Sri Lanka is an increasingly popular tourist destination, offering breathtaking natural landscapes and an incomparable cultural wealth. As a result, many travellers decide to extend their stay on this splendid island. If you do, you'll need to know how to extend the validity of your e-Visa.
Initial duration and conditions of the e-Visa
The e-Visa allows foreign nationals to visit Sri Lanka without having to go to an embassy or consulate. It is an electronic application valid for short stays. Initially, the e-Visa offers a visit duration that depends on your choice: 30, 60 or 90 days maximum, with the possibility of multi-entry for some. However, if you wish to stay longer in the country, you will need to take certain steps to extend the validity of your e-Visa.
Procedure for extending your e-Visa
Basically, you cannot extend your e-Visa. To do so, you need to switch from an e-Visa to a traditional visa, or leave the country and reapply for an e-Visa, without any waiting period. To extend your stay beyond the initial e-Visa period, you must apply for a traditional visa from Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department.
Visit the Immigration and Emigration Department You will need to go in person to the Immigration and Emigration Department office in Colombo, located at Battaramulla 10120to finalise the procedure. At this point, you will need to provide certain documents and pay the costs associated with the operation.
Expected costs
It should be noted that the cost of applying for a classic visa can vary according to a number of criteria:
- Type of Visa (Tourist or Business) ;
- Duration requested by the applicant (from 30 to 180 days maximum) ;
- Nationality of traveller.
These fees must be paid directly to the authorities at the time of your appointment with the Immigration and Emigration Department. It is therefore advisable to find out the current fees beforehand to avoid any surprises.
Documents required to extend your stay
On the day of your appointment at Immigration and Emigration DepartmentIn order to extend your stay, you will be asked to provide a number of documents. It is essential that you gather all these documents before travelling to your destination:
- Passport This must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into the country;
- Extension request form This document, obtained directly from the authorities, must be filled in carefully and accurately;
- Reasons for extension These elements may vary according to the expectations of the Immigration and Emigration Department, but generally they involve providing sufficient proof of the reason for the extended stay in Sri Lanka (accommodation, bookings for tourist activities, letter of invitation, etc.).
Deadlines for extending your stay
To avoid any administrative complications, we strongly recommend that you start the extension process as soon as possible after deciding to extend your stay. The best way to do this is to within a few days of entering Sri Lanka. Even if the response to your online extension application is rapid, the appointment with the Immigration and Emigration Department may take a little longer. So don't delay too long to avoid any problems.
What are the consequences if my stay in Sri Lanka ends without an e-Visa extension?
If you nevertheless decide to extend your stay in Sri Lanka without applying for an e-Visa extension, several penalties may apply:
- Delay in obtaining a new visa If you delay in applying for an extension, it may take longer than expected and you may be left without a valid permit for a few days. This could lead to complications when you leave the country.
- Financial penalties In addition to delays, anyone who exceeds the length of stay authorised by their e-Visa is liable to fines. The amount of these fines increases in proportion to the additional days not covered by the initial authorisation.
- Ban on re-entry In the most serious cases (i.e. a total failure to take steps to extend the e-Visa), the authorities may take the radical decision to ban the individual concerned from re-entering Sri Lanka for a specified period.
It is therefore essential to respect the rules laid down by the local authorities and to extend your stay as soon as necessary, in order to avoid administrative and financial complications.
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