Sri Lanka ETA
Everything you need for your Sri Lanka ETA: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Sri Lanka government portal- Validity
- 30 days
- Maximum stay
- 30 days
- Entry type
- Double
Overview
The Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, is Sri Lanka's online travel permit for short visits. It is the document the airline and Sri Lankan immigration check before you board and on arrival, and almost every visitor needs one before travelling. The tourist ETA is valid for 30 days from your first arrival, allows two separate entries during that window, and permits a stay of up to 30 days for leisure, family visits, short courses, business meetings or transit.
It is requested through the official portal, where tourism, business and transit each carry a different declaration of your purpose. The tourist ETA's government fee depends on your nationality: it is waived for 40 nationalities, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, India and the European Union, and is up to USD 50 for others, although it remains mandatory and must be approved before you fly. The ETA does not authorise paid employment, enrolment for a degree or long-term residence, which require the corresponding visa from a Sri Lankan mission.
Your authorisation is linked to the passport you apply with, so you must travel on that same document. Your Sri Lanka ETA is completed in your own language and every answer is reviewed against the current rules before it is submitted, so the authorisation, whatever its government fee, is also filed correctly the first time.
Sri Lanka ETA questions
How long does the Sri Lanka ETA take?
Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration typically issues ETAs within 24 to 72 hours of submission. Our Rush tier reviews within 24 hours; Super Rush ships same-day with priority queue handling.
Can I extend my stay beyond 30 days?
Yes, the ETA can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Colombo for up to six months total. The extension is processed locally and is separate from VisitPass. Our specialists share the procedure in your confirmation email.
Tourist or business ETA, which do I need?
Tourism covers leisure, family visits and short courses; business covers meetings, conferences and unpaid consultations. The wizard recommends the right category based on your itinerary. Paid work requires a separate work permit.
What if my Sri Lanka ETA is refused?
Most refusals stem from passport validity issues or incomplete itineraries, which our specialists pre-check before submission. The government fee depends on your nationality and is included in the all-inclusive price; if a paid application is refused for reasons outside your control, our service fee is refunded.
How much does the Sri Lanka ETA cost?
Sri Lanka's tourist ETA has a government fee that depends on your nationality: it is waived for 40 nationalities and is up to USD 50 for others. You pay one all-inclusive price that covers this government fee plus our service for preparing and reviewing your ETA in your language so it is submitted correctly before you fly.
How long is the Sri Lanka ETA valid?
The ETA is valid for 30 days from arrival with double-entry use. Tourism, business and transit categories are issued through the same portal but need different declarations.
What do I need to apply for the Sri Lanka ETA?
A passport valid at least six months, your travel and accommodation details and a payment card. A specialist reviews your declaration against current rules before submission.
Why is there a service fee if the government fee can be waived?
For 40 nationalities the tourist ETA carries no government fee, while others pay up to USD 50, and either way the amount is included in one all-inclusive price. Our service fee covers completing and reviewing the ETA in your language and submitting it correctly, so your authorisation is filed right the first time whether or not a government fee applies.
What does double entry mean on the Sri Lanka ETA?
Double entry means a single approved tourist ETA lets you enter Sri Lanka twice within its 30-day validity. You can leave the country and return once during that window, which is convenient for a short side trip to a neighbouring country, without applying for a new authorisation.
Do I need to print my Sri Lanka ETA?
Your approval is recorded electronically against your passport, so the airline and immigration can see it without a printout. Even so, we suggest saving the approval on your phone or printing a copy, along with your flight and accommodation details, in case you are asked to show it on arrival.
Who needs a Sri Lanka ETA?
Almost every foreign visitor needs an approved ETA before travelling, including travellers whose nationality is exempt from the government fee. Each traveller needs their own authorisation, children included, and you should hold it before you fly rather than relying on arranging anything at the airport.
Can I work or study in Sri Lanka on an ETA?
No. The ETA covers tourism, business meetings, short courses and transit only. Paid employment, enrolment for a degree or a long-term stay require the corresponding visa, which you apply for through a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission or the Department of Immigration.
How can I avoid having my Sri Lanka ETA refused?
Most problems come from small details: a name or passport number that does not match your passport exactly, a passport with under six months validity, or a missing accommodation address. Choose the category that matches your trip, give a real arrival date and place to stay, and double-check every field before you submit. We review your application against the current rules before it reaches the authority so these avoidable errors are caught early.
Do I need proof of funds or an onward ticket for Sri Lanka?
The online ETA form does not ask you to upload bank statements, but an immigration officer can ask at the border to see that you can support your stay and that you plan to leave. It helps to travel with a return or onward flight booking, your accommodation details and access to funds for the trip. Having these ready makes arrival smoother, even though they are not part of the ETA application itself.
How do I know this is the right service and not a scam?
The Sri Lanka ETA is issued by the government, and the tourist authorisation's government fee depends on your nationality, so you can use the official portal directly if you prefer. What VisitPass charges is a service fee for preparing and reviewing your ETA in your language and submitting it correctly, with a tracking code and email support throughout. We are not a government body and we never hide the official route.
When should I apply for my Sri Lanka ETA before travelling?
Apply once your trip is confirmed and you hold a passport valid for at least six months. Aim to start one to two weeks before departure so the approval is in hand well ahead of check-in, and give yourself more time during the busy December to March season and the April New Year period. If your plans are last-minute, our Rush and Super Rush tiers shorten our review so you can still travel on schedule.
More help from VisitPass
Browse our full Help Center for speed, payments, refunds, documents and security.
Visit the full Help CenterSri Lanka help desk
Have questions about your ETA? Email the Sri Lanka desk and we reply within 24 hours.
srilanka@visitpass-online.com