Free visa for 40 selected countries when arriving in Sri Lanka

The Department of Immigration and Emigration announces that the Sri Lankan government has introduced a special visa policy targeting short-term tourists from 40 selected countries, effective from May 25, 2026. Under this new program, eligible tourists will have the opportunity to obtain a tourist visa free of charge for a period of 30 days through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

The list of 40 countries eligible for this free ETA facility includes Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Nationals holding diplomatic, official, service, or ordinary passports from these countries can avail themselves of this facility.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration emphasizes that even though visa fees are waived, all foreign nationals must obtain ETA approval before arriving in Sri Lanka. This mandatory requirement also applies to citizens of countries with reciprocal agreements such as Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore, and the ETA application process is compulsory for all visitors arriving under the new system.

The Department has confirmed that no fees will be charged for ETA applications submitted by citizens of the countries listed above, as well as Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore. However, tourists who have paid ETA fees before May 25, 2026, will not be able to obtain a refund. Under the current plan, tourists are allowed to stay in Sri Lanka for a maximum of 30 days, while Maldivian nationals can stay for up to 90 days. Additionally, tourists will be granted double-entry permission during the validity period of the visa.

Tourists wishing to stay in Sri Lanka beyond the approved 30-day period can apply for an extension of their visa by paying the relevant extension fees. The Department of Immigration and Emigration further states that, apart from the waiver of ETA processing fees for eligible tourists, all other rules and regulations governing the ETA system will remain in effect.