Sri Lanka ETA: free for 40 countries, still required for all

Sri Lanka asks every tourist to get an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, online before the trip. Since 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA has been free for citizens of 40 countries, which covers most visitors from North America, Europe, Australia and India. The requirement itself has not gone away, and that is the part people miss.

This guide is for anyone planning a holiday in Sri Lanka: who pays and who does not, how to apply on the official site, how long the tourist ETA lets you stay and how to extend it. It also covers the confusion over private visa websites and the questions people ask about the second entry.

The tourist ETA is issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration. The Department's notice puts the scheme in these words: "With effect from 25.05.2026, nationals of the following 40 countries are eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free-of-charge for a period of 30 days." It adds that tourists are entitled to the free ETA "with double-entry facility permitted from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka within the 30-day validity period."

The official information is on the Sri Lanka ETA site, and the free visa scheme is set out on the Department of Immigration and Emigration's free visa page. Both say the nationals of the 40 countries must still obtain an ETA; only the charge is waived. The ETA site also says that on the second entry "only the balance period of the 30 days will be granted."

Your passport should be valid for long enough. The UK government's entry requirements page says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the day you arrive. The ETA is an authorization to travel, and the immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision on entry, so carry your passport, your ETA approval and your onward travel details.

The 40 countries on the official list are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Separate arrangements apply to three more. The fee table says that under reciprocal and bilateral agreements, Singapore and Seychelles get a free tourist ETA for 30 days and Maldives for 90 days. Children of any nationality under 12 years of age are eligible for a free tourist ETA up to 30 days. If their stay exceeds 30 days, visa extension fees apply according to their nationality.

Everyone else pays. The official fee table lists a tourist ETA at US$20 for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries and US$50 for all other countries, when you apply online or through a Sri Lankan overseas mission or the head office. Buying the ETA on arrival costs more: US$25 for South Asian countries and US$60 for all other countries. A business ETA is priced separately at US$30 and US$55, and a transit ETA for 2 days is free. Check your country against the free list before you pay anything, because the list is the only thing that decides whether you are charged.

Apply on eta.gov.lk. The site lists the categories for a short visit: tourist purposes such as sightseeing, holidaying, visiting friends and relatives and medical treatment, business purposes such as meetings and conferences, and transit. Choose the category that matches the main purpose of your trip. The site's FAQ says American Express, Master and Visa cards are the only electronic payment cards accepted, so if you pay a fee, check that your card is one of the three. If your nationality is on the free list, the payment step should show no charge for a 30-day tourist ETA.

Apply a few days before you fly, or earlier. The FAQ says an ETA can be obtained even before you book your ticket, and the site does not publish a guaranteed processing time, so give yourself margin. Enter your passport number exactly. If you renew your passport after approval, check with the Department before you travel, because the ETA is tied to the passport details you entered. The FAQ also says that if you hold a valid ETA, a fresh ETA cannot be obtained with the same passport until that ETA expires, and that if you lose the passport that holds the ETA you may apply again by paying the relevant fee again.

You can check the status of an application on the same site with your reference number, and the FAQ lists a 24/7 ETA call center number. If the status does not change after several days, contact the Department through the details on eta.gov.lk rather than paying a second time on another site. Groups apply person by person, including children, even though children under 12 do not pay.

One point deserves a careful read. The official FAQ says an ETA "is not a pre-condition to board a flight/vessel to Sri Lanka." The Department's notice, by contrast, says all foreign nationals are "required to obtain" an ETA prior to arrival, and the UK government advises applying online before you travel. Treat the ETA as mandatory, apply before you fly, and ask your airline whether it checks it at check-in, because airline policies are set by the airline and not by the Department.

The tourist ETA gives you 30 days from your first arrival, and that is what the free scheme covers. The ETA site says the ETA is initially limited to 30 days validity from the date of arrival, although it may be extended for up to six months. For a longer holiday, plan the extension before you go: the Department's notice says applicants who have obtained a free visa and wish to remain beyond 30 days may apply for a visa extension "upon payment of the applicable visa fee."

The fee page points to the Department's e-services portal for extensions of more than 30 days, after you arrive in Sri Lanka. The fee depends on your nationality, so check the current table on the official site before you decide to stay longer. If you hold a valid residence visa or multiple-entry visa, the FAQ says a fresh ETA application cannot be lodged until that visa expires or is cancelled.

Business travelers use a separate business ETA, which is not covered by the free tourist scheme and has its own fee. If you are combining a conference with a holiday, apply for the category that matches the main purpose of the trip, and keep proof of the business purpose with you.

At Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, show your passport and your ETA approval at immigration. Keep your bookings on your phone, since a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation are standard things for an immigration officer to ask for anywhere. The stamp in your passport shows the date by which you must leave, so check it before you walk away from the desk.

If you plan to leave for a few days and return, count the days before you book. The second entry does not reset the 30 days. For itineraries that run from Colombo to Kandy, Ella and the south coast, see the Sri Lanka guide, and for medical and trip cover, the travel insurance guides.

Apply as soon as your dates are firm. Print the approval or save it where you can open it offline, and make sure the passport number on it matches the passport in your bag. If your nationality is one of the 40, the payment step should show no charge for a 30-day tourist ETA. If a site asks you to pay for it anyway, you are not on the official site. If your nationality is not on the list, the online fee is US$20 or US$50.

Plan the second entry carefully. Many travelers combine Sri Lanka with the Maldives or southern India. The tourist ETA allows two entries, but the 30 days keep running while you are away, so a week in the Maldives in the middle of a 30-day ETA leaves you about three weeks for Sri Lanka, not four. If you want a longer holiday, either apply for an extension or shorten the Sri Lanka leg of your trip.

Think about a backup plan. If your ETA application is delayed and you are close to your departure date, ask the Department how to proceed rather than relying on the on-arrival option, which is higher in price and has its own queue. If you travel with children, remember that each child needs an ETA even though children under 12 do not pay. For the rest of your preparation, the India e-Visa guide is useful if you add southern India to the trip.

From 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA has been free for 40 countries, as the Department of Immigration and Emigration says on its free visa page. Citizens of Singapore, Seychelles and the Maldives also receive free tourist ETAs under reciprocal agreements. The Department's page says that except for the nationals eligible for the free ETA, nationals of all other countries "shall continue to be subject to the general rules and regulations governing the Sri Lanka ETA system."

The official pages opened on 2 October 2026 did not give an end date for the free scheme. If your trip is far in the future, check the free list again before you apply, because a scheme described as "with effect from" a date can change.