The Sri Lanka Guides

Sri Lanka Launches Free 30-Day ETA for 40 Countries from 25 May

· 2 min read Travel News
Colombo city skyline reflected in the waterfront at dusk, Sri Lanka

Contents

  1. Which Countries Are Eligible
  2. Key Terms of the Free ETA
  3. Why This Matters Now
  4. Broader Context
  5. Practical Steps for Travellers

Sri Lanka has waived the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee for citizens of 40 countries, effective 25 May 2026. Visitors from the United Kingdom, United States, India, Germany, France, Australia, and dozens of other nations can now apply for a 30-day tourist ETA at no cost. The ETA itself remains mandatory — the change eliminates the fee, not the requirement to apply in advance.

Which Countries Are Eligible

The full list of 40 countries includes: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Oman, and Pakistan.

Citizens of the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore — previously exempt from the ETA system — must now obtain an ETA, but this will also be processed free of charge.

Key Terms of the Free ETA

  • Valid for 30 days from the date of first arrival
  • Double entry permitted, but the second entry uses remaining days from the original 30-day allowance
  • Extensions beyond 30 days are possible but subject to standard fees
  • Applications are processed through the official Sri Lanka ETA portal (eta.gov.lk) — there is no walk-in option

Fees paid before 25 May 2026 will not be refunded.

Why This Matters Now

Sri Lanka surpassed one million tourist arrivals before the end of May 2026 — the second consecutive year it has hit this figure before the halfway point. The fee waiver is designed to accelerate that growth and reduce the cost barrier for mid-term visitors.

Colombo continues to see strong growth in arrival numbers, and gateway towns such as Galle on the south coast are drawing increasing interest from European and North American visitors.

Broader Context

The ETA fee waiver sits alongside two other significant policy changes already in effect for 2026: a new 180-day extended tourist visa (up from 90 days) and a digital nomad visa for remote workers earning a minimum of USD 2,000 per month. Together, these represent the most substantive overhaul of Sri Lanka’s entry framework in years.

Sri Lanka recorded over one million tourist arrivals before the end of May 2026 — the second consecutive year it has hit this figure before the halfway point. The free ETA is designed to accelerate that growth and reduce the cost barrier for mid-term visitors.

Practical Steps for Travellers

Apply via the official government portal before departure. Processing is typically straightforward, and approval is usually issued within 24–48 hours. Ensure your passport has at least six months of validity from your date of entry.

For a complete guide to entry requirements, including what to bring to the border, see our Sri Lanka visa guide. For flight options into Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, see our flights to Sri Lanka guide.