To travel to Sri Lanka, nationals of many countries are required to obtain a e-Visa before they leave. This simplified online procedure avoids the often long and tedious administrative procedures at an embassy or consulate.
Focus on the key steps involved in obtaining your e-Visa for Sri Lanka and how to present it at the airport when you board your flight. We will also explain how the immigration officer checks you when you arrive in the country.
First of all: applying for an e-Visa before you travel
Before travelling to Sri Lanka, it is essential to apply for an e-Visa online. The process is relatively quick and easy:
- Visit the official Sri Lankan government website dedicated to e-Visa applications: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/
- Fill in the online form with all the information required, such as your contact details, passport and travel details.
- Pay the processing fee by credit card.
- Receive confirmation of your e-Visa by e-mail, usually within 4 days.
Note that it is recommended that you apply for your e-Visa at least 4 days before your departure.to ensure that you receive authorisation in time for your trip.
Introducing the e-Visa at the airport: what you need to have with you
When you go to the airport to catch your flight to Sri Lanka, it is essential to have the following documents with you:
- Your passport It must be valid for at least 6 months after the date on which you plan to enter the country.
- Confirmation of your e-Visa Although it is electronic and directly linked to your passport, it is advisable to print out a copy of the confirmation you receive by e-mail. In the event of a computer problem, this will make it easier to check with the authorities.
- Proof of sufficient funds Immigration: immigration officials may ask you to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your stay. So be sure to bring a recent bank statement or any other document proving your means.
- A return or onward ticket The authorities must be sure that you are not planning to stay in Sri Lanka indefinitely. A return ticket or a ticket to another destination may be sufficient proof.
When boarding: present your e-Visa and passport
Before boarding the plane, you will have to go through a security check, where staff check passengers' travel documents. At this stage, it is important to present your passport and the printed confirmation of your e-Visa.
The airline must ensure that you have taken the necessary steps to enter Sri Lanka legally. If it fails to do so, it may be penalised financially and forced to pay the cost of repatriation if entry is refused..
Arrival in Sri Lanka: examination by the immigration officer
Once you arrive in Sri Lanka, you will have to pass through an immigration checkpoint. There, an officer will check your e-Visa and may ask a few questions about the nature of your stay, its duration and the reasons for your visit.
This is also when the immigration officer check that you meet all the conditions required to enter the countryThese include the validity of your passport, your financial resources and your plans for departure. It is therefore essential to be prepared to answer these questions and to provide the documents requested.
In the event of transit or stopover
If you are in transit and need to change planes in Sri Lanka, you will probably not need to go through immigration control, unless you are leaving the international zone of the airport. In this case, make sure you have taken the necessary steps to obtain an e-Visa and be prepared to present the same documents as those described above. There is a free transit e-Visa for less than 2 days, and a chargeable one for less than 4 days in Sri Lanka.