After being replaced by the electronic visa last April, itself suspended since August 2, the electronic travel authorization application portal (ETA) for Sri Lanka is once again active and functional.
The free visa policy announced by the previous government did not come into effect on October 1 (details here).
Sri Lanka has been going through a difficult period in recent weeks, marked in particular by a major crisis in visa management following the signing of a controversial contract between the previous Sri Lankan government and a private consortium responsible for introducing an electronic visa issuance system (e-Visa) to replace the ETA.
This contract and the e-Visa portal were suspended on August 2 after several fundamental rights petitions were filed, alleging irregularities in the selection process and negative financial impacts for the country.
One of the main criticisms of the agreement was that it was awarded without a public tender, raising concerns about transparency and the management of public funds. In addition, the new e-Visa system www.srilankaevisa.lk imposed higher fees (up to $18.50 per application) compared to the previous ETA system managed by the state-owned company SLTMobitel, which charged just 2 $ per application.
This cost increase and complaints about disruptions to the new system led to tensions, particularly among local tourism operators, who feared the consequences for the tourist industry, which is essential to the Sri Lankan economy.
In response, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary return to the old ETA electronic travel authorization system, pending a final decision.
The ETA system is (finally) accessible again
Since then, the ETA system had not been reactivated, and travelers had to obtain their visas on arrival in Sri Lanka, creating some difficulties and long waits on entering the island…
More than 5 months after its replacement, followed by almost 2 months without an online visa system, and a few days after the election of a new president in the person of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the latter confirms that Sri Lanka is today reactivating its ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) portal.
“The government has officially reinstated the previous visa issuance system, effective from 12.00 midnight today,” announces the Sri Lankan president on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite some instability today, tourists and business travelers can once again apply for their ETA on the government website eta.gov.lk.
VisasNews formalities experts have already applied for and obtained approved ETAs to date.
The cost of the tourist ETA is US$50 (excluding bank charges). Once approved, the ETA is valid for 6 months and authorizes a 30-day stay with two possible entries into the country.
As a reminder, in the 7 days prior to travel, visitors must complete an online Arrival Card on the eservices.immigration.gov.lk portal.
This return to the ETA system aims to re-establish a simple, transparent visa application process for international travellers. The ETA portal, which had been in place prior to the introduction of e-Visa, had already proved its worth by offering a fast, reliable service for obtaining visas online, without the need for external service providers.
Towards visa-free access to Sri Lanka for tourists from over 30 countries?
On August 21, the Sri Lankan authorities announced that they would be granting a 6-month visa waiver to tourists from 35 countries, including India, Japan, United States and several European countries.
The following day, the authorities clarified that this visa waiver would eventually translate into free visas for the same visitors.
A few days later, the now former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, declared that the country would finally introduce “with immediate effect” visa-free access to Sri Lanka for nationals of 38 countries.
The details of possible visa-free entry to Sri Lanka, as well as the definitive list of qualified nationalities, remain unofficialized to this day…
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reports that the number of tourists arriving in September is below expectations.
Priyantha Fernando, Chairman of the SLTDA, pointed out that difficulties in obtaining visas could be one of the reasons for the drop. He also explained that solving this problem could make it easier to reach the target of 2.3 million visitors by 2024.
Between September 1 and 17, 92,639 international tourists arrived in the country, bringing the year-to-date total to over 1.45 million.
Do i need a visa, from the UK
Tourist 21 days.
The information is so conflicting
Hi
I am from Mumbai, India and travelling to Sri Lanka next month.
Kindly advise me on the viza process.
Should I visit the consulate of apply online.
What is the cost ?
I have applied for a eta visa from pakistan few days ago, the fee said it was $20.8 USD, hence my ammount was deducted thrice and the bank mentioned that the amount has already been deducted by the department of Emigration, however there was a error message saying that “Payment Declined, Please try another card, I sent an email to them but it’s been 5 days and no one seems to be helping nor responding to my emails, I never got any eta Tracking number but they deducted my amount thrice which is $61 USD and no response. Can someone help and tell me if my money will be refunded or should I ask someone else to apply for another eta? I am extremely upset and I’d appreciate someones help
Hi we are travelling to Sri Lanka in 5days we have just found out that the visa site is back up but it takes 5 working days to get it can I get my visa on arrival
Dear Laurie,
Usually ETA is approved within minutes/hours.
But it is still quite possible to get ETA on arrival in Sri Lanka.
Hi I need some explanation about srilankan visa extension I was sick for 2 weeks and couldn’t extend my visa now 2 weeks overstayed and I have medical where I was get treatment and I need to get visa extension for 3 more months is it possible to get it or maybe registered but I’m going to pay the fine for 500usd or don’t need to pay based on my sickness?/ treatment I have hade please help me to find the correct answer 🙏
Was the ” visa-free access to Sri Lanka for nationals of 38 countries.” ratified by parliament on the 1st Oct? Travelling as a tourist from Australia and need clarification please.
Hi,
No, it is not. Australian citizens currently need an ETA to travel to Sri Lanka.
So we need to fill in the ETA form, is a return ticket necessary as we have not booked it?
https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/etaNavServ
This website? Or just the https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/emb/eEmbarkation/'#/home-page
Arrival document, so confusing. Would need help please
Dear Peter,
No return ticket is required to obtain the ETA.
The Arrival Card is actually to be completed, in addition to the ETA, on the portal https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/emb/eEmbarkation/'#/home-page
Nothing is easy in this world. In August to September 2024, I have spent hours trying to apply for entry visa to Sri Lanka, but at the time the portals were closed and different websites were issuing entry visas at a cost of $100 and some were fraud. Confusing news from various website made matters worse. If only one website tells us exactly what we have to do to obtain entry visa and if it’s free or not, that would encourage tourists to visit Sri Lanka. As it is, we all are confused.
I have tried 10 times to apply on line and it keeps telling me to contact administration, can one still get a visa at the airport on arrival