Sri Lanka Visa & ETA Guide: How to Apply (Step by Step)
What the ETA is, who needs one, what it costs, how long approval takes and how to extend your stay once you're on the island.
Entering Sri Lanka is refreshingly simple compared with most of Asia, but the rules have changed a few times in recent years and there is a lot of outdated advice online. Here's how the Electronic Travel Authorisation actually works, in plain language, plus the mistakes we see travellers make at immigration.
What the ETA is
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is an online pre-approval, not a visa sticker. You apply before you fly, receive an approval notice by email, and immigration converts it into an entry stamp when you land. The standard tourist ETA allows a 30-day stay with double entry, valid for six months from the date of approval. Business and transit ETAs exist separately with their own conditions.
Who needs one
Almost every visitor. Travellers from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, the UAE and India all require an ETA. A rotating list of countries has been granted free or waived-fee entry at various points — the fee may change, but the requirement to register online generally does not. Always confirm on the official government portal before you travel.
How to apply, step by step
Apply only through the official Sri Lankan government ETA portal — there are dozens of look-alike agency sites charging three to four times the real price for the same service. You'll need your passport details, an address in Sri Lanka (your first hotel is fine), your arrival date and a card for payment. The form takes about ten minutes. Approval usually arrives by email within 24 to 48 hours, and often within a few hours.
What immigration will ask for
Carry a printed or screenshotted ETA approval, a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, proof of onward or return travel, and your first night's accommodation booking. Officers rarely ask for all of it, but they can, and airlines at check-in frequently ask for the return ticket before they'll board you.
Extending your stay
A 30-day tourist ETA can be extended in-country to 90 days, and then further, up to a total of six months. Extensions are handled at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla, Colombo, or increasingly through the online extension portal. Apply a few days before your current permission expires — overstaying carries a fine and slows down departure.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don't apply through unofficial agency sites. Don't mistype your passport number — the ETA is linked to it and a mismatch means re-applying at the airport counter. Don't assume visa-free announcements are permanent; the policy has been introduced, extended and revised repeatedly. And don't leave it to the airport: on-arrival processing exists but the queues can be long and the fee is higher.
Practical tips
- Use only the official government ETA portal — third-party sites charge a large markup for the identical approval.
- Passport must be valid for six months beyond your arrival date.
- Have proof of onward travel ready; airlines check it at check-in more often than immigration does.
- Apply three to five days before departure so there's time to fix any typo in your passport details.
- Screenshot your approval — airport wifi is not something to rely on when you land tired at 2am.
