Sri Lanka Reaffirms ETA Requirement as Diplomatic Missions Remind Travelers to Secure Authorization Before Departure

COLOMBO, August 24, 2026 — The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing has issued a notice reminding prospective travelers that foreign nationals who require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) must obtain valid authorization before beginning their journey to Sri Lanka, unless they fall under an exempt category or already hold another valid travel authorization .

The embassy also confirmed that Chinese nationals are among travelers from 40 countries currently eligible for a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA . Similar reminders are being circulated by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in France, Türkiye, and Singapore.

Published: August 24, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

Sri Lanka reaffirms ETA requirement for travelers from 40 countries – free 30-day double-entry visa must be obtained before departure. (Image: Department of Immigration & Emigration / Sri Lanka)

ETA Requirement Reaffirmed Since May 25, 2026

This communication campaign is not introducing a new travel requirement. Since May 25, 2026, Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration has officially announced that affected foreign nationals need to secure an ETA before entering the country.

The clarification accompanied the introduction of free tourist ETAs for nationals of 40 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Belgium, and China . Travelers from these countries can now obtain a tourist ETA at no cost for stays of up to 30 days, permitting two entries.

Key Takeaway: The fact that the ETA is free does not remove the requirement to apply in advance .

Inconsistency Remains on Official ETA Portal

One inconsistency remains on Sri Lanka's official ETA portal. While the homepage states travelers must obtain their ETA before arrival, the application methods section still says a "limited facility to obtain ETA at BIA is available," subject to additional fees upon arrival at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport .

The portal's FAQ also states that an ETA is not a prerequisite for boarding a flight bound for Sri Lanka. These references now appear to be out of step with the more recent instructions issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration .

Travelers are strongly advised to obtain and verify their ETA before departure rather than rely on the possibility of receiving one upon arrival .

Which Countries Are Eligible for Free ETA?

Category	Details
Eligible Countries	40 countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, UK, US
Exemptions	Maldives, Seychelles, Singapore (reciprocal agreements)
Stay Duration	30 days (Maldives: 90 days)
Entries	Double-entry allowed
Fee	Free

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