Sri Lanka is the easiest destination to visit in South Asia - especially if you want to experience tropical island life which is not too far from India but also has so many interesting cultural differences and a unique identity! But as always, it is very important to check the visa regulations before planning a visit to this amazing country.
This Sri Lanka Tourist Visa for Indians thread is specifically to share latest and accurate information about the Sri Lanka tourist visa as applicable to an Indian passport holder.
This is the current visa rule (as of June 2024):
- Indian passport holders are eligible for a straight forward Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) as a SAARC member
- the ETA allows for visits ranging from under 30 days (single entry) to much longer under a 10 year (multiple entry) visa
- At immigration, upon being stamped in, it is best to verify the visa date and stay duration allowed as per the visa stamping in the passport to avoid exit-related issues while departing from the country
Official Sri Lanka ETA / Tourist Visa Government website/portal: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/
Important: The Sri Lanka ETA cannot be extended for stay beyond what is allowed in the approved ETA letter.
Documents required to apply for the visa upon arrival:
- Original Passport and copies of its front and back page
- In some rare cases, additional documents may be sought by the visa officers
Processing time for the visa:
- Almost instantly (sometimes upto five business days)
Cost of the visa:
USD 40 for 30 days ETA - this fee is currently WAIVED OFF for Indian passports (check official website for latest information in this regard)
Immigration requirements:
At the airport or seaport, present the passport and ETA to the officer along with any additional documents sought (such as accommodation details, exit flight details, etc.) to obtain a visa entry stamp for 30 days
Share your latest experiences of obtaining the Sri Lanka Tourist Visa or passing through immigration, as replies/comments in this thread. This will be very helpful to fellow travellers and members of this travel community who are planning a trip to Sri Lanka.
