Sri Lanka Visa Online
Welcome to the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) official website of the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E) of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a pre-travel authorization system for citizens & residents of Sri Lanka who want to visit or transit through other countries.
For a short stay in Sri Lanka, you should obtain an ETA before your trip, valid from 1st January 2012.
If you’re from Singapore, Maldives, or Seychelles, coming to Sri Lanka for tourist purposes and living there for at least 3 out of the past 5 years, and visiting Sri Lanka less than 3 months a year, you don’t need to apply for a Sri Lanka visa online.
The issuing authority of the ETA is Immigration and Emigration.
Travelers can get an ETA online. There are a few other ways to go about getting one, though. They just take a little more effort.
If your passport is for diplomatic or official use, you’re more than welcome to submit your application through a state agency. These agencies include ministries, statutory bodies, and Sri Lanka overseas missions.
The ETA is valid for 30 days from arrival but can be extended for up to 6 months.
For more information, visit http://www.immigration.gov.lk.
How to submit a Sri Lanka visa online
ETA application can be submitted using one of the following options:
- By the applicant
- By the Third party
- At Sri Lanka Overseas Missions
- At the head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E), Colombo
- On arrival at the port of entry in Sri Lanka
General Instructions.
When you plan a trip to visit, do business, or travel through Sri Lanka, you must apply for an ETA and get approval before arriving.
Steps to be followed:
- Submit the application.
- Receive the acknowledgment.
- Receive ETA approval or referral notice. If a referral notice is served, you may contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration for the necessary ETA.
When applying for an Sri Lanka visa online, please submit it electronically. We will not offer refunds under ANY circumstances.
An ETA holder is entitled to enter Sri Lank within 3 months of ETA issuance.
If the ETA application has been rejected, the system will send a referral notification to the applicant. They need to contact the nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission for necessary assistance.
Submission of ETA application Online.
If you plan a short visit to Sri Lanka, you can submit your Sri Lanka visa online application to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.
Steps to be followed:
- Fill out the ETA application and send it back to us. You can pay with your credit/debit cards online or over the phone, then click “Submit Application.”
- We only accept Mastercard, Visa, & American Express. If you don’t have one of those or can’t pay electronically, your last resort is to send us a cheque.
- Your application was received; thank you! It will be reviewed after submission, and you’ll be promptly notified if approved.
- To check your ETA application status, you may log onto the ETA website or contact 24/7 dedicated ETA WhatsApp.
We recommend checking the website beforehand if you’re considering traveling to Sri Lanka. You’ll need an ETA approval if you want to enter the country, and you should make sure you have it printed out for when you arrive at the airport or port.
- A passport is valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay.
Your ETA is valid for 30 days from arriving in the UK. It can be extended up to 6 months, but certain conditions must be met.
Submission of ETA application by Third Party.
If you’re coming to Sri Lanka for a short trip and are looking to apply for an ETA, make sure you’re applying through a third party, like a travel agency, airline, or Aid-Air.
Steps to be followed:
- Contact and advise your preferred third party to lodge your ETA application.
- The third party may be the one who pays for and submits your application.
- Visa, Master, and American Express only- no other card will be accepted. Once you have submitted your application successfully, you’ll get a confirmation email as per your request in the application form. View sample Acknowledgement.
- You’ll get your ETA approval notice or referral notice. You might need to get in touch with the Department of Immigration and Emigration for help if it’s a referral.
- To check your ETA application status, you may log on to the ETA website or contact the 24/7 dedicated ETA WhatsApp.
When traveling to Sri Lanka, ensure you have your ETA approval copy. All ETA holders should fulfill the following requirements at their port of entry.
- A passport is valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay.
If the package from overseas takes longer than 30 days to arrive, you can extend the deadline for up to six months.
Submission of ETA application through Sri Lanka Overseas Missions.
If you plan a trip to Sri Lanka, you can submit your ETA application through the Sri Lankan Embassy. Check out the extended list of Sri Lankan Embassies found in the links.
You might want to visit an Embassy if you want to get an visitor visa, and it sounds like you already have a sri lanka visa online linked to your passport.
The Sri Lanka Overseas Missions are authorized to issue ETAs for up to 30 days and Business Visas with different validity periods (single, double, or multiple) for up to 3 months. The charges may vary depending on the duration of the visa.
Steps to be followed:
- Proceed to the nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission. Fill in the ETA and/or visa application and hand it over to the visa officer with the relevant fee.
- With the consent of the Dept Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka Overseas Mission will be able to issue 3-day non-extendable tourist visas in just three business days.
- Once you submit the application, we’ll send the applicant a confirmation message and their reference number.
- The Overseas Mission can view the application status.
- They will let you know if your visa is okay or let you collect your passport with the new endorsed visa.
- To check your ETA application status, you may log on to the ETA website or contact our 24/7 dedicated ETA WhatsApp.
Keep a copy of your Sri Lanka visa online approval with you when trying to get into Sri Lanka.
You’ll need to present it at the border, and you’ll need to show the following things:
- A passport is valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay.
The Sri Lanka visa online can be up to 30 days after everything’s been routed through Customs, but it might be extended for more than 60 days in case of delays.
Submitting an ETA application at the Head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E).
Suppose you want to invite someone who lives abroad to come to visit Sri Lanka for a holiday or on a business trip.
In that case, you can apply by visiting the Department of Immigration and Emigration Head office at Suhurupaya, Sri Subuthipura Road, Baththaramul.
Steps to be followed:
- The Department of Immigration and Emigration office is in Colombo. You can fill out the form for ETA processing, pay the related fee and talk to a visa officer about your application.
- A notification of approval or referral will be sent as requested in the application to the applicant with a copy to the party who submitted the application.
- Get your ETA granted or approved. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration if you got a referral notice.
- To check your ETA application status, you may log onto the ETA website or contact our 24/7 dedicated ETA WhatsApp.
There are some essential things to remember when traveling with an Sri Lanka visa online. Make sure you have a copy of your approval letter and the following items on hand:
- A passport is valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay.
This is a 30-day window. It may be extended up to six months.
Submitting an ETA Application at Port of Entry to Sr Lanka.
A limited facility to obtain ETA at BIA is available for travelers who wish to visit Sri Lanka without prior ETA approval. Additional fees will apply.
Steps to be followed:
- On arrival at the BIA, report to the ETA issuing counter, fill in the application form for your ETAs, and pay the processing fee in US$. Credit cards/debit cards with personalized security codes (e-commerce) or cash in US$ are acceptable.
- If the application is approved, it’ll take 30 days or so for your new driver’s license to arrive.
- If you cannot prove that this is your first time entering the country and have no travel documents, you’ll be refused entry and transported back to your original destination. If referral notice is served, you will not be able to continue at the airport.
- Once you have received your ETA, please go to the Immigration Counter and submit your passport.
It’s a good idea to ensure you have your visa-approved copy. You can bring it with you when you travel to the BIA and show it there.
For those traveling, it’s essential to be prepared by having all these requirements:
- A passport is valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- Sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay.
The ETA is initially limited to 30 days from the date of arrival but it may be extended for up to six months.