Sri Lank has enacted a six-month test program that offers free 30 days tourist visa from 35 different countries, including India as of 1st October 2024.
This program is implemented with an aim of improving tourism by eliminating the normal visa fee for eligible visitors. During this period, therefore, the Indian passport holders can get a 30 days tourist visa to Sri Lanka free. However, they must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online before traveling to Sri Lanka.
This is a test programs and therefore it is short term and subject to change. Therefore, travellers are urged to check the current visa regulation and requirements, and any fees associated prior to planning their Sri Lanka tour.
A Sri Lanka visa is an official travel permit given to foreign visitors to allow the to enter and stay in Sri Lanka for a specific period. The visa governs the time you will stay in the country and also the conditions of your stay.
The government of Sri Lanka offers several types of visas including online visas (Electronic Travel Authorization-ETA), visa on arrival and embassy issued visa. The type of visa you apply for depends on your nationality and also the reason you are travelling to Sri Lanka. Unless you qualify for an on-arrival visa or you are a citizen of the visa exempt countries, you must apply for a Sri Lankan visa before travelling there.
This visa is given to travellers visiting Sri Lanka for leisure, sightseeing or short-term visits. If you are travelling to Sri Lanka for a holiday, to visit your relatives or friends, to seek medical treatments, to perform as an artist or dancer or even participate in sporting activities for a short period, you are supposed to apply for the Sri Lankan tourist visa.
This Sri Lanka visa is given to foreigners who are visiting Sri Lanka for business reasons for a short period. This type of visa can be given for single or multiple entries to Sri Lanka, meaning you can use it to enter the country multiple times within its validity period.
A transit visa to Sri Lanka is given to travellers passing through Sri Lanka to another destination and have a layover of more than 8 hours but they don’t intend to stay in the country for more than 2 days. The visa is valid for 48 hours so you must exit the country within 2 days of your arrival.
A visa on arrival is issued to eligible nationalities and it allows them to travel to Sri Lanka without a prearranged visa. The visa is issued at the airport so when you arrive you just head to the immigration counter dealing with on arrival visas. Not all travellers can apply for this visa, unless your country is eligible to get it.
Most travellers need to have a visa to visit Sri Lanka except those from visa exempt countries. Citizens of Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore are allowed to enter Sri Lanka without a visa and they can stay in the country without the visa.
| United Kingdom | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium |
| Spain | Australia | Denmark | Poland |
| Kazakhstan | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Nepal |
| China | India | Indonesia | Russia |
| Thailand | Malaysia | Japan | France |
| United States | Canada | Czech Republic | Italy |
| Switzerland | Austria | Israel | Belarus |
| Iran | Sweden | South Korea | Qatar |
| Oman | Bahrain | New Zealand |
To apply for a Sri Lanka visa from India, you will need the following documents:
Travellers from other countries visiting Sri Lanka need the following documents to apply for a Sri Lanka visa:
There are different methods to apply for a Sri Lanka visa depending on your nationality. There are some travellers that are eligible to apply for the visa online, also called an ETA visa, others can only apply through the travel agent and there are also travellers that qualify for an on-arrival visa to Sri Lanka.
Another way to get tourist visa to Sri Lanka is apply for the e-tourist visa before you fly to Sri Lanka. After you arrive at the airport, you will just show your visa and be allowed to enter into the country.
We can assists you get the Sri Lanka e-tourist visa in advance. You can visit our office or reach out through the WhatsApp.
If you wish to avoid queue and want your E-visa in advance you can apply through a travel agent like us.
| Single Entry travel e-visa for 30 days | Single | 30 days from date of entry | Rs.3,099/- | you cannot extend |
The visa fee mentioned above is inclusion of visa charges, service fee, immigration support & payment gateway fee, taxes and other transaction fees.
If you want to stay for longer than your visa validity, you need to extend your Sri Lanka visa. You are allowed to extend a Sri Lanka visa for up to 90 days but you will have to pay additional fees to extend the visa costing Rs.10,999/-
Sri Lanka is year-round holiday destination thanks to its two monsoons. This means that when one side of the country is rainy, there is a part of the country experiencing sunshine. When choosing he best time to visit Sri Lanka, you should consider the part of the country you want to mainly explore and the attractions you want to visit.
If you are looking to explore the west and south coasts of Sri Lanka, the best to visit is between December and April. If you are planning to focus more on the East and North coasts, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is between May and September. The peak tourist season in Sri Lanka is between December and Mid April, when the weather is a bit sunny and not rainy.
Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka and is home to many attractions, including modern and historical attractions. The Gangaramaya Temple which is a major landmark in the city combines Chinese, Indian, Thai and Sri Lanka architectural style. Visit the largest and oldest park in Colombo, the Viharamahadevi Park which has a huge Buddha statue.
Tour the Sri Lanka National Museum, established in 1877 and learn about the country’s cultural heritage through the many exhibit collections and artefacts. Other historical sites in the city include the Dutch Museum.
While still in Colombo, ensure you tour the Lotus Tower, which is the tallest self-supporting structure in South Asia and the second largest in the whole Asia and climb up to the observation deck for panoramic views of the city. You can also go for a shopping spree at the malls in the city.
Kandy city is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka and home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This temple is very significant to the Buddhist and touring the inside teaches you more about Buddhism and its history in Sri Lanka.
While in Kandy, ensure you tour several botanical gardens in the region such as the Paradeniya Botanical Garden which hosts a wide diversity of plants and flowers. Other places to visit in Kandy include the Ceylon Tea Museum, Gadaladeniya hilltop temple and Lake Kandy.
Galle is an old city in Sri Lanka that was built by the Portuguese and is a UNESCO listed colonial town. The old town of Galle has some of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka with shimmering blue waters and towering palm trees around the fort.
Around the town there are Dutch-style colonial homes, historical museums, quaint stores and whitewashed villas. Places to visit in Galle apart from the beautiful beach is the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Galle International Stadium.
Sigiriya is famous for the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and it is among the most visited places in the country. Hike up the trail of stairs to reach the summit of the fortress which is about 200 meters high and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding jungle. You can engage in activities like hiking, village excursions, climbing and touring Dambulla Cave Temple while at Sigiriya.
A Sri Lanka tourist visa allows you to stay in the country for 30 days and it can be extended to allow you to stay up to 90 days.
Only travellers from select countries qualify for an on-arrival visa to Sri Lanka. Indian nationals must apply for an ETA before they arrive in Sri Lanka.
An online ETA usually takes 24 to 48 hours to be processed while a visa application through the embassy takes 3 to 5 working days to be processed.
When you stay in Sri Lanka past your visa validity days, you will be charged fines for overstaying and you may even be deported. Therefore, if you want to stay for more days, it is advisable that you apply for visa extension.
Yes, every traveller visiting Sri Lanka, including children must have their own separate visa to travel.
