Visa/Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

  

The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka has introduced an online visa authorization facility, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), with effect from 1 October 2011. The ETA facility has been introduced on 1st October, 2011 on a trial basis and will be fully operational with effect from 1st January, 2012.

The ETA is initially limited to 30 days from the date of arrival and it may be extended up to six (06) months. Foreign nationals, who intend to visit Sri Lanka for Short Stay up to six months, must obtain ETA, prior to their arrival with effect from 1st of January 2012. The ETA is issued through on-line system www.eta.gov.lk . No passport copies, documents or photograph are required. There is no requirement to endorse the ETA in the passport.

If the applicant intend to visit Sri Lanka for one month or less than one month can obtain the ETA in the official website www.eta.gov.lk If the applicant wishes to stay more than one month can obtain the visa at the Embassy of Sri Lanka. Required documents are 

1. Original passport and a photocopy   2. Duly filled application   3. Copy of the Flight ticket   4. Relevant fee 

Foreign nationals intend to visit Sri Lanka for Official or Diplomatic purposes should forward their applications to the Department of Immigration & Emigration through relevant Sri Lanka Government Ministries and Agencies or Sri Lanka Overseas Missions. The authority to issue ETA lies with the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo , Sri Lanka .

On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of The Republic of Singapore, The Republic of Maldives and Seychelles are exempted from the requirement of obtaining ETA to visit Sri Lanka. (Up to 30 days)

Notes:    Gratis (Free of Charge) basis is applicable only for Diplomatic and Official passport holders.

  1. The Gratis ETA is granted for normal passport holders, if arrangements have been made between the Government of Sri Lanka and the respective countries.
  2. For personal visits, Diplomatic & Official passport holders should follow the normal ETA application procedure.

Further details on ETA could be obtained from the Department Websites at www.immigration.gov.lk or http://www.eta.gov.lk

Notice

Notice is hereby given that the on line Business ETA facility is opened to potential applicants in addition to the existing facility of obtaining Business ETA from Sri Lanka Overseas Missions and the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo

When applying ETA by third parties, payments are to be made through the arrangement made in our website www.eta.gov.lk and obtain acknowledgment of ETA application. Convenience fee will be charged for all online transactions according to the merchant discount  rate published by each bank on the payment window. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not vaild to process  a valid ETA. Therefore always ensure that the payments made by accessing to Sri Lanka ETA website and avoid making repayment at the port of entry to Sri lanka.

Visitors from Cameroon, Nigeria, lvory Coast and Ghana who intend to apply ETA may adopt one of the following channels such as approaching to nearest  Sri lanka Overseas Mission or applying through Sri Lanka Sponsor for their ETA  through the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

Those who hold passports of listed countries 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. 

However any foreign national who will be visiting Sri Lanka foe a short period is required to apply ETA and ensure pre approval before the journey to avoid unnecessary delays at the port of entry and adhere with enhanced pre clearance.

The list of countries  applicable for the ETA fee waiver program.

Thailand,      Iceland ,      United Kingdom ,   United States of America,    Japan,  Australia,     South Korea,   Canada,   Singapore,  New Zealand,   Malaysia, Switzerland, Cambodia, Chaina,  India,  Indonesia,  Israel,  Ukraine,  Philippine,  Russia