Sri Lanka ETA Requirements: Documents and Eligibility

Who must obtain an ETA before travelling?

Sri Lanka requires short-stay visitors to use the permission that matches their passport and purpose. The 2026 free-tourist scheme removes the government ETA charge for specified nationalities; it does not remove the requirement to obtain the ETA before arrival. Tourism covers holidays, visits to friends or relatives, qualifying medical treatment and listed cultural or sporting activities. Work, study, journalism and other specialist activities need a different route.

Core entry and application requirements

Use the same valid passport for the application, airline check-in and border inspection. Enter the passport number, nationality, birth date and Latin-script name exactly as printed. Air travellers should be ready to show a return or onward ticket and evidence of sufficient funds. Accommodation and contact information should describe the real trip rather than a placeholder.

Documents to prepare

• Complete readable passport data page
• Separate recent personal photograph when requested
• Arrival and departure dates checked against local arrival time
• First accommodation address and reachable email
• Business host or event evidence when the trip is not tourism

Validity and permitted activity

The ordinary tourist ETA described by the official short-visit guidance provides a 30-day stay with double entry. A second entry receives only the balance of the original period. An ETA does not permit employment and does not guarantee admission; immigration officers make the final decision at the port of entry.

Final check before submission

Compare every identity field with the physical passport, confirm the category reflects the main purpose, and review the complete payable total. If a passport is renewed after submission, obtain case-specific guidance because the authority is linked to the travel document used in the request.