Before traveling to Sri Lanka, we completed the Sri Lanka ETA visa (Electronic Travel Authorization) online in advance. The good news: most nationalities can apply entirely online in minutes with no embassy visit required. FREE for Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Russian, Thai, Malaysian & Japanese nationals. In this guide, we walk you through every step of the process, with real tips from our own group trip experience.
| Visa type | ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) |
| Cost | ~$20 USD (+ bank fees, total ~€55) |
| Processing time | Usually within 24 hours, up to 3 business days |
| Max stay | 30 days (extendable) |
| Passport validity | Minimum 6 months |
| Apply officially | 👉 eta.gov.lk |
| Apply via agent | 👉 iVisa.com |
Submitting an Online Visa Application for Sri Lanka
To apply for the ETA Visa, visit the official government website. Select the English language to navigate to the appropriate menu. Then, click on “Apply” and choose “By the applicant”. Finally, read the terms of use and click “I agree”.
Filling Out the Application
⚠️ The answers provided below are based on our personal experience at the time. You should fill in the fields according to your circumstances. Select “Apply for an Individual” and complete the required fields:
- Covid Vaccination: Select “YES” if you are vaccinated or “NO” if you are not (vaccination is not mandatory).
- Occupation: Enter your profession.
- Where have you been in the last 14 days: Select “GREECE”.
- Visa Required Days: 30 days (standard duration).
- Purpose of Visit: Sightseeing or Holidaying.
- Port of Departure: ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
- Airline / Vessel: Enter your airline, e.g., AIR ARABIA.
- Flight Number: Enter your flight number, e.g., G9502.
- Address of Stay in Sri Lanka: 51 GODAWALAYA MORRAGOLLAWA, DAMBULLA 21100, SRI LANKA.
- Security Questions: Select “NO” for all.
Payment & Confirmation
After filling in your details, double-check them and click “Confirmation”. Choose your payment method and proceed with the transaction. The total cost, including bank fees, was approximately €55.
You will receive a confirmation email immediately, and the final visa approval will be sent within 24 hours. For some members of our group, it took up to 3 business days.
Useful Tips
✔ Double-check your details before submitting to avoid mistakes.
✔ Save your reference number & confirmation email just in case.
✔ Print your visa to have it readily available upon entry to the country.
✔ If you encounter payment issues, try using a different card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) or a different bank.
✔ In case of an error, refunds are not available, and you will need to reapply and pay again.
✔ The online visa application is approximately $5 cheaper than the visa on arrival.
Official Portal vs iVisa — Which Should You Use?
The Sri Lanka ETA government fee is the same regardless of where you apply. If you use iVisa.com, a service fee is added on top. Here’s when iVisa is worth the extra cost:
- Your application gets reviewed for errors before submission, reducing the risk of rejection
- Live customer support via chat if something goes wrong. The official portal has limited support
- You’ve had technical issues with government portals before. The Sri Lanka ETA site can sometimes be slow
- You want peace of mind, especially if you’re applying close to your travel date
If you apply 2+ weeks in advance and are comfortable with online forms, the official portal works perfectly and saves you the service fee.
Additional Information
Duration of stay: The ETA allows a stay of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka for tourism purposes. If you wish to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo.
Application timing: It is recommended to submit your application at least two weeks before departure to ensure timely processing.
Required documents at the airport: Upon arrival, you must have your visa and a passport with at least 6 months of validity. It is also advised to carry a printed copy of your visa, as it was requested both at Athens International Airport and Colombo Airport during our trip.
Don’t forget travel insurance, essential for any trip to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Visa for specific nationalities
Is Sri Lanka visa-free for Indians? Yes, since September 2024, Indian nationals have been able to obtain a free ETA to visit Sri Lanka. The application is done online at eta.gov.lk at no cost. The free ETA allows a 30-day stay, with the option to re-enter within 30 days.
Sri Lanka Visa for UK Citizens: UK passport holders can apply for the Sri Lanka ETA online; the process is straightforward. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel to allow processing time. Cost: approximately $20 USD.
Sri Lanka Visa for Australian Citizens: Australian passport holders need the Sri Lanka ETA, which can be applied for online before travel. Same process and cost as other nationalities, $20 USD, usually approved within 24 hours.
Sri Lanka Visa for US Citizens: US passport holders require the Sri Lanka ETA. Apply online at least 2 weeks before departure. If you encounter issues with the official portal, iVisa.com offers a reliable alternative with document checking.
Sri Lanka Visa for European Citizens (EU): All EU passport holders, including Greeks, Germans, French, Italians, etc., can apply for the Sri Lanka ETA online. Cost is approximately $20 USD. Based on our own experience travelling from Greece, the process took between 24 hours and 3 business days.
Planning your Sri Lanka trip? Read our complete 9-day Sri Lanka itinerary for routes, tips, and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Sri Lanka visa
The Sri Lanka ETA costs approximately $20 USD through the official government portal. Third-party services like iVisa.com charge an additional service fee. Including bank transaction fees, the total cost is approximately €55 based on our experience.
Most applications are approved within 24 hours. In some cases, it can take up to 3 business days. We recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your travel date to be safe.
The standard process is to apply online before travel through the official ETA portal. Visa on arrival is available at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport for some nationalities, but the online ETA is recommended; it’s approximately $5 cheaper and avoids queues on arrival.
The standard ETA allows a stay of up to 30 days for tourism. If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for an extension at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo.
You need a valid passport with at least 6 months’ validity, a confirmed onward or return ticket, and accommodation details. Have a printed copy of your approved ETA ready, as it was requested both at Athens Airport and Colombo Airport during our trip.
For Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Russian, Thai, Malaysian, and Japanese nationals, Sri Lanka offers a free ETA since September 2024. Apply at eta.gov.lk, no fee required.
