United States passport application guide
Sri Lanka ETA for US Citizens
Passport-specific requirements, application checks and travel planning for United States citizens.
Quick answer
United States ordinary passport holders planning an eligible short tourist visit can use this online application service. The standard Tourist ETA application price shown here is $99. Use the same passport for the application and for travel, and check the approval before departure.
2026 fee status for US passport holders
From 25 May 2026, United States is on Sri Lanka’s official list of 40 nationalities eligible for a tourist ETA free of the government processing charge for 30 days. The ETA must still be obtained before arrival. This website’s optional preparation, document review and support service is separate from the government charge; the complete service total is shown before payment.
Passport and identity checks
Use the active US passport book intended for the whole journey. Middle names should follow the passport data page; state-issued identification and passport cards do not replace the international travel document.
Permitted travel purposes
The free arrangement concerns the tourist ETA. Official tourist purposes include holidays, visiting friends or relatives, qualifying medical treatment and specified sporting or cultural activities. Business meetings, conferences, training and other professional activity must use the appropriate business route. Employment, study and specialist work are not converted into tourism by a short stay.
Payment and application preparation
US issuers may decline an overseas online charge until it is confirmed in the banking app. Check international e-commerce access and avoid repeated attempts with inconsistent billing details. Our service checks passport fields, document readability and form consistency; it does not change the government fee or guarantee approval.
Flight connections and arrival date
US itineraries often cross the International Date Line or connect in the Gulf, Europe or East Asia. Confirm the date and local time of the flight segment landing in Sri Lanka. A connection does not automatically create permission to enter the transit country, so check each airport and passport rule separately.
Yellow fever certificate
Departure from United States alone does not place a traveller on Sri Lanka’s published yellow-fever country list. However, the rule is based on travel from listed risk countries. Anyone whose wider itinerary includes one should check the official certificate requirement before departure.
Sri Lankan mission serving this market
The relevant directory entry is the Sri Lankan mission in Washington, D.C.. Use the mission for consular, passport, legalisation or exceptional immigration questions; ordinary eligible travellers can begin with the online ETA route.
Practical next step
Prepare the passport, a separate recent photo when requested, the final Sri Lanka arrival date, first accommodation and accessible email. Review the government-fee and assistance-fee distinction, then continue only when every identity field matches the passport.
Ready to apply?
Prepare the passport, travel details and an email address you can access during your trip.
