Your Guide to ETA Sri Lanka

Standard processing is 48 hours from submission. Many applications are approved within minutes; the rest are manually reviewed within 2 working days. We recommend applying at least 5 days before departure to absorb any unexpected delay during peak seasons (December-January, July-August).

The Tourism/Family and Business ETAs grant a stay of up to 30 days per entry, with 6-month validity from issue. The Transit Cruise ETA only grants 2 days. The 30-day stay can be extended on the ground at the Department of Immigration in Colombo for up to 6 months total — see our extension section above for details.

Yes — the Business ETA ($80) is multiple-entry within its 6-month validity. The Tourism/Family ETA ($68) is double-entry, sufficient for one side-trip to the Maldives, Singapore or southern India during your travel window. There is currently no online multiple-entry tourism ETA — for more entries, apply for the Business ETA if you have a legitimate business purpose, or apply for fresh ETAs as needed.

Sri Lanka officially requires you to obtain the ETA before boarding. While Visa on Arrival is technically possible at Bandaranaike for some nationalities (paying $50-60 in cash, single entry), the queue can stretch to 90 minutes during peak season, and several airlines (Air Asia, Scoot, IndiGo) require proof of an approved ETA at check-in. Always apply for the ETA online — it's faster, cheaper, and removes any risk of denied boarding.

No. The Sri Lanka ETA strictly authorises tourism, family visits, short business activities, conferences, and transit. It does not allow paid employment by a Sri Lankan company, freelance work paid in Sri Lanka, journalism for hire, or academic enrollment leading to a diploma. For paid work, you need a Sri Lankan employment visa from a sponsoring employer.

Tourism/Family Double Entry costs $68 ($48 government fee + $20 service fee). Business Multiple Entry costs $80 ($50 + $30). Transit Cruise costs $20 (no government fee + $20 service fee). Children, infants and seniors pay the same as adults. The government fee is non-refundable once the application is filed.

If denied, the government fee is non-refundable. Evisa Rocket refunds our service fee on request for first-time denials caused by issues we should have caught. Common rejection reasons: photo not compliant, passport less than 6 months from expiry, missing personal details, wrong ETA type. We help diagnose the cause and re-apply correctly.

Yes. The ETA is accepted at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) — 95% of arrivals — and at Mattala Rajapaksa International (HRI). For cruise arrivals, it is accepted at the international sea ports of Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Mirissa and others. Sri Lanka is an island so there are no land border crossings.

Yes. Every traveler — including newborns, infants, toddlers, and minors — must have their own valid ETA linked to their own passport. The fee is the same as for adults. Children traveling with one parent only should also carry a notarized authorization letter from the absent parent, especially with a different family name.

Yes. Sri Lanka is one of the few destinations where ETA extensions are easy and routine. Visit the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Battaramulla (Colombo) at least 2 weeks before your 30-day stay expires. The first extension grants up to 90 days; subsequent extensions can take you up to a total of 6 months. Bring your passport, ETA printout, return ticket, accommodation proof, a passport photo, and approximately $30-40 USD per month in fees.

The Transit ETA ($20) is designed specifically for cruise passengers stopping over in Colombo or Galle for 1-2 day shore excursions. For airline transits less than 12 hours where you stay airside at Bandaranaike, no ETA is required — you remain in the international transit zone. If your layover is longer than 12 hours and you want to leave the airport (visit Colombo, hotel rest), you need the standard Tourism ETA.

Functionally yes. SLETA (Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization) is the new platform launched in 2024 by the Sri Lankan government as a partner-managed system. The official ETA you receive — the same printed PDF, the same QR code — works at the border whether issued through the legacy ETA platform or the new SLETA. We use the official channel that's currently active.

Sri Lanka has two monsoon systems. The south and west coasts (Colombo, Galle, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Yala) are best from December to March — sunny, dry, perfect for the Cultural Triangle and the southern beaches. The east coast (Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Arugam Bay) is best from May to September. Avoid the corresponding monsoon for the region you're visiting (May-Sep for south, Oct-Jan for east).

Yes — the ETA is a 100% online process and you can apply from anywhere in the world, as long as your passport is from one of the 75+ eligible nationalities. The country where you apply does not matter; what matters is the passport you hold. Many travelers apply during a layover, while at home, or while already abroad on another trip.