In a circular dated May 19, 2026, available at the end of this article, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration says the new free tourist visa issuance scheme, through the ETA system, for 40 selected countries will take effect on May 25, 2026.
The circular marks the practical implementation of a measure already approved by the Cabinet on March 30, 2026, and later endorsed by Sri Lanka’s Parliament. It grants a free tourist Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, to citizens of these 40 countries. The document also asks the relevant authorities and Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad to inform travelers of the new rules.
The official confirmation therefore ends uncertainty over the launch date of a measure that had been expected for several years. For affected visitors, the change is significant, as ETA fees will no longer be charged from tomorrow for short-term tourist stays.
An ETA is still required before departure
Free of charge does not mean free of formalities. The document states that citizens of the 40 countries covered by the measure must still obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving in Sri Lanka.
This requirement will also apply to citizens of the Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore, who will now have to use the ETA system even though they had previously been exempt. The circular also states that the ETA will be processed free of charge for these three nationalities. In the specific case of the Maldives, travelers will receive a 90-day tourist visa through this system, under a bilateral reciprocity agreement.
Another important point for travelers who have already started the process: ETA fees paid before May 25, 2026, will not be refunded.
A 30-day stay with double entry
According to the circular, tourists from the 40 selected countries will be eligible for a free tourist visa valid for 30 days and allowing double entry from the date of their first arrival in Sri Lanka.
In practice, this means a traveler may enter Sri Lanka once, leave the country, and then return a second time within the validity period granted. However, the text specifies that on the second entry, only the remaining balance of the initial 30-day period will be granted.
Travelers wishing to stay beyond those 30 days may apply for a visa extension, but the extension will remain subject to the usual fees.
The 40 eligible countries
From May 25, 2026, citizens of the following countries will be eligible for a free 30-day tourist ETA visa:
| Australia | France | Malaysia | Saudi Arabia |
| Austria | Germany | Nepal | South Africa |
| Bahrain | India | Netherlands | South Korea |
| Belarus | Indonesia | New Zealand | Spain |
| Belgium | Iran | Norway | Sweden |
| Canada | Israel | Oman | Switzerland |
| China | Italy | Pakistan | Turkey |
| Czech Republic | Japan | Poland | United Arab Emirates |
| Denmark | Kazakhstan | Qatar | United Kingdom |
| Finland | Kuwait | Russia | United States |
The document also states that holders of diplomatic, official, service and ordinary passports from these countries are eligible for the announced scheme.
A new tool to support tourism
With this measure, Sri Lanka is clearly seeking to strengthen its appeal in several key tourism markets. The list covers much of Europe, several Asian countries, the Middle East, and major markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Australia.
The goal is to reduce the cost of entering the country while maintaining prior screening through the ETA system. In other words, Colombo is easing the financial burden of the formality but is not giving up administrative checks before boarding. For travelers, the measure mainly simplifies the cost of the trip, without removing the need to secure travel authorization in advance.
