Starting from 25 May 2026, the Government of Sri Lanka has introduced a special visa policy for short-term visitors from 40 selected countries, according to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.
Under the new initiative, eligible travelers can obtain a tourist visa through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system free of charge for a period of 30 days.
The countries included in the free ETA program are 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, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Nationals holding diplomatic, official, service, or ordinary passports from these countries are eligible for the free tourist ETA.
Despite the waiver of visa fees, the Department of Immigration & Emigration stated that all foreign nationals must still obtain an ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka. This requirement also applies to citizens of countries with reciprocal agreements, including the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore. Authorities said that the ETA application process remains mandatory for all visitors entering the country under the new scheme.
The department further confirmed that ETA applications submitted by citizens of the listed countries, along with travelers from the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore, will be processed free of charge. However, travelers who paid ETA fees before 25 May 2026 will not be eligible for refunds. Under the current arrangement, tourists are permitted to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days, while Maldivian nationals may stay for up to 90 days. Double-entry access will also be permitted during the visa validity period.
Visitors wishing to remain in Sri Lanka beyond the permitted 30-day period may apply for a visa extension by paying the required extension fee. Apart from the waiver of ETA processing charges for eligible travelers, all other rules and regulations governing the ETA system will continue to apply, according to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.