Rules change, and only the official sites are authoritative. Check them before you book, and again a week before you fly.
Every visitor needs an ETA
All foreign visitors must get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival, including those whose ETA is free. Apply on the official site, eta.gov.lk. Be careful with look-alike agency sites that charge extra service fees.
A tourist ETA is valid for 30 days from arrival and allows a double entry within that period.
Free ETA for 40 countries
From 25 May 2026, nationals of these 40 countries can get a tourist ETA free of charge:
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 and United States.
Singapore and Seychelles nationals also get a free 30-day visa, and Maldives nationals a free 90-day visa.
If your country is not on the list
A 30-day tourist ETA costs US$50 online (US$20 for SAARC countries). Bought on arrival it is US$60 (US$25 for SAARC). Children under 12 are free. Apply online if you can, because the queue on arrival can be long.
Staying longer
You can apply to extend a tourist visa through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services portal before your ETA runs out.
Customs and cash
- Declare foreign currency worth more than US$15,000 (in any form) when you arrive.
- Declare foreign currency notes worth more than US$10,000 if you plan to take them out again.
- You may bring in or take out up to LKR 20,000 in Sri Lankan rupees.
- Declarations are made to the Customs officer in the arrival hall before you leave the baggage area.
At the airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is at Katunayake, about 35 km north of Colombo and 15 minutes from Negombo. After baggage and customs, the arrival lobby has bank counters, ATMs, and SIM desks for the main mobile networks. See money and costs and SIM cards and data.