Sri Lanka’s diplomatic network has stepped up reminders in recent weeks about the country’s entry requirements.
In a recent notice, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing reminded prospective travelers that, under current Sri Lankan immigration requirements, foreign nationals who require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) must obtain a valid authorization before beginning their journey to Sri Lanka, unless they fall under an exempt category or already hold another valid travel authorization.
The embassy also notes that Chinese nationals are among travelers from the 40 countries currently eligible for a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA.
Travelers who require an ETA are strongly advised to obtain it through the official system before departure and to check the applicable entry requirements in advance. The embassy warns that failure to do so could result in travel disruptions, including possible denial of boarding at the point of departure.
Similar reminders are currently being circulated by several other Sri Lankan diplomatic missions, including those in France, Türkiye and Singapore.
ETA requirement already reaffirmed since May 25, 2026
This communication campaign does not represent the introduction of a new travel requirement.
Since May 25, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration has officially stated that affected foreign nationals must obtain an ETA before arriving in the country. The clarification accompanied the introduction of free tourist ETAs for nationals of 40 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France and Belgium.
For travelers from these countries, the tourist ETA is now issued free of charge for stays of up to 30 days and allows two entries. The fact that the ETA is free does not remove the requirement to apply in advance.
The UK government’s travel advice likewise states that British citizens traveling to Sri Lanka must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online and should do so before traveling.
Canada provides similar guidance. The Government of Canada states that travelers must obtain their ETA online before traveling to Sri Lanka.
Rules had already changed in October 2025
The question of whether an ETA must be obtained before travel had already gone through several changes last fall.
Sri Lanka initially announced that starting October 15, 2025, short-term visitors would be required to obtain an ETA before traveling.
However, on October 30, 2025, the Department of Immigration and Emigration ultimately withdrew the measure “until further notice,” stating that the procedures in place before October 15 would continue unchanged.
The situation changed again in spring 2026. When Sri Lankan authorities introduced free ETAs for 40 nationalities from May 25, they also made clear that affected foreign travelers were required to obtain their electronic authorization before arrival.
ETA portal still mentions an on-arrival option
One inconsistency nevertheless remains on Sri Lanka’s official ETA portal.
While the homepage states that travelers must obtain their ETA before arrival, the section outlining the different application methods still says that a “limited facility to obtain ETA at BIA is available,” subject to additional fees upon arrival at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport.
The portal’s FAQ also continues to state that an ETA is not a prerequisite for boarding a flight or vessel bound for Sri Lanka.
These references now appear to be out of step with the more recent instructions issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration and with the reminders currently being circulated by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions.
Given this situation, travelers are advised to obtain and verify their ETA before departure rather than rely on the possibility of receiving one upon arrival.
VisasNews Take
The notices currently being issued by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions are primarily a reminder of a requirement reaffirmed on May 25, 2026, rather than the announcement of a new rule. However, some pages of the official ETA portal still mention the possibility of obtaining an ETA upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, creating a degree of uncertainty in the official guidance. To avoid any issues at check-in or boarding, travelers should currently make sure they hold a valid ETA before departing for Sri Lanka.
