Sri Lanka · Entry rules
Who needs a visa for Sri Lanka?
Entry rules for Sri Lanka by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked .
In brief
No nationality can visit Sri Lanka without a visa under its official rules. 3 need a visa before they travel. Everyone else, 195 nationalities, applies online for an eVisa or ETA.
- Visa-free
- 0
- On arrival
- 0
- eVisa or ETA
- 195
- Visa required
- 3
About 26 m people (0% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to Sri Lanka: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.
Checked 31 Oct 2026Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri LankaReport a change
Most common
India
United States
Pakistan
Hong Kong
Vietnam
Saudi ArabiaAll passports
Sri Lanka entry rules at a glance
| Group | Stay | Nationalities | Examples | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETA, with conditions | 30 to 90 days | 3 | Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles | Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka |
| ETA, with conditions | 30 days, double entry | 40 | India, United States, Pakistan, China | Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka |
| ETA, with conditions | 30 days, double entry | 5 | Nigeria, Afghanistan, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire | Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka |
| Visa required | Not stated | 3 | Syria, Kosovo, Taiwan | Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka |
| ETA | Not stated | 147 | Brazil, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mexico | Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka |
ETA for 30 to 90 days with conditions: Singapore, the Maldives and Seychelles
ETA issued free of charge.
Maldives
Seychelles
SingaporeSource: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked As per the bilateral reciprocal agreement between Sri Lanka and Maldives, Maldivian nationals will receive 90 days tourist visa through ETA system.
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for nationals of the above-mentioned 40 countries nationals of Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore will be processed free of charge.
ETA for 30 days with conditions: India, the US, Pakistan and 37 more
ETA issued free of charge (scheme in force since 25 May 2026, no end date given).
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belarus
Belgium
Canada
China
Czechia
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany- India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Malaysia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman- Pakistan
Poland
Qatar
Russia- Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Türkiye
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom- United States
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked 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.
ETA for 30 days with conditions: Nigeria, Afghanistan, Ghana and 2 more
No online ETA: apply through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office in Battaramulla (sponsor letter and affidavit, police clearance, proof of accommodation).
Afghanistan
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
NigeriaSource: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked Visitors from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Afghanistan who intend to apply for ETA may apply through Sri Lankan Sponsor for their ETA from the Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka.
Visa required: Syria, Kosovo and Taiwan
Kosovo and Taiwan: tourist or business visa only through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office.
Syria: tourist or business visa only through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office.
Kosovo
Syria
TaiwanSource: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked Visitors from Taiwan-China and Kosovo who intend to apply for Tourist or Business visa may apply through Sri Lankan Sponsor at the Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka.
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked Visitors from Syria who intend to apply for Tourist or Business visa may apply through Sri Lankan Sponsor at the Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka.
ETA: Brazil, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and 144 more
Everyone not listed above: eta.
Nationalities not listed above: the official source says so in as many words.
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
DR Congo
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras- Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Iraq
Ireland
Jamaica
Jordan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nicaragua
Niger
North Korea
North Macedonia
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Suriname
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela- Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Source: Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked An intended traveller visiting Sri Lanka for a short stay for following purposes, must obtain ETA prior approval for their arrival.
If you live in the UAE
Emirati citizens: eta, 30 days, double entry (ETA issued free of charge (scheme in force since 25 May 2026, no end date given)).
UAE residents, any passport: No residence rule. All visitors need an ETA before arrival. Free for Indian and Pakistani nationals; USD 50 for Filipino nationals. Source: Sri Lanka ETA portal, checked 30 Oct 2026. See Sri Lanka in the visa-free table for UAE residents, by passport.
Where to apply
Apply for the ETA only on the official site, eta.gov.lk. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of Sri Lanka, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.
These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules. Our guides: Sri Lanka ETA: who needs one, the fee and the official website.
Most searched passports
FAQ
Do I need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?
It depends on your passport: 195 can use an eVisa or ETA and 3 need a visa. Choose your passport above.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, but online: Indian citizens apply for an ETA before they travel (30 days, double entry); ETA issued free of charge (scheme in force since 25 May 2026, no end date given) (Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Do US citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, but online: US citizens apply for an ETA before they travel (30 days, double entry); ETA issued free of charge (scheme in force since 25 May 2026, no end date given) (Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Can I apply for a Sri Lanka visa online?
Yes, if you are eligible: 195 nationalities can apply online for an eVisa or ETA. Apply only at eta.gov.lk.
Sources and changes
- All groups checked against Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. No change since.
Something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.