Sri Lanka entry requirements for U.S. citizens

What you need to enter Sri Lanka

Entry document for a tourist trip: Electronic travel authorization (ETA) required¹. You apply online on the official site, www.eta.gov.lk², and travel with the approval.

Rules change often, and the government of Sri Lanka decides who enters. Check the official site before you travel.

Tourists also need an onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds.⁶

How long you can stay

A tourist ETA allows a stay of up to 30 days⁴. Plan your dates within that limit, or arrange an extension.

Visitors who stay past their visa's expiration must get an extension from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, in Colombo or online, and pay the fees.⁷

Passport rules for Sri Lanka

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka.⁵

If your passport does not meet this rule, renew it before you apply for the ETA. Routine processing takes 4–6 weeks⁸, plus mailing time: see Renew your U.S. passport by mail. If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.⁹ Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Volunteer, religious or paid work

Religious or volunteer work, or local employment, requires an entry visa from a Sri Lankan embassy or consulate before arrival; it is not available online or on arrival.¹⁰ For these plans, check the official source or ask an immigration attorney.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State currently rates Sri Lanka at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution¹¹. Advisory levels can change at any time. Read the current advisory before you book and again before you leave.

Step by step

Checklist

Before you fly to Sri Lanka

Print checklist

• Passport that meets Sri Lanka's validity rule
• Approved ETA, with a copy
• Onward or return ticket
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay
• Current U.S. travel advisory read
• Official site checked again for rule changes

Do and don't

Do

• Apply on the official site, www.eta.gov.lk², and keep a copy of what you submit.
• Carry your onward or return ticket and proof of funds.
• Keep your dates within the stay your ETA allows, or arrange an extension in time.

Don't

• Don't do volunteer, religious or paid work on a tourist ETA. Religious or volunteer work, or local employment, requires an entry visa from a Sri Lankan embassy or consulate before arrival; it is not available online or on arrival.¹⁰
• Don't pay a website that only looks official. Compare what it asks for with the government fee below.
• Don't stay past your permitted date without an extension.

Fees

This table shows the government fee. Passmere does not process visas or travel authorizations and does not charge for this guide.

Staying longer requires a paid extension. The official site, www.eta.gov.lk², shows the current fees.

Frequently asked questions