Visa Service

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Transit Visa
• Entry Visa
• Diplomatic and Official Visa
• Journalist Visa

General Information on Visa

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

All foreign nationals are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka under the non-resident visa categories of Tourist, Business, and Transit.

The official Sri Lanka ETA website is:   https://eta.gov.lk 

All travelers are advised to keep a copy of their ETA approval with them when travelling to Sri Lanka. All payments related to ETA applications must be made only through the above official ETA website. 

Applicants are also advised to exercise caution regarding fraudulent third-party websites offering ETA application services for Sri Lanka. These unofficial websites often impose higher service charges, for which the Government of Sri Lanka accepts no responsibility. Furthermore, such websites are neither maintained nor authorized by the Sri Lankan Government authorities. Hence, all applicants are strongly advised to use only the official ETA website:  https://eta.gov.lk 

The applicants could receive their ETA visa approvals within 3 working days. Please note that if you do not receive the approval within 3 working days, you may log in to www.eta.gov.lk. On the home page, you can check your visa status. Please go to the eta home page, then select “Check Status” and enter your confirmation code & passport number. If the status indicates that your visa has been approved, please take a printout and carry it with you when traveling to Sri Lanka. An ETA holder is entitled to enter Sri Lanka within three months from the date of issue of ETA.

For further information, please contact:

Hotline: 0094 71 9967888
Telephone: 0094 11 2777638 - Monday to Friday 09.00 – 16.00 hrs IST (except for public holidays)
Fax: 0094 11 2674631
Email: eta@immigration.gov.lk , etasl@immigration.gov.lk
            controller@immigration.gov.lk

Web Site: www.immigration.gov.lk

Alert 01:

1. 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.

2. Nationals of the above-mentioned countries holding Diplomatic, Official, Service, or Ordinary passports are eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free-of-charge under this scheme.

3. Please note that all foreign nationals, including nationals of the above-mentioned 40 countries and nationals with bilateral reciprocal agreements with Sri Lanka (Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore), are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. As per the bilateral reciprocal agreement between Sri Lanka and Maldives, Maldivian nationals will receive 90 days tourist visa through ETA system.

4. The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for nationals of the above-mentioned 40 countries and for nationals of Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore will be processed free of charge. 

5. Under this scheme, tourists are entitled to a tourist visa free of charge valid for 30 days (Maldivian nationals will receive 90 days), with double-entry facility permitted from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka within the 30-day validity period.

6. Applicants who have obtained a free visa and wish to remain in Sri Lanka beyond 30 days may apply for a visa extension upon payment of the applicable visa fee.

7. Please note that except the nationals mentioned in above 4, nationals of all other countries shall continue to be subject to the general rules and regulations governing the Sri Lanka ETA system.

Alert 02:

Visitors from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Afghanistan and Syria who intend to apply for ETA may apply through a Sri Lankan Sponsor at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.

The following documents should be submitted to the Head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka through the Sri Lankan sponsor for consideration of the visa application:

• Request letter from the Sri Lankan sponsor
• Affidavit from the Sri Lankan sponsor signed before a Justice of the Peace or lawyer
• Certified copy of NIC or passport of the Sri Lankan sponsor
• Applicant's police clearance report
• Applicant's passport photocopy
• Proof of accommodation

Alert 03:

Visitors from Taiwan-China and Kosovo who intend to apply for Tourist or Business Visa may apply through a Sri Lankan Sponsor at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.

The following documents should be submitted to the Head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka through the Sri Lankan sponsor for consideration of the visa application:

• Request letter from the Sri Lankan sponsor
• Affidavit from the Sri Lankan sponsor signed before a Justice of the Peace or lawyer
• Certified copy of NIC or passport of the Sri Lankan sponsor

• Applicant's passport photocopy
• Proof of accommodation

General Information

What is a Sri Lankan Visa?

A Sri Lankan visa is an endorsement on a passport or a similar document to facilitate the legal entry of non-Sri Lankans into the country and to regulate the period of their stay and the conditions governing such stay.

Types of Visas

1. Non-Residence Visa (Visit Visa) 
   1. Tourist Visa 
   2. Business Visa (Visas for Conferences, Seminars and Workshops)

2. Transit Visa
3. Residence Visa
   1. Employment Category
   2. Investor Category
   3. Religious Category
   4. Student Category
   5. Personnel attached to Non-Governmental Organizations or International Non-Government Organizations and their dependents
   6. Registered Indians covered by the 1954 Indo-Lanka Agreement - Extension only
   7. Ex- Sri Lankans and their dependents
   8. Family Members of a Sri Lankan
   9. Diplomatic and Official visa
   10. My Dream Home Visa Programme - Extension only for the current visa holders
   11. Resident Guest Visa Programme- Extension only for the current visa holders
   12. Medical Visa
   13. Court Visa

Apply for visas through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka, Bangladesh:

• How can visa application forms be obtained?

From the Consular Division, of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka between 9.30 a.m. & 12.00 p.m. (Sunday to Thursday except public holidays)Download Sri Lankan Visa Application:

From https://www.hc-dhaka.gov.lk/   or https://www.immigration.gov.lk/ 

(Please submit your visa application in advance to avoid unnecessary delays)

• When can passports be collected?

Passports can be collected from 3.30 p.m to 04.30 p.m (Sunday to Thursday).

(Except public holidays)

• What are the contact points for visa-related inquiries?

Please call: 02-9896353 or Email: slhc.dhaka@mfa.gov.lk