Apply for a Visa

Tourist Visa

Tourist Visas are issued to bona-fide tourists who wish to visit Sri Lanka for sightseeing or holidaying, visiting friends & relatives, participate in sports events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance for a short period of time.

Maldivian nationals are given free on-arrival visa for 90 days when travelling for tourist/visit purposes.

Application Procedure

To apply ETA for less than 30 days, the applicant can apply by themselves through the official website www.eta.gov.lk

ETA Applications through Third-Parties:

Applicants are advised to apply ETA ONLY through the official website (www.eta.gov.lk) since this mission has been receiving several complaints regarding third-party websites. This mission is not responsible for any payments made to third-party sites or agencies.

Payment Details

Conditions for a Tourist Visa

Visitors cannot engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid, in any trade/business other than that specified in the visa during their stay.

The visa must be utilized before the specified date of expiry.

An extension of 2 months beyond the original 30 days shall be granted at the Department of Immigration & Emigration if required.

Further extensions will be considered only with valid reasons. This restriction will not apply to ex-Sri Lankans.

General Eligibility Requirements for Sri Lankan Visas

• The Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka may issue a visa to an applicant if:
• The Department is satisfied that the applicant is suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
• The Department approves the purpose of entry to Sri Lanka.
• The applicant holds a passport valid for at least 6 months.
• The Department is satisfied that the applicant has sufficient funds for their stay in Sri Lanka, and for their return passage to their country of origin.  
• The applicant possesses a written assurance (ticket) to return to their country of origin, or to an onwards destination.

Visa /Visa Fee Exemption

• Dual Citizens of Sri Lanka (Dual Citizenship Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
• Children under the age of 21, born overseas, whose birth has been registered under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act 1948. (Sri Lankan Citizenship Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
• Children under the age of 21, born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents. (Sri Lankan Birth Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
• A visa waiver/ on arrival free visa agreement has been signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the government of the applicant.

Business Visa

Business Visas are issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes (business meetings & negotiations, conferences, workshops, seminars, short-term training-programmes, art/music/dance events, religious events or symposiums) for short periods of time. Visas may be issued for single, double, or multiple journeys.

Application Procedure

To apply ETA for less than 30 days, the applicants can apply by themselves through the official website www.eta.gov.lk

ETA Business Visa Applications through the Mission:

Requirements:

• Completed Visa Application Form. (Please Click)
• Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival).
• One recent passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photograph.
• A confirmed Return Ticket.
• Letter from Maldivian authorities’ / business partner.
• Letter from Sri Lankan organisation recommending the issuance of Visa.

Payment Details

Conditions for a Business Visa

The visa must be utilized before the specified date of expiry.

Applications for the extension of all visas should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration Head Officein Sri Lanka.

General Eligibility Requirements for Sri Lankan Visas

The Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka may issue a visa to an applicant if:

The Department is satisfied that the applicant is suitable to enter Sri Lanka.

The Department approves the purpose of entry to Sri Lanka.

The applicant holds a passport valid for at least 6 months.

The Department is satisfied that the applicant has sufficient funds for their stay in Sri Lanka, and for their return passage to their country of origin.

The applicant possesses a written assurance (ticket) to return to their country of origin, or to an onwards destination.

Education Visa

The Education visa is given to University Students, Students in Educational Institutions approved by the Government, Volunteers, Internship holders.

The Maldivian nationals who wish to visit Sri Lanka for educational purposes should first obtain an entry pass to travel to Sri Lanka. 

The applicant, or someone acting on their behalf, must submit the following documents to the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka:

• Copy of the applicant’s passport
• Police clearance certificate
• Acceptance letter from the educational institution in Sri Lanka
• Request letter addressed to the Department of Immigration, including full details of the applicant and any dependants (if applicable)

Some educational institutions assist with the visa application process, so we recommend contacting the administration of the relevant educational institute to check if they offer such support.

Once the documents are submitted, the Department of Immigration and Emigration will issue an approval, which will be sent to both the Sri Lanka High Commission in Maldives and the applicant.

Following the approval, the applicant must visit the High Commission in person with:

• Original passport
• Two (2) passport-size photographs
• Completed visa application form (available at the High Commission)

Upon verification, the entry visa stamp will be issued.

After receiving the entry visa, the applicant can travel to Sri Lanka. Within 30 days of arrival, they must apply for a residence visa through the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka.

For more information, please refer to the official website of the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=18

Medical Visa

The Maldivian nationals who wish to visit Sri Lanka for medical purposes can first travel to Sri Lanka using on-arrival visit visa. 

Then, they should visit the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka with the following documents to obtain residence visa for medical purposes:

• Recommendation letter of the doctor or medical officer (Including Ayurvedic or homeopathy)
• Medical report
• Bank Encashment receipts to the value of US$  1500/- for a year per person to support your medical expenses
• A copy of the Bio Data Page of applicant’s passport
• Passport/s
• Health Protection plan (Can get through the www.health.gov.lk/IHU)

For more information, please refer to the official website of the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: https://www.immigration.gov.lk/pages_e.php?id=18

Diplomatic Visa

Diplomatic Visas are issued to the Maldivian Diplomatic Passport Holders to visit Sri Lanka on their Diplomatic assignments.

Application Procedure

1.     The applicant could submit his/her visa application along with the following documents to this High Commission.

Duly filled Visa Application Form (Form B) DOWNLOAD HERE

Application for Entry Visa requested for employment/assignment at Diplomatic Missions DOWNLOAD HERE

Details required for clearance of Visa through Electronic Travel Authorization DOWNLOAD HERE

Original Passport (valid for more than 6 months)

Note verbal of the Maldives Foreign Ministry

2.     An ‘Entry visa’ will be issued by this High Commission on gratis basis, upon approval of the relevant authorities of Sri Lanka. ETA application form DOWNLOAD HERE

Transit Visa

Transit Visas are granted to foreign nationals for entry into Sri Lanka for a short period in the course of their journey to another destination.

Fees will not be charged for the ETA for Transit Visa 

How to apply

Go to the website www.eta.gov.lk

Click on the “apply” button and fill in the ETA application (Transit visa)

Pay the relevant ETA processing fee using your electronic payment card, if the Transit time exceed 48 hours.

Submit the application

Note:

If your application is successfully submitted, you will receive an acknowledgment notice by email. Next you will receive ETA approval or a referral notice by email.

To check your ETA application status, you may log into the ETA website or contact 24/7 dedicated ETA call center on +94 719967888

Journalist Visa

Visa for Journalists & Media Personnel

Sri Lanka has longstanding democratic traditions, and respects the freedom of speech & expression. In keeping with this spirit, journalists & media personnel are welcome to visit Sri Lanka.

Guidelines for Visa & Accreditation

Media teams are advised to submit visa requests at least 2 weeks in advance of their date of departure.

Regulations pertaining to media equipment are strictly enforced by Sri Lanka Customs. 

Visiting journalists & media personnel must obtain a Carnet (a temporary import document) for their media equipment (cameras, etc.), for customs clearance.

In the absence of a Carnet, a bank guarantee for the value of the imported media equipment must be submitted.

If the visit is sponsored by a state institution, a letter from the institution concerned, guaranteeing that the media equipment will be re-exported, must be provided.

Telephone equipment such as satellite phones require a prior license from the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

A list of media equipment to be carried by the visiting journalists & media personnel must be sent to the Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka through the High Commission, to facilitate clearance at airport Customs. A letter of undertaking must also be provided by the media organization, guaranteeing that the media equipment will be re-exported upon the departure of the media personnel.

All foreign media personnel working in Sri Lanka must obtain media accreditation. (Media accreditation will not be recommended/granted for any person who travels to Sri Lanka with a tourist visa.)

Media personnel must possess the relevant visa, issued by the High Commission, in order to obtain media accreditation.

Media accreditation requests submitted to the High Commission are forwarded to the Department of Government Information via the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka. 

Journalists wishing to obtain media accreditation can visit the Department of Government Information in Colombo.

Journalists may contact the Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for courtesy meetings, clearance of media equipment, coordination to meet VVIPs, etc.

Guidelines for Shooting Foreign Films in Sri Lanka

The filming of all documentaries & feature films (except Tourism Promotional Documentaries & Wildlife Documentaries) requires prior approval from the National Film Corporation (NFC).

Media teams must complete & submit the NFC Agreement, a synopsis of the documentary, itinerary of the media team while in Sri Lanka, and filming locations.

Media teams intending to film Tourism Promotional Documentaries, or participate in FAM tour, must complete the Application “Selection Criteria for Journalists/TV Crews for FAM Tours” (download here)

Prior approval from the Department of Wildlife Conservation is necessary to film in Protected Areas. The “Application for Filming in Wildlife Protected Areas” (download here) form must be completed and submitted.

Required Documents

• Completed Visa Application Form DOWNLOAD HERE
• Completed Journalist Declaration
• Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
• Two recent passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photographs
• Confirmed travel itinerary
• Credentials
• List of equipment to be cleared by Sri Lanka Customs on arrival
• Letter of Invitation by Sri Lankan authorities (if applicable)

Payment Details