Sri Lanka has increased its visa fees and, at the same time, has launched a new e-visa system to ensure efficiency and convenience.
According to the Sri Lankan authorities, the e-visa system will replace the Electronic Travel Authorization method that has been applied so far.
By making such a replacement, the country wants to make travel to Sri Lanka more convenient for travelers from all over the world, VisaGuide.Wolrd reports.
As Travel Trade Journal explains, now that ETA has been replaced with the e-visa system, the requirements, fees, as well as the validity period of visas have been updated.
Standard Tourist Visa Fee Increased to $75 for Non-SAARC Countries
In line with the newly updated fees, nationals of countries that are not part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will now have to pay $75 for a standard tourist visa, representing a 50 percent increase in the fee.
As for nationals of countries participating in the SAARC, they will now have to pay a $35 fee for a standard tourist visa.
On the other hand, nationals of Singapore, Maldives, Czechia, and Seychelles are exempted from paying the fee when applying for this particular visa.
According to the information provided by the official Sri Lanka eVisa website, the fee for the other types of tourist visas has also increased.
Foreigners who apply for a two-year multiple-entry tourist visa now face a fee of $300.
Moreover, those who apply for a five-year multiple-entry visa and for a ten-year multiple-entry visa will be required to pay a fee of $500 and $1,000, respectively.
Certain Groups of Foreigners Exempted From Visa Fee
In contrast, diplomats are not subject to any of the fees. A document shared by the official Sri Lanka eVisa website reads that Indians, Russians, Malaysians, Chinese, Japanese, Thais, and Indonesians are also exempted from tourist visa charges.
The prices for business visas have also increased. A standard tourist visa for business purposes now costs $35 for nationals of SAARC countries and $73 for nationals of other nations.
Sri Lanka Saw Over 218,000 Tourists in February 2024 Alone
Sri Lanka continues to remain a popular destination for travellers from all over the world, with the country registering a total of 218,350 visitors in February of this year alone.
Such a high number of tourists who reached Sri Lanka in February represents a 102.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
While tourists from different parts of the world traveled to Sri Lanka in February, data show that Russians topped the list. A total of 32,030 Russians entered Sri Lanka in February.
Russia was followed by India, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China.
Tourist Visa
A Tourist Visa is issued to bona-fide tourists who want to enter Sri Lanka for sightseeing or holidaying, visiting friends and relatives, medical treatments, participate in art, music and dance events, participate in sport events for a short period of time.
- Tourist Visa – Standard Visitor Visa
Standard Visitor visa – Tourist, enables short term visitors to come to Sri Lanka for a period of 06 months limiting the 60 day stay at each visit with the double entry facility.
- For Whom:
Potential tourists living out of Sri Lanka - Period of Visa:
06 months at one stretch limiting 60 days at each visit (Double entry within the validity period of the visa).
if need more than 60 days can extend for 2 months (terminating the double entry facility) - Visa Fee:
SAARC countries: US $ 35 Non-SAARC US $ 75 For Singapore, Maldives, Seychelles and Czech Republic Free - Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Engage in Business/Trade activities,
- Taking part in Meetings, conferences, Short term training programs, Art, Music, Dance events/festivals
- Engage in employment paid/unpaid, self –employment.
- Live in Sri Lanka for a long period through frequent or successive visits
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Tourist Visa – One Year Multiple Entry Visa
A visa issued to a foreigner who wishes to enter Sri Lanka on several occasions within the overall period authorized by a visa for the purpose of tourism permitting to stay one year limiting 90 days visit at each stay for the potential applicant with the multiple entry facility.
- For Whom:
Potential tourists - Period of Visa:
12 months at one stretch limiting 90 days at each visit (Multiple entries within the validity period of the visa). - Visa Fee:
US $ 200
- Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Engage in Business/Trade activities,
- Taking part in Meetings, conferences, short term training programs, Art, Music, Dance events/festivals
- Engage in employment paid/unpaid, self –employment
- Live in Sri Lanka for a long period through frequent or successive visit
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Tourist Visa – Two Years Multiple Entry Visa
A visa issued to a foreigner who wishes to enter Sri Lanka on several occasions within the overall period authorized by a visa for the purpose of tourism activities permitting to stay two years limiting 180 days visit at each stay for the potential applicant.
- For Whom:
Potential tourist - Period of Visa:
02 years limiting 180 days stay at each visit (Multiple entries with the validity period of the visa) - Visa Fee:
US $ 300
- Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Performing any other activities is strictly prohibited
- Engaging in internal politics of the country
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Tourist Visa – Five Years Multiple Entry Visa
A visa issued to a foreigner who wishes to enter Sri Lanka on several occasions within the overall period authorized by a visa for the purpose of tourism activities permitting to stay five years limiting 180 days visit at each stay for the potential applicant.
- For Whom:
Potential tourists - Period of Visa:
05 years limiting 180 days stay at each visit. - Visa Fee:
US $ 500
- Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Performing any other activities is strictly prohibited
- Engaging in internal politics of the country
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Tourist Visa – Ten Years Multiple Entry Visa
A visa issued to a foreigner who wishes to enter Sri Lanka on several occasions within the overall period authorized by a visa for the purpose of tourism activities permitting to stay ten years limiting 180 days visit at each stay for the potential applicant.
- For Whom:
Potential tourists - Period of Visa:
10 years limiting 180 days stay at each visit. - Visa Fee:
US $ 1000
- Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Performing any other activities is strictly prohibited
- Engaging in internal politics of the country
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Standard Visitor Visa for United State of America
A visa issued to a citizen of USA who wishes to enter Sri Lanka on several occasions within the overall period authorized by a visa for the purpose of tourism activities and business activities permitting to stay five years limiting 180 days visit at each stay for the potential applicant.
- For Whom:
USA Citizens - Period of Visa:
5 years limiting 180 days stay at each visit. - Visa Fee:
US $ 100
- Application mode:
Sri Lankan Embassy in United State of America
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
- Tourist Visa – Free Visa
- For Whom:
Potential tourists from nationals of China, Indonesia, India, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. - Period of Visa:
30 days form the date of initial arrival. - Visa Fee:Free of charge.
- Application mode:
Online through the web site https://www.srilankaevisa.lk apply on or before 30/04/2024.
- Allowed activities:
- Sightseeing / Holidaying
- Visiting friend and relatives
- Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and Yoga
- Participating sports events, competition and activities relating to cultural performance
- Not allowed activities:
- Engage in Business/Trade activities,
- Taking part in Meetings, conferences, Short term training programs, Art, Music, Dance events/festivals
- Engage in employment paid/unpaid, self –employment.
- Live in Sri Lanka for a long period through frequent or successive visits
- Required Documents:
- A colour photograph in jpg image
- jpg image of data page of valid passport
- For Whom:
