Sri Lanka eTA — apply online

Key details

Entry type

Double entry (ETA), valid 180 days, max 30 days per stay

Passport validity

At least 6 months from entry

Blank pages

1 required

Biometric data

Not required

Printed eVisa

Recommended — carry a printed copy

Israeli stamp

Accepted

Travel insurance

Not required

Yellow fever certificate

Not required

Photo specifications

Your applicant photo must meet these specifications, or the application may be rejected.

Dimensions

35 × 45 mm (600 × 750 px minimum)

Background

Plain white

File format

JPEG, max 1024 KB

Face size

Face fills 70–80% of the frame

Recency

Taken within the last 6 months

Tips & warnings

• Apply a few days ahead — processing is usually 1–3 business days.
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date.
• The ETA allows double entry and is valid 180 days, with up to 30 days per stay.

Practical notes

Country information

Capital

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Calling code

+94

Time zone

GMT+5:30

Population

≈22 million

Language

Sinhala & Tamil

Best time to visit

West and south coasts (Colombo, Mirissa, Galle) are driest Dec–Mar; the east coast (Trincomalee) is best May–Sep. The Cultural Triangle works year-round but is drier Oct–Jan. Two monsoons mean there's usually a dry coast somewhere.

Related destinations

How to apply

1. 1

   Choose your ETA category and check eligibility

   Decide whether you need a Tourist, Business, or Transit ETA, confirm that your nationality can use the online ETA, and make sure your passport will be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. Apply before you depart, as visa on arrival is no longer available.

2. 2

   Gather your documents and details

   Have your passport, personal details, travel dates, accommodation address, a recent passport-style photograph, and your payment card ready before you begin so the details exactly match your passport.

3. 3

   Complete the online application form

   Fill in the application accurately, entering your passport number, nationality, and date of birth exactly as they appear on your travel document, since incorrect details can lead to rejection.

4. 4

   Review and pay any applicable fees

   Check every detail carefully, then pay any applicable government fee plus our service fee, which is shown clearly before you confirm payment, using a debit or credit card. Many nationalities now receive the tourist ETA free of charge, so only the service fee may apply.

5. 5

   Receive your ETA approval notice

   Wait for processing, which usually takes around 24 to 72 hours, after which your ETA approval notice is sent to you by email as a PDF.

6. 6

   Print your approval and travel

   Save and print a copy of your ETA approval notice and carry it with you, along with your passport and proof of onward travel and funds, to present to the immigration officer on arrival.

After you apply & on arrival

• After you submit a successfully completed application, you promptly receive an acknowledgement notice confirming the application was received.
• Important: the acknowledgement notice is NOT permission to travel - you are not permitted to arrive in Sri Lanka until you receive the actual ETA Approval Notice, as the acknowledgement does not serve as entry approval.
• The Department then reviews the application and you will receive either an ETA approval notice or a referral notice.
• Approved/Granted means your ETA has been issued and you may travel; you should keep a copy of the approval (a printout of the approved status screen is acceptable) to produce at the port of entry.
• Pending means the application is still being processed or examined - you can check progress on the official status page or via the ETA call centre rather than re-submitting.
• Referred means the application was not approved and the system serves a referral notice to the applicant; if a referral notice is served you will be refused entry and returned to your original destination.
• If your application is missing or has unclear supporting information, you may be asked to correct or provide further documents (for example a clearer passport copy or photo, return ticket, or proof of funds), with communication via your registered email or the ETA contact channels.
• You can check your application status online using your confirmation code, passport number, nationality and date of birth, and there is a checkbox option to proceed if the confirmation code is not known.
• Print your ETA Approval Notice (or the approved status page) and carry it with you to present at immigration on arrival.
• On arrival, present at immigration your passport (valid at least six months from arrival), the ETA approval notice, a confirmed return/onward ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
• The immigration officer at the port of entry makes the final decision on whether to admit you - holding an approved ETA does not by itself guarantee entry, and the officer determines the stay granted.
• Routine fingerprinting/biometrics is not a stated part of the standard tourist arrival process; biometric enrolment requirements apply mainly to Sri Lankan passport matters rather than ordinary ETA tourists.
• You must enter and leave only through Sri Lanka's designated/approved ports, which include the airports Bandaranaike International (Katunayake), Mattala Rajapaksa International, Colombo International - Ratmalana, Jaffna International, Koggala and Batticaloa International, and the seaports Colombo, Galle, Hambantota International, Trincomalee, Kankesanthurai, Thalaimannar Pier, Norochcholai, Oluwil and Colombo Port City; the ETA is not valid for land border crossings.
• If you arrive without a prior ETA, a limited facility to obtain an ETA on arrival exists at the airport (you report to the ETA counter and complete the form), but applying and getting approval before you travel is strongly advised to avoid being refused or delayed.
• When you exit, leave before your authorized period (or extension) expires; an extension is single-entry and is automatically cancelled once you depart the country.

Before you apply

What everyone needs

• A passport valid for at least six months from your intended date of arrival in Sri Lanka, with the same details you will enter in the application.
• A valid email address where your ETA approval notice can be sent.
• Personal and passport details including full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and passport expiry date, all matching your travel document exactly.
• Your travel details, including your intended arrival date and your address or accommodation in Sri Lanka.
• A recent passport-style photograph with a white or plain light background, face clearly visible, taken within the last six months (commonly accepted as a JPEG or PNG file under about 500 KB and at least 350 x 350 pixels).
• A confirmed return or onward air ticket and evidence of sufficient funds for your stay, which may be checked at the port of entry.
• A debit or credit card to pay any applicable fees online at the time of application.
• It is best to apply at least a few days before travel, since processing usually takes around 24 to 72 hours and some applications are flagged for additional manual review.

Detailed information

Frequently asked questions