Great news for travellers planning a trip to beautiful Sri Lanka 🌴
From 25 May 2026, nationals from 40 countries can now apply for a free tourist ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for stays of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka.
After many rumours over the past months, this update is now officially published on the government ETA website and confirmed through the Gazette announcement.
Important: You Still Need ETA Before Arrival
Even though the tourist visa is now free for eligible countries, travellers must still apply for an ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka.
The ETA is processed online and is required before boarding your flight.
Countries eligible for Free Sri Lanka ETA
The following 40 countries are currently included in the scheme:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
What Does the Free Sri Lanka Visa Include?
Under this new scheme:
✅ Free tourist ETA
✅ Valid for 30 days
✅ Double entry allowed
✅ Valid from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka
For travellers from the Maldives, the visa validity remains 90 days under the bilateral agreement.
Can You Stay Longer Than 30 Days?
Yes 😊
Travellers who wish to stay longer can apply for a visa extension in Sri Lanka by paying the normal extension fee.
