High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Issuance of Tourist, Business and Transit visas

Sri Lanka offered On-Arrival visas to nationals of 81 countries who wished to visit Sri Lanka as bona-fide tourists. Accordingly, nationals of those countries were able to avail a Tourist Visa for 30 days at a port of entry without paying a visa fee. Since 1 January 2012, the On-Arrival visa procedure has been amended and those who want to visit Sri Lanka for short visits (upto 30 days) for Tourism, Business or Transit must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)  prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. The ETA is issued electronically via the website http://www.eta.gov.lk and all applicants except children below 12 years of age and transit passengers who enter Sri Lanka upto 48 hours,  have to pay an ETA Processing Fee online. The ETA facility has been extended to all nationalities except those of Republic of Maldives and the Republic of Singapore, who on the basis of reciprocity, are exempt from the requirement of obtaining ETA to visit Sri Lanka.

The visa categories under Tourism and Business include the following:

Tourism

• Sightseeing, holidaying
• Visiting friends and relatives
• Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and yoga
• Participate in sporting events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance

Business

• Participate in business meetings and negotiations
• Conferences, workshops and seminars
• Short term training programs
• Participate in art, music and dance events

Those who want to transit through Sri Lanka should aslo obtain an ETA by paying the relevant ETA Processing fee. However, if the transit period is less than 48 hrs, passengers are not required to pay the ETA Processing Fee.

For last minute travellers, who need to visit Sri Lanka without prior ETA approval, a limited facility to obtain ETA at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is available. Additional fees will apply.

The applicants themselves or a third party on their behalf can apply for ETA by submitting an ETA application online via the ETA website.

Diplomatic and Official Visas

Diplomatic or Official Passport holders intending to visit Sri Lanka for Official purposes should forward their ETA applications to the Department of Immigration & Emigration through the relevant Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions. They are advised to complete the relevant appplication for the individual (download application) or group (download application) travel and submit it to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India with a Note Verbale from the relevant Mission/International Organisation/Ministry of External Affairs of India and the invitation from the relevant Organisation in Sri Lanka confirming that the visit is official.

While Gratis ETA and visa endorsement will be issued by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India for Diplomatic and Official passport holders to travel to Sri Lanka for Official purposes, Diplomatic and Official Passport holders also should follow the normal ETA application procedure applicable for Tourists for their personal visits i.e. should apply for ETA online by paying the relevant ETA processing Fee.