Sri Lanka now offers visa free entry to visitors of 40 countries in what appears to be on a permanent basis effective as of yesterday, Monday, May 25, 2026 — the visa used to cost $50.00 in United States dollars — but an Electronic Travel Authorization is still required even though no cost is involved. The visa will be valid for 30 days once visitors arrive at customs.
Sri Lanka To Offer Visa Free Entry to Visitors of 40 Countries
Holders of passports of the following countries will get to travel to Sri Lanka via visa free entry for a period of a maximum of up to 30 days — including:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Nationals of the aforementioned countries holding Diplomatic, Official, Service, or Ordinary passports are eligible to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization tourist visa free of charge under this new program.
All foreign nationals — including nationals of the aforementioned 40 countries — and nationals from Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore with bilateral reciprocal agreements with Sri Lanka are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. As per the bilateral reciprocal agreement between Sri Lanka and Maldives, nationals from Maldives will receive 90 days tourist visa through the Electronic Travel Authorization system.
The Electronic Travel Authorization for nationals of the aforementioned 40 countries and for nationals of Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore will be processed free of charge. However, fees for Electronic Travel Authorizations that were paid prior to May 25, 2026 are unfortunately not refundable.
Tourists are entitled to a tourist visa free of charge valid for 30 days — Maldivian nationals will receive 90 days — with double-entry facility permitted from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka within the validity period of 30 days.
Applicants who have obtained a free visa and wish to remain in Sri Lanka beyond 30 days may apply for a visa extension upon payment of the applicable visa fee.
Visitors from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Afghanistan, Taiwan, China, Kosovo, and Syria who intend to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization may apply through a Sri Lankan Sponsor at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka.
The following documents should be submitted to the Head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration Head Office, Battaramulla, through the Sri Lankan sponsor for consideration of the visa application:
- Request letter from the Sri Lankan sponsor
- Affidavit from the Sri Lankan sponsor signed before a Justice of the Peace or lawyer
- Certified copy of NIC or passport of the Sri Lankan sponsor
- Applicant’s police clearance report
- Applicant’s passport photocopy
- Proof of accommodation
Nationals of all other countries shall continue to be subject to the general rules and regulations governing the Electronic Travel Authorization system of Sri Lanka.
Final Boarding Call
“The news would be even better if Sri Lanka implemented its visa free entry to visitors on a permanent basis” is what I wrote in this article on Monday, August 26, 2024 when Sri Lanka offered a free visa to nationals of 35 countries on a temporary basis of six months effective as of Tuesday, October 1, 2024 as part of a pilot program. Sri Lanka had reportedly been suffering through difficult times financially back then. By implementing the original pilot program for visa free entry for citizens of 35 countries almost two years ago, the country hoped to increase revenue from tourist dollars.
Apparently, the pilot program worked, as the program is apparently now permanent — and Finland, Kuwait, Norway, Pakistan, and Türkiye have been added to the list of countries that are eligible for this program.
More countries should consider following the lead of Sri Lanka, in my opinion. I have never visited Sri Lanka; but this new policy would certainly have me considering traveling to it more now than before. I would bet that I am not the only person who feels this way.
I hope that Sri Lanka succeeds beyond its wildest dreams with the implementation of this new program.
Idealistically, I would really like to see the day where you and I can travel anywhere in the world with few to no impediments; but with human nature being the way it is, I know that will not happen anytime soon — if at all…
…but at least the world still seems to generally be heading closer towards that goal overall — even if it is only at a glacial pace…
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
