Sri Lanka is an ideal holiday destination thanks to its rich cultural heritage and numerous tourist attractions.
Before 2012, you only needed to show your passport and an entry form to enter Sri Lanka, but now you have to show your passport and an entry form, it is compulsory to apply for an e-Visa. This procedure replaced the ETA in 2024. How do I apply for an e-visa for Sri Lanka? Here are our tips to make your life easier!
Obtaining your e-Visa
It is a personal document and is absolutely essential if you wish to enter Sri Lanka. If you are travelling as a couple or a family, each person must apply separately, and each has their own passport.. It's a relatively simple process.
The e-Visa must be applied for and obtained before travelling to the island.. This is no longer an authorisation to enter the country, but a conventional visa with an electronic application. You need to apply online, on the official website of the Sri Lankan Immigration and Emigration Department, or via a specialist agency.
Filling in the application form is simple: just follow the instructions carefully, fill in the status of the traveller(s) and the purpose of the trip (tourist, business or transit). Once the form has been completed, you pay for the transaction (directly online by credit card). You will then receive an e-mail confirming that your request has been registered. After some time, you will receive a second e-mail authorising you to enter Sri Lanka. You need to print it out.
You should therefore expect to receive your e-Visa by e-mail within a few hours or a few days.
To obtain your e-Visa for Sri Lanka, you will need :
- Your passport, valid for 6 months from the date of arrival in the country
- Your return ticket or ticket to another destination, if applicable
- Your bank card (to pay any charges associated with your application)
- A printer to print out the authorisation received by email.
Please note that the e-Visa cannot be extended. You will have to leave the country or apply for another visa at an immigration office.. If your stay is longer, you will need to obtain a regular visa from the Sri Lankan embassy.
Going through an agency
If you want to make the process easier and avoid any risk of error, not least because of the language barrier (the form is in English), you may decide to call on the services of a specialist agency. This agency will act as an intermediary between you and the Sri Lankan authorities and will ensure that you receive your e-Visa in time for your departure.
There are several agencies offering this type of service. There is a charge for this transaction, but it gives you peace of mind that your application will not be rejected just as your trip is about to begin.. The visa obtained through the agency is issued by the authorities and retains the same conditions of stay.
An agency service 