To enter Sri Lanka, a visa is necessary. If your visit is short-term, it's essential to acquire an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before your arrival.
The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) serves as an official permit for short visits to Sri Lanka and is processed via an online platform. It's mandatory for tourists, business travelers, and those transiting through Sri Lanka. Obtaining an ETA doesn't necessitate submitting passport copies, documents, or photographs. Upon arrival, ETA holders will receive a 30-day short visit visa at Sri Lanka's entry ports.
Citizens from all nations, except those listed below, must obtain an ETA for visiting Sri Lanka.
However, nationals from the following countries are exempt from obtaining an ETA for short visits lasting up to 30 days:
- Singapore
- Maldives
- Seychelles
The ETA processing fee for a Tourist visa with Double Entry, valid for 30 days, is US$ 15 for citizens of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. For citizens of all other countries, the fee is US$ 30. Children below 12 years of age are exempt from the ETA fee. For a comprehensive list of ETA processing fees, please refer to the ETA Website
Sinhala and Tamil stand as Sri Lanka's official languages, while English acts as a universal medium understood by most. However, its prevalence diminishes off the beaten path. Expect English to be spoken at hotels, prominent eateries, and shops. Tourslanka caters to foreign visitors by offering guides fluent in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Road signs, except for a few, are bilingual, featuring both Sinhalese and English.
