Sri Lanka ETA 2026: Free for 40 Countries

The short answer: from 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 countries can get a Sri Lanka tourist ETA free of charge. But an ETA is still mandatory for every foreign visitor — free does not mean “no ETA needed”.

What is the Sri Lanka ETA?

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is permission to travel to Sri Lanka that you obtain online before your trip. All foreign nationals need one before arrival, including nationals of countries covered by the free scheme.

What changed on 25 May 2026


Who	Nationals of 40 countries
Cost	Free of charge
Validity	30 days, double entry, from first arrival
Passports covered	Diplomatic, official, service and ordinary
Still required?	Yes — apply before you travel

Countries covered include the UK, USA, India, China, Canada, Australia and most of the European Union. {{TODO: publish the full official list of 40 countries from the Department of Immigration & Emigration notice.}}

Fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refundable.

Special cases

Maldives: Maldivian nationals receive 90 days under a bilateral agreement.
Reciprocal-agreement countries (Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore) still need an ETA before arrival.
Staying longer than 30 days: apply for an extension in Sri Lanka and pay the applicable fee.

How to apply

Go to the official portal: eta.gov.lk.
Fill in your passport and travel details.
Submit and wait for approval before you fly.

Watch out for unofficial ETA sites

Several commercial websites look official and charge a “service fee” for an ETA that may be free for you. Always type eta.gov.lk yourself rather than clicking an advert.