Mandatory ETA before Travel to Sri Lanka - No More ETAs at the Airport
Bad news for the “I’ll-do-it-later” travelers among us: starting October 15, 2025, Sri Lanka is officially closing the door on last-minute Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) at the airport. In plain English? No more rolling up to Colombo with a confident smile and hoping to sort your visa on the spot. You’ll need to apply online before you board that flight for Mandatory ETA before Travel to Sri Lanka — or risk an awkward conversation with airline staff who will happily explain why you’re not getting on the plane.
Mandatory ETA before Travel to Sri Lanka
Until now, Sri Lanka had one of those flexible systems we all secretly loved — apply for your ETA online before you travel, or, if you forgot (and let’s face it, many did), just grab one upon arrival. But that second option is officially being retired. According to several Sri Lankan embassies — including those in France, Indonesia, and Turkey — no foreign traveler will be allowed entry without a pre-approved ETA.
As the Sri Lankan Embassy in France put it in diplomatic terms:
“Effective October 15, 2025, all foreign nationals traveling to Sri Lanka for tourism purposes must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to arrival.”
Translation: “No ETA, no entry.”
Need more information about traveling to Sri Lanka?
Everyone means everyone
This rule applies to all foreign visitors — even those from countries currently enjoying ETA fee waivers (like China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan). So yes, you might get your ETA for free, but you still have to get it before you fly.
Sri Lanka had announced plans earlier this year to extend that fee waiver to 33 more countries, including most of Europe, the US, Canada, and a few surprise additions like Oman and Kazakhstan. But for now, that’s still in the “coming soon” stage — so don’t expect a free pass just yet.
The why behind the rule
Sri Lanka’s tourism numbers are booming. The island nation has already welcomed over 1.7 million international arrivals in 2025, with India leading the charge. The goal? To surpass the record-breaking 2.3 million arrivals set in 2018.
And while this ETA rule might seem like a buzzkill, it’s actually part of the country’s plan to streamline arrivals and reduce airport chaos. After all, if everyone’s paperwork is sorted before they land, that means fewer queues and fewer confused tourists blocking the immigration line while trying to find Wi-Fi.
How to get your ETA (without tears)
Thankfully, applying for the ETA is quick and easy — even for the chronically disorganized. Head to eta.gov.lk
(the official site — not one of those sketchy third-party lookalikes), fill out the form, pay the fee, and wait for the confirmation email.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Cost: $50 USD for a double-entry ETA
- Validity: 6 months from the date of issue
- Stay duration: Up to 30 days (you can extend locally if you just can’t tear yourself away from the beaches)
- Processing time: Usually minutes to a few hours — plenty of time to make a celebratory cup of tea while you wait
The takeaway
Sri Lanka is still welcoming visitors with open arms — just as long as those visitors are a little more organized. So, before you pack your bags and dream about sipping coconuts on the beach, make sure you’ve got that ETA sorted.
Because as of mid-October, showing up without it won’t just ruin your holiday plans — it might leave you waving goodbye to your flight from the wrong side of the airport window.
