Just days after the new rule requiring travelers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure took effect on October 15, 2025, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced the suspension of the measure.
In an official statement, the department clarified that “the announcement issued on 13 October 2025, which declared that obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) would be mandatory for all short-stay visitors (tourism and business) to Sri Lanka with effect from 15 October 2025, is hereby revoked until further notice.”
As a result, “all ETA-related services and other visa issuance procedures will continue to operate as they were prior to 15 October 2025 without any change,” according to the Sri Lankan immigration authorities.
The decision comes only a few days after the new requirement was implemented. The rule had mandated that travelers present a valid ETA at the time of boarding, a measure that had been communicated by several Sri Lankan embassies worldwide.
This temporary suspension represents an unexpected reversal, especially as the country approaches the peak tourist season.
Possible ETA fee exemption for 33 additional countries
Foreign visitors traveling to Sri Lanka for tourism or business can therefore continue to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) under the previous procedures, including upon arrival.
The official website eta.gov.lk remains the primary platform for completing the application online.
At the same time, Sri Lankan authorities are considering introducing an ETA fee exemption for citizens of 33 countries. This policy could take effect “within one or two months” as part of a broader initiative to boost international tourism and encourage more foreign arrivals following a period of regulatory fluctuations.
