel much easier because the entire application process takes place online, eliminating the need to visit an official agency. 24 countries allow Sri Lankan citizens to apply for a visa upon arrival at their chosen destination.
This option is much more convenient than applying for an embassy visa but less convenient than using the electronic visa system.
Visas on arrival require travelers to queue at border checkpoints and often lead to stress and feelings of uncertainty.
Visa-free countries and territories include 24 destinations.
This means that Sri Lankan citizens do not need a visa to visit any of these countries. In addition to deciding whether visitors need a visa or not, each country also regulates the number of days foreign tourists can stay. Visa-free entry, visa on arrival and electronic visas can be used for short-term stays, typically 30 to 90 days. Embassy visas can be issued for short-term or long-term stays, even for those related to work, study and living abroad.
Electronic visa
The electronic visa system has been applied by many countries to facilitate the visa approval process.
Applications are made entirely online and approved documents are typically ready within 3 business days!
List of countries offering eVisas for Sri Lankan citizens
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Azerbaijan
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Iran
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Moldova
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
31 countries offer eVisa options for Sri Lankan passport holders, making it easier to visit their territory!eVisa holders can visit the countries listed above for short periods of time. The most popular options are 30 and 90 days. Therefore, the use of an electronic system is ideal when on vacation, short business trips or using public transport. All Sri Lankan citizens using the eVisa system are allowed to travel for leisure, business and transit.
Thus, it is possible to use tourist locations, explore other countries, do business or have a stopover when arriving at another destination.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a type of visa that can be issued after arriving at your chosen destination.
Like the eVisa, the VoA is issued for short-term visits, typically 30 or 90 days.
List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Sri Lankan citizens
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Laos
- Madagascar
- The Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Palau
- Pakistan
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vietnam
24 countries offer visa on arrival options for Sri Lankan citizens. Travelers planning to visit the destinations listed above do not need a visa before visiting. However, some countries still require certain documents to confirm the purpose of the trip, for example a return ticket, proof of booked accommodation or proof of having enough funds for the trip. Therefore, the first step to obtain a visa on arrival is to check whether there are any conditions that need to be met and documents that need to be prepared. Other than that, all that’s left to do is start your trip and go to the nearest border checkpoint to request the VoA application form.
Next, tourists should carefully fill out the application form, taking care to avoid making any errors in the data provided.
Final steps include paying the visa-on-arrival fee (if applicable) and waiting for approval. Approved VoAs can be issued by Sri Lankan citizens to stay abroad and enjoy all leisure, business and transit related activities. Hobbies include going on vacation, exploring foreign countries, and trying every tourist destination available.
Business use includes attending meetings, seminars, conferences and discussing new services. Finally, transit-related travel is also possible, meaning a stopover in these countries is easier with a visa on arrival. Additionally, it’s best to check if any VoA countries offer an additional eVisa option to avoid queuing on arrival and prepare for your trip.
Embassy visa
An embassy visa is a traditional visa issued by an official agency, embassy or consulate.
The application process typically includes multiple supporting documents to confirm the reason for travel.
List of countries that require an Embassy visa from Sri Lankan citizens
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Mali
- Malta
- The Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Lucia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Yemen
131 countries have required Sri Lankan citizens to have a valid embassy visa on arrival. This means that Sri Lankan passport holders must apply for a regular visa at least several weeks before the planned trip.
First of all, candidates should check the current requirements and prepare the necessary documents. Next, Sri Lankan citizens must fill out an application form providing the necessary personal data, passport details and information related to the intended trip. With the application form and documents completed, travelers must submit their application to the embassy. Additional steps may include a visa interview and visa fees, depending on the country selected.
Additionally, processing time can take up to several weeks. This is why it’s best to apply in advance.
Visa-free countries
Currently, 24 countries offer a visa-free entrance for citizens of Sri Lanka, making a trip to any of these destinations effortless.
List of visa-free countries for Sri Lankan citizens
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Gambia
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Lesotho
- Micronesia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Singapore
- Tajikistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Northern Cyprus
- Palestine
- South Ossetia
- Transnistria
- Cook Islands
- Niue
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Montserrat
Visiting any of the destinations listed above is as easy as preparing a valid passport, as this is often what is needed to cross borders with these countries.
Some destinations require you to present additional documents upon arrival, such as a return ticket or proof of booked accommodation. Traveling without a visa allows Sri Lankan citizens to engage in leisure, business or transit-related activities.
Visa-free travel is ideal for those on short vacations, those wanting to attend a business meeting, conference or seminar, and those in transit.
