Visa

All foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for tourist and business purposes are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) through the website: https://eta.gov.lk prior to travel.

Tourist Visa

• When applying ETA by third parties payments are to be made through the arrangement made in our website www.eta.gov.lk and obtain acknowledgement of ETA application.

• Any payments made to other websites or agencies are not valid to process a valid ETA. Therefore, always ensure that the payments made by accessing to Sri Lanka ETA website and avoid making repayment at the port of entry to Sri Lanka.

Steps to be followed:

• If you are planning a short visit to Sri Lanka, you can submit your ETA application online through www.eta.gov.lk to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.
• Travellers who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for less than 30 days can obtain Tourist visa with double entries through www.eta.gov.lk the visa approval will receive within two days. The Department maintains a no refund policy.

• An ETA holder is entitled to enter Sri Lanka within three months from the date of issue of ETA.

• The ETA is limited to 30 days stay in Sri Lanka from the date of arrival, but it could be extended for up to 90 days from the Department of Immigration & Emigration, in Sri Lanka by paying the relevant fee.

• Pay the relevant ETA processing fee using your electronic payment cards (credit card/e-commerce enabled debit cards) and submit the application. Only Visa, Master and American Express Cards are accepted. If you are unable to pay by electronic payment cards (credit card/e-commerce enabled debit cards), you have to select one of the alternative options.

• Apply if your application is successfully submitted, you will receive an acknowledgment promptly.

• If the applicant does not receive the visa approval notice within 2 working days, you may login to www.eta.gov.lk on the home page and check your visa status. Please go to the ETA home page followed by the “check status” and enter your reference or passport number with the nationality. If the status indicates, “ETA is approved” please take a print out of that to take with you when you are going to Sri Lanka.

• Relevant Visa fees:
  • SAARC Member Country Passport – S$42/-
  • Other Country Passport – S$76/-

• Visa fees paid will not be refunded
• Those applying at the High Commission could pay the visa fees only in cash for which an official receipt would be issued. Visa fees paid will not be refunded. Under certain circumstances interviews will be conducted by the high commission and might be asked to provide extra documents if necessary.
• In the event of ETA being rejected, the system will send a referral notification to the applicant and he/she needs to contact the nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission for necessary assistance.

 Transit Passengers

• Before travel, transit passengers must check with their airline and their final destination for specific requirements.
• Transit via Sri Lanka is permitted, if the connecting flight is within 10 hours of arrival.
• Travelers should check with their airline on the transit times.
• The maximum permitted transit time at BIA for any passenger transiting through BIA must be less than 12 hours.
• Passengers must have a confirmed connection later from BIA to a destination, and passengers must ensure that they do not exit the airport in the transit country on their way to Sri Lanka.
• If passengers arriving from the airport in another country are discharged for more than 72 hours, they must obtain a new COVID-19 PCR report from that country, and it should be done within 72 hours prior to their departure.

https://www.immigration.gov.lk/index_e.php under please go through the given links regarding transit for more information.  

Residence Visa

• A Residence Visa is a permit for a non- Sri Lankan to obtain residence facilities for special purposes.
• It is issued to persons of non-Sri Lankan nationality to whom it has been decided to extended residence facilities for the purpose of investment or otherwise, in circumstances where the prescribed authority is satisfied that their stay in Sri Lanka and the pursuit of their vocations are not prejudicial to the best interest of the population.
• To obtain a Residence Visa, it is necessary to arrive in Sri Lanka on an Entry Visa issued by a Sri Lankan Mission abroad with the concurrence of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.
• Visit Visas can’t be considered for conversion into Residence.

Pls click on the given link for more details on “Residence Visa
”http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.phpoption=com_content&viw=article&id=153&Itemid=198&lang

Entry Visa

• The High Commission requires prior approval from the Controller General, Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka (CG, I&E) to issue entry visa under this category.

• Business Organization, BOI (Board of Investment) or the NGO in Sri Lanka should submit the application for work / resident visa on behalf of the applicant directly to the (Controller General, I & E).

• On receipt of the approval from the Controller General of Immigration & Emigration, the High Commission could issue an Entry Visa.
  

Please note the following documents need to be submitted at the High Commission for the endorsement of your visa:

1. Download Application by clicking on the given link http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/images/stories/pdf/form/visa/entrvisit_visa.pdf
2. Entry Visa Application filled and signed by the applicant (pls find attached)
3. Original Passport (to endorse the VISA)
4. Copy of the Passport Bio page
5. Approval from the Immigration Department
6. 3 Passport size photographs
7. Fee as appropriate by SGD Cash only
   

Submission of documents will be on weekdays (Monday – Friday) between 9.00 am – 12.30 pm

Business Visa

• Business Visa – Up to 30 days: A Business Purpose Visa is issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes for short period of time. This visa may be issued for single or double journeys.

Requirements:

• Duly filled Application
• 02 Passport size (4.5cm*3.5cm) Photographs
• An Invitation/Visa requesting letter from the Company/Organisation in Sri Lanka.
• A detailed Visa request letter from the company or organization in Singapore.
• Confirmed Return Ticket.
• Details of Accommodation in Sri Lanka
• Valid Passport and a copy of the data page of the Passport
• Passport should be valid more than six months (180 days) from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka
• Copy of Singapore/Brunei SPR/EP/”S” Pass/DP/WP
• Relevant Visa Fees:
  • SAARC Member Country Passport – S$ 42/-
  • Other Country Passport – S$76/-

• Visa fees paid will not be refunded.

Official and Diplomatic Passport Holders

• Holders of diplomatic or official passports visiting Sri Lanka for official purposes have to apply for visa through the High Commission.
• Visas will be issued free of charge by the High Commission for diplomatic and official passport holders traveling to Sri Lanka for official purposes.
• Official and Diplomatic Passport holders travelling for tourist purpose is expected to apply for visa online as per the above. However, if they are travelling for other purposes other than tourism prior Visa should be obtained through the High Commission stating the purpose of visit and specific period of travel.
  

Requirements:

• Duly filled Application
• Applicant’s valid Passport together with a copy of the Passport.
• Passport should be valid more than six months (180 days) from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.
• Formal note from the respective government stating the purpose of the visit.
• Entry Visa Fee:
  • SAARC Member Country Passport – S$42/-
  • Other Country Passport – S$76/-
• Visa fees paid will not be refunded.
  

Journalist Visa

• Sri Lanka has longstanding democratic traditions, and respects the freedom of speech & expression. In keeping with this spirit, journalists & media personnel are welcome to visit Sri Lanka.
• All journalists & media personnel travelling to Sri Lanka must obtain visa from the High Commission prior to their arrival in Colombo.
• Media teams are advised to submit visa requests at least one month in advance of their date of departure.
• Media accreditation will not be recommended for any person who travels to Sri Lanka with a tourist visa.
  

Requirements:

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications one month prior to their departure.

• Duly filled Visa Application Form for each member – Download Application
• Two passport size photographs for each member.
• Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of arrival).
• Singapore Identity card /Brunei SPR/EP/”S” Pass/DP/LTVP/Student Pass/WP.
• A letter from the News Agency/Media Institution which states the journalists’ names and requesting Visa, encapsulating Details of Visit
• Tentative programme Expected dates of travel
• List of media equipment and Carnet
• Duly completed Agreement Form Itinerary

• For media that intend to film documentaries / films, for these cases, obtaining prior Clarence from the National film Cooperation (NFC) and sinning of NFC agreement is required. It is required to fill out application forms from the National Film Corporation (NFC) please see section below for “Filming Documentaries / Feature Films”
• More details on the NFC agreement are given in the link below. I have also attached the NFC agreement with this email.

http://www.nfc.gov.lk/foreign-shootings.php

Clearance of Equipment:

• The Department of Customs strictly enforces regulations pertaining to the clearance of equipment carried by media personnel. Accordingly, visiting media personnel should possess a temporary import document known as ‘Carnet’ for any equipment carried by them, for customs clearance. In the absence of a ‘Carnet’, a bank guarantee should be submitted to the value of the items. If the visit is sponsored by any state institution, a guarantee letter from the relevant institution ensuring the re-export of the equipment is required.

• The list of equipment carried by media personnel should be sent to the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Relation through the relevant Sri Lanka Mission in advance, to facilitate clearance at the Customs at the airport. The list should be accompanied by a letter of undertaking from the relevant media organization that the equipment would be carried out of the country upon the departure of the media personnel.
  

Media Accreditation:

• All foreign media personnel visiting Sri Lanka are required to obtain Media Accreditation from the Department of Government Information, issued upon the recommendation by the Ministry of Foreign Relations . All visiting media, upon their arrival in the country, are requested to contact the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Colombo to obtain the recommendation letter. The Recommendation letter is submitted to the Department of Government Information along with a duly filled “Press Accreditation Form: Visiting Journalist” for the issue of a Temporary Media pass.

• Press Accreditation form may be downloaded at following:
  https://dgi.gov.lk/media/attachments/2024/12/23/id-application-id-final---4-1.pdf
  

Relevant Visa Fees:

• SAARC Member Country Passport – S$42/-
• Other Country Passport – S$76/-

Golden Paradise Visa
https://www.lanka.com.sg/consular-service/golden-paradise-residence-visa/