Sri Lanka ETA Visa Guide: How to Apply in 2026

Since October 2024, Sri Lanka has offered free 30-day tourist ETAs to citizens of more than 35 countries, a policy still in effect through 2026. If the last thing you read about Sri Lankan visas described a paid application process, it's worth a second look — for many travellers, including most from the UK, Europe, Australia and India, this step now costs nothing.

What the ETA actually is

The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is not a visa stamp in your passport. It's an electronic pre-approval, linked to your passport number, that immigration checks when you land at Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) or Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. You apply before you fly; there's no embassy visit involved for the vast majority of tourists.

Who currently qualifies for the free 30-day ETA

Citizens of over 35 countries — a list that has included the UK, most of the EU, Australia, and a number of other major source markets for Sri Lankan tourism — can currently get a 30-day tourist ETA at no cost. The exact list is set by the Sri Lankan government and has changed before, so check the official ETA portal for your specific nationality rather than relying on any article, including this one, to confirm eligibility on the day you apply.

If your nationality isn't on the free list, you can still apply for a paid ETA through the same official process.

How to apply

1. Apply online, before you travel. Go to the official Sri Lanka ETA government portal — search for it directly rather than clicking a link from an email or ad, since several unofficial lookalike sites charge USD 50–100+ for the same free or lower-cost service.
2. Fill in your details. Passport information, travel dates, and contact details. The form itself usually takes under 15 minutes.
3. Pay if applicable. If your nationality qualifies for the free scheme, there's no fee. Otherwise you'll pay online by card through the official payment gateway.
4. Wait for approval by email. Processing is typically quick — often within a day, sometimes longer — so apply at least a few days before departure rather than at the airport.
5. Save or print the approval. You'll be asked for it at check-in and again by immigration on arrival.

Before you apply

• Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity remaining from your date of entry.
• Double-check the official ETA site's URL before entering any payment details — this is the single most common way travellers overpay for something that may be free for their nationality.
• An ETA covers tourism; if you're travelling for business or a longer stay, check which category actually applies to you on the official portal.

Getting the rest of your trip sorted

Once your ETA is approved, the practical planning can start — working out how long to stay, which regions to combine, and how to get between them. Our first-time visitor guide and step-by-step planning guide cover exactly that.

Once you have dates in mind, send them to us and we'll build the itinerary around them — including your flight booking if you'd like us to handle that alongside the rest of the trip.