Which countries can visit Sri Lanka without a visa?

Sri Lanka currently offers a free tourist ETA — not visa-free entry — to nationals of 40 countries, effective May 25, 2026, plus Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore under separate bilateral agreements. "Free" refers to the processing fee only: every traveler in this scheme must still obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival.

Countries with Visa-Free Access to Sri Lanka

1. Countries eligible for a free Sri Lanka tourist ETA

As of May 25, 2026, nationals of the following 40 countries can obtain a tourist ETA free of charge for up to 30 days, applicable to Diplomatic, Official, Service, and Ordinary passport holders:

Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Americas: Canada, United States

Asia & Oceania: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand

Middle East: Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

The ETA is valid for 30 days with double-entry permitted — the second entry must fall within the remaining balance of that 30-day window from the date of first arrival.

2. Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore: free, but still required

These three nationalities qualify for a free tourist ETA under separate bilateral reciprocal agreements with Sri Lanka:

Is Sri Lanka visa-free for these countries?

Not exactly. A free ETA is not the same as visa-free travel. For every nationality above — the 40-country scheme and the three bilateral-agreement countries alike — an ETA is mandatory before arrival. The only thing waived is the processing fee.

Is anyone actually exempt from the ETA requirement?

Yes, but this exemption is much narrower than nationality alone, and it does not include Maldives, Seychelles, or Singapore on ordinary passports — those three still need to apply, as shown above. Genuine ETA-free entry is limited to holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports under specific bilateral arrangements, not to tourists traveling on ordinary passports.

What about everyone else?

Nationals not covered by the free-ETA scheme or a diplomatic-passport exemption remain subject to Sri Lanka's standard ETA and visa rules, with fees depending on nationality, purpose of travel, and visa type (tourist, business, or transit).

Important Note:

• Passport validity: at least 6 months from the date of arrival, for everyone.
• Entry documents: a confirmed return ticket and proof of sufficient funds may be required.
• Purpose of travel: the tourist ETA does not authorize employment; work, study, or residence require a different visa category.
• Staying longer: apply for an extension and pay the applicable fee before your ETA validity ends.
• Policy changes: Sri Lanka's ETA rules have changed more than once in the past two years — confirm current requirements on the official ETA and immigration websites before departure.

Summary

Sri Lanka currently offers a fee-free ETA to nationals of 40 selected countries, plus Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore under bilateral agreements — but in every case, the ETA itself is still required. The only truly ETA-free travel applies to diplomatic, official, or service passport holders under specific arrangements. Everyone else should plan to apply for an ETA and check whether their nationality qualifies for the free-of-charge scheme.

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