Sri Lanka | Tourist visa fee waiver introduced for 40 countries

The Department of Immigration and Emigration introduced a 30-day Sri Lankan tourist visa that is free of charge for 40 eligible countries, effective May 25, 2026.

Key takeaways:

This visa fee waiver allows tourists from the 40 eligible countries (view full list here) to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at no charge. Nationals of countries not included on the list will continue to follow standard Sri Lankan ETA regulations.

The ETA is valid for 30 days for nationals of the eligible countries and for 90 days for nationals of Maldives, including double-entry permission.

Tourists who obtain a visa under this scheme and want to stay beyond 30 days may apply for a visa extension, subject to applicable fees.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. 

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