Please note that after 31st December 2011, all U.S. nationals expect to visit Sri Lanka have to apply visa online through ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system. A processing fee of $30 will be charged from the applicants.There will be no processing fee applicable on those who obtain visa via ETA prior to 1 Jan 2012 provided they arrive within the visa validity period.Visas can be obtained on arrival from ETA processing gates at Bandaranayke International Airport after paying the processing fee by cash or card from 1 January 2012. Two ETA processing gates will be setup for this purpose.All visa applicants are encouraged to obtain visa online prior to arrival to avoid possible hassles at the airport.The 30-Day Free Visa on Arrival granted for the U.S. nationals as mentioned in the below sections will only be issued up 31st December 2011.For more details – visitwww.eta.gov.lkPlease click here for the application.
U.S. Nationals as well as Nationals of countries listed in Schedule "A" may visit Sri Lanka for 30 days without obtaining a visa prior to arrival in Sri Lanka, provided they are traveling as bona fide tourists with valid passports and travel tickets for their onward journey. Such persons may obtain a visa free of charge on arrival in Sri Lanka.
Tourists visiting the country for any period exceeding 30 days and nationals of countries other than the countries listed in Schedule 'A' are required to obtain visas and should contact the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC for further information and visa fees.
Visas are required for persons proceeding to Sri Lanka for other purposes such as business, lectures, educational assignments, academic research, employment, voluntary work in social service organizations, attachment to diplomatic missions and other international organizations or to join their spouses in Sri Lanka.
Schedule 'A'[Countries whose national can enter Sri Lanka as holiday makers without prior visa and remain 30 days without a payment]
01. Albania
22. Finland
43. Maldives
64. Slovenia
02. Armenia
23. France
44. Malaysia
65. South Korea
03. Australia
24. Georgia
45. Moldavia
66. Spain
04. Austria
25. Germany
46. Montenegro
67. Sweden
05. Azerbaijan
26. Greece
47. Netherlands
68. Switzerland
06. Bahrain
27. Hong Kong
48. New Zealand
69. Taiwan
07. Bangladesh
28. Hungary
49. Nepal
70. Tajikistan
08. Belarus
29. India
50. Norway
71. Thailand
09. Belgium
30. Indonesia
51. Oman
72. Turkey
10. Bhutan
31. Iran
52. Pakistan
73. Turkmenistan
11. Bosnia-Herzegovina
32. Ireland
53. Philippines
74. U.A.E.
12. Brunai
33. Israel
54. Poland
75. U.K.
13. Bulgaria
34. Italy
55. Portugal
76. Ukraine
14. Canada
35. Japan
56. Qatar
77. U.S.A.
15. China
36. Kazakhstan
57. Romania
78. Uzbekistan
16. Croatia
37. Kirgistan
58. Russian Federation
79. Yugoslavia
17. Cyprus
38. Kuwait
59. Saudi Arabia
18. Czech, Rep of
39. Latvia
60. Serbia
19. Denmark
40. Lithuania
61. Seychelles
20. Doha-Qatar
41. Luxembourg
62. Singapore
21. Estonia
42. Macedonia
63. Slovakia
Nationals from SAARC countries
All tourists / business travelers from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) are not required to obtain prior visas and may obtain visas for 30 days on arrival in Sri Lanka.
Residence Visas
Residence Visas are issued in Colombo by the Controller of Immigration and Emigration.All Sri Lankan who have subsequently obtained citizenship of other countries may apply for Residence visas under the Ex-Sri Lankan category, thereby paying only half the Residence visa fee, which would amount to Rs. 7500.00. However, they are required to establish their previous Sri Lankan citizenship. Please contact the Embassy of Sri Lanka for further information.
Multiple Entry Visas
US Citizens can obtain multiple entry visas valid for five (5) years for business and leisure purposes with a maximum duration of stay at each entry not exceeding six (6) months.
Multiple Entry Gratis Visas
This Embassy shall issue multiple entry gratis visas valid for six months to the following categories of applicants. Applications for multiple entry visas should be made on the relevant form as per specimen attached, in addition to the regular visa application form.
1. US Government Officials holding Diplomatic /Official passports.
2. World Bank staff members traveling on " UN Laissez - Passer" passports.
3. International Monetary Fund staff members traveling on "UN Laissez - Passer" passports.
4. Members of the Diplomatic Community.
Application Process
An application for a visa must be presented at least one month before the intended date of travel
Applications for visas should be made on forms which may be obtained online or from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in New Orleans, the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Georgia, the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Hawaii, the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Louisiana, the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in New Mexico or the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in New Jersey.
The completed application form with the applicant's signature should be submitted together with two passport size colour photographs, the passport of the applicant, and a money order or certified check (Personal cheques will not be accepted.) for the fee involved.
The outward or return ticket of the applicant with evidence of having sufficient funds for the stay in Sri Lanka should also be submitted.
The passport should be valid for at least six months from the date the visa is to be issued.
Business visa applications should accompany a letter from the sponsoring agency in Sri Lanka, a letter from the employing company in US and a copy of onward - return air ticket and travel itinerary.
All cages of the visa application form should be completed carefully and signed by the applicant at the space reserved on page 2. Please note that incomplete visa applications will be rejected.
No stamps should be affixed to the form.
A letter stating the purpose of the visit with relevant additional information if not already included in the application form should be furnished.
Except tourist visas, all other visa requests may require approval from the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka. Therefore adequate time should be provided to obtain the necessary clearance.
Visas are issued by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York to persons residing in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and by the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Los Angeles to persons residing in California, Washington, and Oregon. Visas are not issued by Honorary Consuls.
Visa fees
US Citizens are required to pay US $ 100.00 to obtain a multiple entry visa valid for five (5) years.
The visa fees for Non-US Citizens are provided in schedule "B".
The postage fees must be sent along with the passport to cover the cost of returning the documents by one of the following mails as desired by the applicant:US Postal Express - $18.00Federal Express - $20.00International mailing fee - $ 35.00
Payments should be be paid by Cash (only if application is hand delivered). The Money Orders or Certified Cheques should be made in favour of "Embassy of Sri Lanka".Please note that personal cheques will not be accepted.
