Yes. US passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka. To enter Sri Lanka you need: a valid passport, ETA required, Confirmed return ticket and sufficient funds, Passport valid for not less than 6 months, Yellow fever vaccination requirement, ETA Processing Fee.
Sri Lanka ETA Fees & Cost
Sri Lanka visa fees vary by passport nationality and visa type. The government fee is set by Sri Lanka and paid to them; our service fee is separate and covers expert review of your application before it is submitted. Fees below are for a US passport.
Visa type
Government fee
Max stay
Our service from
Transit 2Days Tourist eVisa
$0.00
30 days
$59.00
Tourist ETA
$50.00
30 days
$79.00
Transit ETA
$0.00
30 days
$79.00
Tourist Double Entry 30Days Tourist eVisa
$0.00
30 days
$59.00
ETA Processing Fee
$50.00
30 days
$69.00
Sri Lanka ETA Processing Time
Sri Lanka asks travellers to apply at least 0 days before arrival. Government processing usually takes 0–3 days, but governments do not guarantee a decision date, so apply as early as you can — applications are accepted well ahead of travel.
Our Standard, Rush and Emergency options set how quickly we review and file your application; the decision itself remains with the Sri Lanka government. Whichever you choose, we tell you the date your visa is guaranteed by — on time or your money back.
How It Works
How to Get Your Sri Lanka ETA — Step by Step
1
Apply online in 5–10 min
Guided form with real-time photo and passport validation.
2
Specialist reviews first
We catch the errors that cause most rejections — including photo specs, passport validity, and name mismatches.
3
We submit and track daily
Submitted to Sri Lanka Immigration. Email updates throughout.
4
Visa by email
Approved e-visa PDF in your inbox. Print, present, done.
Full Requirements — VIE Intelligence Engine
Sri Lanka ETA Requirements
Select a category below. All Sri Lanka visa data is updated daily from official government and embassy sources via our VIE Intelligence Engine.
Sri Lanka requires 4 documents for this application. Our system validates all of these automatically before submission.
📄
Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity from date of entry)
Required▼
📄
Return or onward ticket
Required▼
📄
Proof of sufficient funds
Required▼
📄
Completed online ETA application
Required▼
🛂
Passport valid 6+ months past entry
Critical▼
Passport validity, blank pages, dual nationality, and special rules — what Sri Lanka immigration checks before letting you in.
⏰
Passport valid 6+ months past entry
Critical▼
🛂
Dual nationality rules
If applicable▼
✅
Emergency and damaged passports
FYI▼
🇮🇱
Israeli stamp in passport
Not an issue for Sri Lanka▼
⚖️
Criminal record impact
May affect▼
Entry ports, biometrics, wait times, and intel from our VIE border intelligence database.
✈️
Sri Lanka e-Visa: designated entry ports only
Restricted▼
🖐️
Biometrics on arrival
Not required▼
📱
Social media screening
Not reported▼
⏱️
Typical immigration wait times
VIE Data▼
🏨
Accommodation registration within 24 hours
Required by law▼
🛫
Airline pre-board document checks
Varies by airline▼
Vaccinations, health insurance, and Sri Lanka's medication import rules.
💉
Yellow fever certificate
Not required from US▼
💊
Banned and restricted medications
Check before travel▼
🏥
Travel health insurance
Strongly recommended▼
🧬
HIV test requirement
Not required▼
🌡️
Health screening on arrival
Not active▼
Proof of funds, cash declaration limits, and duty-free allowances.
💵
Proof of sufficient funds
May be checked▼
💱
Cash declaration threshold: $10,000 USD
Declare if over limit▼
🛍️
Duty-free customs allowances
FYI▼
🚫
Prohibited import items
Know before you pack▼
Essential laws and cultural rules from VIE practical intelligence data.
🚁
Drone LawsBanned
🌐
VPN UsageIllegal
🍺
AlcoholRestricted
🌿
CannabisIllegal — severe
🎰
GamblingIllegal
📷
PhotographyMilitary areas banned
🏳️🌈
LGBTQ+ safety and legal status
Legal, exercise discretion▼
🚁
Drone rules
Registration required▼
💰
Tipping culture
Optional▼
🚨
Emergency numbers & US Embassy
Save before you go▼
If you're connecting through another country on the way to Sri Lanka, check your transit visa requirements here.
Transit Country
Airside
Landside
US Visa Needed?
🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi)
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇶🇦 Qatar (Doha)
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇸🇬 Singapore
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇯🇵 Japan
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇰🇷 South Korea
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇹🇭 Thailand
✓ Free
✓ Free
No
🇨🇳 China
⚠️ Varies
⚠️ 144hr only
Check first
⚠️ Transit rules change frequently. Always verify with your airline before booking.
What Sri Lanka requires when you depart — and the overstay penalties you really don't want to trigger.
✅
Exit visa required?
No — standard tourists▼
💸
Departure tax
Included in ticket▼
🚫
Exit ban for unpaid fines
Know this▼
⚠️ Overstay Consequences
$8
Per day fine
24h
Grace period
3yr
Max ban
Possible
Deportation risk
🌏 Digital Nomad Status — VIE Data
Digital Nomad Visa
Not yet available
Remote-work authorisation
No dedicated category
Avg internet speed
—
Monthly cost of living
—
Coworking scene
—
In-country extension
Not permitted
🛂
Best visa strategy for digital nomads
Strategy▼
💰
Tax implications for remote workers
Important▼
Avoid These Mistakes
Why Sri Lanka ETA Applications Get Rejected — And How We Prevent It
Our document review catches these before submission. Applications rejected due to our error are resubmitted at no charge.
⏰
Passport expires within 6 months of entry
Airlines deny boarding and immigration refuses entry. The #1 cause of rejections.
✓ We verify passport validity before submitting
⚠️
Details don't exactly match your passport
A single character difference in name, DOB, or passport number causes rejection.
✓ We verify all fields match your passport scan
🔄
Prior overstay or visa violation
Prior overstays are on record and may trigger automatic rejection. Tell us — we can advise.
✓ We guide you through handling prior violations
Why Choose Us
Sri Lanka ETA: Expert Help vs Applying Directly
You can apply on the government portal for free. Here's why 500,000+ travelers paid us instead.
🔍
Never rejected for a preventable mistake
73% of rejections are caused by 4 fixable errors. We check every application first. Rejected due to our error? We resubmit free.
📡
Government portal monitored 24/7
Sri Lanka's application system goes offline without warning. We watch it around the clock and submit the moment it returns — you never have to keep checking.
👨👩👧
Get your whole family right first time
Inconsistencies between family applications are a top rejection trigger. We manage all applications together.
🙋
Human help for complex cases
Prior overstay? Dual nationality? A specialist handles your case personally. Avg response under 2 hours.
🛡️
30 years in business
Since 1992. 500,000+ customers. 11,700+ reviews on Trustpilot.
Official Advisories
Current Travel Advisories for Sri Lanka
🇺🇸
US State Dept
Exercise Normal Precautions
🇬🇧
UK FCDO
No special precautions
🇨🇦
Canada DFATD
Take normal precautions
🇦🇺
Australia DFAT
Exercise normal safety precautions
Quick Reference
Sri Lanka ETA Requirements by Nationality
Select your passport above to personalise this table.
Yes. Almost all foreign nationals must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online before travelling to Sri Lanka for tourism or business.
How long can I stay in Sri Lanka on a Tourist ETA?
▼
The Tourist ETA permits a stay of 30 days from the date of first arrival, with double entry allowed within that period.
Do Maldivian citizens get a longer stay?
▼
Yes, under a bilateral reciprocal agreement, Maldivian nationals receive a 90-day tourist visa through the ETA system instead of the standard 30 days.
Do children need their own ETA?
▼
Children of any nationality under 12 years of age are eligible for a free tourist visa (ETA) for up to 30 days, but each child still needs an individual ETA application.
Which nationalities cannot apply for the ETA directly online?
▼
Nationals of Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana cannot apply independently; they must go through the nearest Sri Lankan Overseas Mission or a Sri Lankan sponsor applying at the Immigration Department Head Office.
How much does the Sri Lanka Tourist ETA cost?
▼
It is free for nationals of 40 designated countries plus Maldives and Singapore; SAARC nationals (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan) pay US$20; all other nationalities pay US$50.
Is the Transit ETA free?
▼
Yes, the Transit visa for a stay of up to 2 days is free of charge.
Can I extend my stay beyond 30 days?
▼
Yes, a short-term visit visa may be extended up to a maximum of 270 days from the date of arrival, granted in stages (30 days on entry, 60 days at first extension, 90 days each for the second and third extensions), applied for at the Immigration Department Head Office or via the online extension portal once in Sri Lanka.
How long is my Sri Lanka ETA valid before I need to travel?
▼
The ETA itself is valid for six months, and a fresh ETA cannot be obtained on the same passport until that one expires, so you must enter Sri Lanka within six months of approval.
What documents do I need to show at the airport?
▼
ETA holders must be able to produce a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival, a confirmed return ticket, and sufficient funds to cover their stay.
Social Proof
What Travelers Say About Our Sri Lanka ETA Service
11,700+
reviews on Trustpilot
Common themes from Sri Lanka visa customers:
✓ Fast processing✓ Easy application✓ Caught my photo error✓ Approved first try✓ On-time delivery
PassportsAndVisas.com relies exclusively on official government sources for visa requirements. Our VIE Intelligence Engine cross-references multiple official sources daily to ensure accuracy.
▶Sri Lanka Official Immigration Portal. (Web). Official government portal
▶U.S. Department of State — Sri Lanka Travel Information. (Web). travel.state.gov
▶IATA Timatic — Visa & Health Requirements Database. (Web). iatatravelcentre.com
