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Sri Lanka

Every Sri Lanka visa route, explained

Sri Lanka has a route for every purpose — short visits (the online tourist ETA), plus transit, business ETA, and residence visas for work, study and family. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to eta.gov.lk and the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Tourist ETA

Short visits for tourism — almost all visitors apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA): a 30-day stay with double entry, free for some nationalities and paid for the rest.

  • Tourists and short family/leisure visits
30 days, double entry (extendable up to 270 days)

19 verified step-by-step guides →

Transit

Transit visa

Short entry permit for travellers passing through Sri Lanka en route to another destination.

Up to 2 days

official page →

Study

Residence visa (study)

For foreign students enrolled in a recognised course or institution in Sri Lanka.

  • Students admitted to a Sri Lankan institution

official page →

Work & business

Business ETA

Online authorization for attending business meetings, conferences or trade exhibitions in Sri Lanka.

  • Business visitors and conference attendees
30 days, double/multiple entry

official page →

Residence visa (employment)

Long-stay visa for foreigners taking up approved employment in Sri Lanka, issued by the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

  • Foreigners with approved employment in Sri Lanka

official page →

Family & residence

Residence visa (family / dependant)

For dependants of a resident or of a Sri Lankan national to stay long-term.

  • Spouses and dependants of residents / nationals

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

Visit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) (19)

🇦🇺 Australia → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Australian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇦🇺 Australia (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Australian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇨🇳 China → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Chinese citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇨🇳 China (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Chinese citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇫🇷 France → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
French citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇫🇷 France (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
French citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇩🇪 Germany → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
German citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇩🇪 Germany (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
German citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇮🇳 India → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Indian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇮🇳 India (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Indian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇯🇵 Japan → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Japanese citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇯🇵 Japan (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Japanese citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇳🇱 Netherlands → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Dutch citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇳🇱 Netherlands (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Dutch citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇷🇺 Russia → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Russian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇷🇺 Russia (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Russian citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
British citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom (in United States) → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
British citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel. If you live in the United States, the process is identical — it is applied for online wherever you are.
🇺🇸 United States → Sri LankaVisit — ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
American citizens apply online for a Sri Lanka ETA — a 30-day stay with double entry, before they travel.