A new rule confirmed by several Sri Lankan embassies, including those in France, Indonesia, and Turkey, significantly changes the entry requirements for travelers visiting Sri Lanka.
Until now, some travelers could apply for their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online before departure, or alternatively, obtain it upon arrival at the airport. However, starting October 15, 2025, that option will no longer be available: no tourist will be allowed to enter Sri Lanka without first obtaining their ETA online.
“The Embassy of Sri Lanka wishes to inform that, effective October 15, 2025, all foreign nationals traveling to Sri Lanka for tourism purposes must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to arrival,” announced the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in France.
This measure applies to all foreign nationals, including those from countries that are exempt from ETA fees, such as China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.
Sri Lanka ETA: fee waiver for many countries still uncertain
While only these seven countries currently benefit from this measure, the Sri Lankan government announced last July its intention to extend its ETA fee waiver initiative to 33 additional countries in order to boost international arrivals.
The countries potentially eligible for the future ETA fee waiver include:
- Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.
However, since this exemption has not yet been finalized or implemented, all travelers must currently pay the standard ETA fees when applying online.
Sri Lanka has already welcomed over 1.7 million international arrivals in 2025
Sri Lanka has already surpassed 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2025, with nearly 150,000 visitors recorded in September alone. India continues to lead as the country’s top source of tourists and remains a key driver of this growth.
This upward trend is expected to continue in the coming months. Experts believe that 2025 could set a new benchmark, possibly surpassing the previous record of 2.3 million tourist arrivals set in 2018.
How to get an ETA for Sri Lanka?
The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an online visa that must be obtained via the official government website: eta.gov.lk.
- Process: Complete the online form, pay the required fee, and wait for confirmation, usually sent via email within a few minutes or hours.
- Fee: $50 USD for a double-entry ETA.
- Validity: 6 months from the date of issue.
- Authorized stay: Up to 30 days, with the option to extend through local immigration authorities.
