Sri Lanka Visa for Citizens of UK Overseas in May 2025

Yes. British citizens need a visa to travel to Sri Lanka because the United Kingdom is not on the exemption list for Sri Lanka visas. Sri Lanka e-Visa is an official authorization for a Short Visit to Sri Lanka. This type of travel authorization is issued electronically and valid for 06 months from the issued date. British passport holders can use this e-Visa to visit Sri Lanka for purposes such as tourism, business, or transit.

Instead of visiting an Embassy, British citizens now can apply for a Sri Lanka visa online which saves time and costs. There are 03 types of Sri Lanka e-Visa available, namely, Tourist eVisa, Business eVisa, and Transit eVisa. The visa application process is simple and just takes the applicants a few minutes to complete.

To apply for a Sri Lanka visa for UK citizens, British candidates must ensure that they obtain enough required documents. A valid passport and an email address need to be provided during the process. Once the e-Visa is issued, it will be sent to the email address of British citizens. Upon arrival, they should produce their passport to the immigration officer at the port of entry to obtain the necessary clearance. It is advisable for British residents to bring a copy of their e-Visa approval along with them.

UK citizens will receive their Sri Lanka e-Visa via their email addresses. UK travelers have to fill in an online application form at Sri Lanka Immigration Service to obtain a Sri Lanka eVisa. It is vital for UK residents to obtain these documents in advance:

• A passport that is valid for at least 06 months from the arrival date in Sri Lanka. There should be a minimum of 02 unused pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.
• An email address that is frequently used. All the notifications and updates on the visa will be sent to this email address.

To get the Sri Lanka visa for UK citizens, it takes only 15 minutes to complete the application process which consists of 3 simple steps:

• Step 1: Some important information must be provided in this step: Personal information (complete name, address, date of birth, and nationality), passport number, Date of arrival in Sri Lanka and departure date.
• Step 2: Pay the Sri Lanka e-Visa fee.
• Step 3: Click the “Submit” button and wait for the e-Visa. The approved electronic visa will be sent to the applicant via email. It is strongly advised that UK residents carry a copy of their e-Visa with them at all times during their journey in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka e-Visa is an official permit for a brief visit to Sri Lanka for tourism-related purposes. Endowed with world-class beaches, and fascinating historical sites, Sri Lanka is a top destination for numerous international travelers. The number of British travelers to Sri Lanka increased significantly in recent years. Therefore, they should keep updated on any information relating to Sri Lanka visas.

British passport holders can use an e-Visa to enter Sri Lanka for the following reasons:

• Sightseeing, visiting relatives, and friends, receiving medical treatments, participating in sporting events, competitions, and activities relating to cultural performance.
• Participating in business-related activities.
• Transiting through Sri Lanka.

The introduction of a Sri Lanka e-Visa provides an efficient, reliable, and simple service to foreigners who wish to travel to Sri Lanka. British travelers can complete the entire process online in just a matter of minutes, hence eliminating the need to visit an Embassy. Once the application has been submitted, travelers can expect to receive their e-Visa in 3 business days or earlier. In case British citizens want to receive an e-Visa in a few hours, they should opt for the Rush visa service.

In addition, the required documents for visa application for citizens of Britain are also simple. They just need a passport to apply for a Sri Lanka visa online.

It is absolutely crucial for UK citizens planning to travel to Sri Lanka to apply for their visa well in advance. The processing time for visa applications is between 05 hours to 03 business days, thus UK citizens should apply for a Sri Lanka e-Visa at least 07 days before their travel. Failure to allow sufficient time for processing could lead to unnecessary delays and potentially jeopardize your travel plans. 

After UK citizens fill in the application form and pay the v fee, they can click the “Submit” button and wait for the response from Sri Lanka Immigration Services.

Once the application form is submitted, UK citizens cannot modify it. Therefore, they have to ensure that they enter the correct details before submitting their visa application. Any mistakes or unmatched information may result in a delay in processing time.

The email address is used to receive all the notifications and updates of the e-Visa. Because the entire process is online, UK passport holders can use one of these electronic payment methods: Debit/ Credit card, PayPal, or American Express to pay the visa fee. If UK travelers find out later that they have made a mistake, then they will have to submit a fresh application and pay the relevant fee again.

In addition, UK citizens are recommended to print out their Sri Lanka e-Visa before departure and keep it securely during their journey to the country. Upon arrival, the Immigration Officer will ask them to present it before letting you enter the Sri Lanka border.

Do not underestimate the importance of applying early, especially during peak travel seasons or when significant holidays are approaching in Sri Lanka. By applying with ample time, British citizens can avoid the stress and inconvenience of last-minute visa arrangements. 

Stay informed about the specific requirements and up-to-date information for UK citizens by contact us now!