VISA: Required
Visa Issuance:
Countries NOT eligible for VISA ON ARRIVAL: Passengers from these 14 countries need to get approval from Sri Lankan embassy in their countries for visa on arrival service. Once the documents are verified, embassy will send an email to the passenger mentioning that he or she is eligible to get visa on arrival in Sri Lanka. We can board these PAX from table 01 countries If they are holding an email from embassy. For this they have introduced email address as below:
Additional Information:
Warning:
Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry.
Passport Requirement: Passport required.
Document Validity: Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.
Sri Lanka is a small country surrounded by the Indian Ocean. It is quite recognisable due to its unique teardrop-like shape. This island country has so much to see and do, from the staggering Lotus Tower in Colombo to the Nine Arches Bridge at Ella, not to forget their sandy beaches and tropical forests.
A Sri Lanka visa is all you need to enter the country and experience it all. To apply for a Sri Lanka visa online is hassle-free. There are several types of visas, which include those for tourism, business, residence, and transit. Sri Lanka visa for Indians has an added benefit with visa on arrival option. But for this, you will need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before leaving for Sri Lanka.
Note:
Planning to visit Sri Lanka? Here is a chance to enter the country without the hassle of going through the visa process. Sri Lanka is offering visa-free for Indian nationals with immediate effect starting from October 1st, 2024. This visa-free entry is available for six months. To learn more about Sri Lanka visas, visit the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration website.
To apply for a Sri Lanka visa online, you need to visit the official website. These are the steps you need to keep in mind:
Apart from the eTA, there are other ways to apply for Sri Lanka visa, that are as follows.
You can check your visa application on the official website using the confirmation number, you receive after submitting the application, along with your passport number.
There are different types of Sri Lanka visas depending on your purpose of visit, either for travel or business. Some of them are mentioned below.
A tourist visa is a popular type of visa to enter a country. Through this visa, tourists can go for sightseeing, excursions, and visiting friends and relatives.
The tourist visa for Sri Lanka is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
By taking the Sri Lanka visa for tourism, you are eligible to stay for a period of three months. The visa can be extended for a maximum of six months.
The processing time for a Sri Lanka tourist visa may take up to four working days. The Sri Lanka visa process may take longer if the information in your official documents is not correct.
A business visa is issued to foreign nationals whose purpose for visiting Sri Lanka is business. This visa may be issued for single, double, or multiple entries, depending on the type of business you have in Sri Lanka.
The business visa's validity is for three months from the date of issue. Kindly check the official website for additional information regarding visa validity.
The stay duration of the business visa in Sri Lanka is for a period of 30 days.
The processing time for Sri Lanka business visa may take two to four working days. The Sri Lanka visa process may take longer if the information in your official documents is not correct.
A transit visa for Sri Lanka is suitable for those who plan for a short stay, before boarding an onward flight to their final destination. If you have a long layover in Sri Lanka, you can apply for transit visa, which enables you to go out from the arrival point and explore the sites.
The transit visa is valid for two to seven days, depending on the layover or your intent to stay in Sri Lanka. Beyond seven days, if you wish to stay for longer, you will need to change to tourist/business visa.
Sri Lanka transit visas allow visitors to stay for two days without additional cost. However, for a longer transit visa, up to seven days, you will be charged an additional amount.
The processing time for Sri Lanka transit visa may take two to four working days. The Sri Lanka visa process may take longer if the information in your official documents is not correct.
This type of Sri Lanka visa is provided to students coming to the country to pursue a course. The approval of this visa is processed in Colombo by the Department of Immigration.
Student visas are valid till the duration of the course .
Based on the duration of the course, a visa is provided to the students.
The processing time for Sri Lanka student visa may take two to four working days. The Sri Lanka visa process may take longer if the information in your official documents is not correct
The citizens of the following countries can apply for a Sri Lanka visa on arrival.
The citizens of the following countries can apply for a Sri Lanka visa from the embassy.
How can I extend my Sri Lankan visa?
Your visa can be extended by submitting the application to the Department of Immigration in Sri Lanka. Remember to do so before the current visa expires.
For how long will my Sri Lanka visa be valid?
Sri Lanka's eTA visa is valid for 30 days and it can be extended in the country for an additional six months. The visa obtained through the embassy is valid for three months for a single, double, or multiple entry. The transit visa, on the other hand, is initially issued for two days.
What is the normal processing time for a Sri Lanka visa?
The normal visa processing time for Sri Lanka visa may take two to four working days. However, the process may take additional days.
Are Sri Lanka eVisa and eTA for Indian citizens the same?
Yes, the eVisa and eTA are the same, they can both be obtained online for visits to Sri Lanka.
How can I track my visa application?
You can check your visa application on the official website using the confirmation number, you receive after submitting the application, along with your passport number.