Sri Lanka: ETA visa fee waiver for 33 new countries not yet in effect

On July 25, Sri Lanka announced that 33 additional countries would soon be added to the list of travelers exempt from paying ETA visa fees. The news was widely shared, sometimes as if it were already in effect. But the measure has not yet been implemented, and travelers concerned must still pay the usual fees.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Hotel Show Colombo 2025 on July 25, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said Sri Lanka was preparing to expand its ETA visa fee waiver to 40 countries.

“The move comes after Cabinet approval last week to expand the current list of seven eligible countries to 40,” the minister told journalists.

As happened in 2024 with a similar announcement, this statement was enough to trigger a wave of enthusiastic coverage in certain media outlets and on social media, already inviting travelers to take advantage of this new free-visa access. It has also raised a lot of questions among our readers, who regularly contact us to find out how to take advantage of this ETA fee exemption…

However, this remains only an announcement. No official decree has been issued, the Sri Lankan immigration website has not been updated, and no effective date has been confirmed by the authorities.

For now, the ETA Remains a paid requirement

In practice, nothing has changed: all travelers must still apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure and pay the corresponding fee of USD 50.

Current entry requirements remain in effect until further notice, despite the excitement generated by last month’s announcement.

A Sri Lanka ETA is valid for six months from the date of issue, allows two entries into the country, and permits an initial 30-day stay. This can be extended up to 90 days, online or at an immigration office, and renewed a second time for another 90 days.

The 33 new countries that could join the current seven

At present, only holders of ordinary, diplomatic, official, or service passports from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand are eligible for a free ETA.

As stated on the official portal eta.gov.lk: “This particular visa-free regime applies to the above seven nominated countries and the rest of the countries may follow the general rules and regulations applicable to Sri Lanka ETA.”

If the reform takes effect, 33 new countries* would be added, bringing the total to 40:

A promising but uncertain reform

The extension of this free ETA scheme is intended to boost tourism, a sector vital to Sri Lanka’s economy. In 2024, Sri Lanka welcomed more than 2 million international visitors and hopes to reach the 3 million mark this year.

Although the abolition of ETA visa fees is expected to result in an annual loss of around $66 million for Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath believes that the boom in tourism and its indirect economic benefits will more than offset this shortfall. “We have stabilised the economy, and through policy changes in tourism, we aim to ensure steady growth in arrivals,” the minister said.

But until the July announcement is formalized through an official decree, travelers should remain cautious and continue with the standard application process.

The only reliable sources remain the official Sri Lankan immigration website, which will be updated if and when the new entry conditions take effect, and of course, VisasNews (😊).