Foreign nationals eligible for free visa must obtain ETA prior to arrival in Sri Lanka from Oct. 15
October 14, 2025 07:15 am
The Government of Sri Lanka has announced that, effective tomorrow (October 15), all foreign nationals eligible for a free tourist visa must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their arrival in the country.
This requirement applies to visitors entering Sri Lanka for short-stay purposes, including tourism and business. ETAs can be obtained online through the official website: eta.gov.lk.
Key details regarding ETA fees are as follows:
• As per the reciprocal/bilateral arrangements, passport holders of Seychelles, Maldives, and Singapore shall be exempted from fees.
• Passport holders of the People’s Republic of China, India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan will also receive ETA free of charge as per existing regulations.
• The stipulated fee will be applicable to passport holder from all countries other than those listed in Points 1 and 2.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) has stated that it will take active steps to ensure the issuance of the ETA in an expeditious manner particularly in view of the forthcoming tourist high season.
Meanwhile, the United States of America has updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka.
The U.S. Department of State has issued the updated advisory under Level 2, and it reportedly includes several new cautionary indicators.
The advisory urges travelers to exercise increased caution due to risks such as unrest, terrorism, and landmines, indicating that attention should be paid to potential instability in the country.
