Sri Lanka requires UK passport holders to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering for tourism, business, or transit. The tourist ETA costs $50 USD for single entry, the transit ETA $40, and business categories from $60 upwards. Sri Lanka briefly experimented with visa-free entry for selected nationalities in 2024 but reinstated the paid ETA in late 2024, so any guide that mentions visa-free entry from the UK is out of date. This guide explains the application process at the official portal eta.gov.lk, what documents are required, processing time expectations, and how the ETA compares with the small number of in-person and on-arrival options that still exist. It does not provide regulated immigration advice.
TL;DR - The 60-Second Answer
- All UK passport holders require a Sri Lanka ETA to enter, applied at eta.gov.lk.- Tourist ETA: $50 USD single entry, valid 30 days, double entry within validity.
- Transit ETA: $40 USD, valid 48 hours for travellers connecting through Colombo airport.
- Business ETA from $60 USD; processing time three working days on the official portal.
- The ETA can be extended in Colombo for up to 180 days total stay.
- Third-party Sri Lanka ETA sites charging £30 to £50 over the $50 official fee are adding markup, not value.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK
Sri Lanka ETA basics for UK travellers
The Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorisation is the standard pre-arrival document for British citizens visiting the country for any purpose under 30 days. The ETA is electronic, linked to the passport used at application, and presented either on a phone screen or printout at immigration. Sri Lanka has experimented with several entry policies over the past three years including a brief visa-free pilot for selected nationalities that ran for part of 2024. The current settled position is that UK passport holders pay the standard $50 tourist ETA fee.
The tourist ETA is valid for 30 days from the date of entry and permits two entries within that 30-day period. This double-entry structure is helpful for travellers planning a regional trip to the Maldives or India during their Sri Lanka visit. Children, including infants, require their own ETA; group applications are not supported by the portal.
Tourist, transit, and business ETA categories
The Sri Lanka ETA portal offers three categories. The tourist ETA at $50 covers holidays, sightseeing, family visits, and informal cultural participation. The transit ETA at $40 covers travellers connecting through Colombo with up to 48 hours on the ground. The business ETA at $60 covers business meetings, conferences, short-term consulting, and trade negotiations. None of these categories permit paid employment in Sri Lanka, which requires a separate work visa issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
What the ETA does not cover
The ETA does not cover journalism, paid work, religious missionary activity, long-term study at a Sri Lankan institution, or volunteer placements with formal structure. Travellers entering for any of these purposes need a different visa class, typically arranged through the Sri Lankan High Commission in London before travel. Misrepresenting the purpose of visit at the ETA stage and then engaging in non-tourism activity in Sri Lanka can lead to deportation and a future entry ban.
How to apply for the Sri Lanka ETA
The official application portal is eta.gov.lk, operated by the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration. A complete tourist ETA application takes around 15 minutes for a first-time user. Required materials are personal details from the passport biographical page, accommodation details for at least the first night in Sri Lanka, a return or onward flight booking, and a credit or debit card for payment of the $50 fee. A passport photo is not required for the tourist ETA but is required for the business ETA.
After submission, the applicant receives an application reference by email. The status can be checked on the eta.gov.lk portal. When approved, the ETA confirmation is emailed and should be printed in colour for presentation at immigration, although digital copies on a phone screen are typically accepted in practice.
Beware of imitation sites
Sri Lanka has a particular problem with imitation ETA sites operating around the official URL. Search engine results frequently show paid advertising from third-party services using domain names like "sri-lanka-eta.com" or "lanka-eta.co.uk". These sites typically charge £80 to £100 for the $50 government application. The official portal is eta.gov.lk and any URL not ending in .gov.lk should be treated with caution.
Cost: official fees and third-party markup
The Sri Lanka ETA fees, payable directly on eta.gov.lk, are $50 USD tourist single entry, $40 transit, and $60 upwards for business categories. Payment is in US dollars, converted to sterling by the cardholder's bank. There is no separate processing fee on the official portal and no premium expedited tier.
Third-party visa services offering Sri Lanka ETA processing typically charge £70 to £100 for the tourist ETA, against the $50 official fee. These services lodge the application on the same official portal and retain the difference. The marketing language often implies that the third-party service has a special channel or faster processing, neither of which is supported by the way the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration handles applications. For a standard UK applicant with reasonable English literacy, the official portal is the direct route.
Processing time and travel planning
The Sri Lanka government's stated processing time is three working days for the ETA. In practice many tourist ETAs process within 24 hours and approvals are often returned on the same business day. The portal does not offer expedited or premium processing. Applications can be lodged up to one month in advance of the planned travel date.
Where the application status remains pending beyond three working days, the support email on eta.gov.lk is the official channel. The Sri Lanka High Commission in London can also assist with urgent cases. Travellers whose ETA has not arrived by the travel date should not assume they can resolve the issue on arrival at Colombo airport; while limited visa-on-arrival capacity exists, it is not guaranteed and refusal at the airport leads to immediate return on the next available flight.
Extending the ETA in Sri Lanka
The tourist ETA can be extended in Sri Lanka by application to the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. Extensions are issued in 30-day increments up to a total stay of 180 days. The fee schedule rises with the length of the extension and is paid in Sri Lankan rupees at the immigration office. Most extensions are processed within a few working days but the passport is held during the process.
Common refusal reasons
The most common Sri Lanka ETA issues for UK applicants are passport validity less than six months from entry, mismatched passport numbers between the form and the actual document, and accommodation details left blank or showing a generic address. The portal does not always state a reason for rejection, but corrections are usually straightforward and a resubmitted application typically clears.
For applicants with previous immigration issues in any country, the Sri Lanka High Commission in London can advise on whether the standard ETA route remains available or whether a direct visa application through the High Commission is more appropriate. Submitting the ETA, receiving a rejection, and then escalating is less efficient than going through the High Commission from the start where a known issue exists.
Editorial Disclaimer
Content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration, legal or financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and does not provide regulated immigration advice. Rules, fees and processing times change without notice. Verify current information directly with GOV.UK, HM Passport Office, or an OISC-registered adviser before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes. All UK passport holders, including children and infants, require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka. The tourist ETA costs $50 USD for single entry valid 30 days with double entry permitted, the transit ETA $40, and the business ETA from $60. Sri Lanka briefly piloted visa-free entry for selected nationalities in 2024 but reinstated the paid ETA in late 2024, so any guide claiming visa-free entry from the UK is out of date.
How long does the Sri Lanka ETA take to process?
The Sri Lanka Department of Immigration's stated processing time is three working days for an ETA from a complete application. In practice many tourist ETAs are approved within 24 hours and same-day approvals are common. The official portal does not offer expedited or premium processing. Applications can be lodged up to one month in advance of the travel date and most UK travellers apply between two days and two weeks before their flight.
How much does the Sri Lanka ETA cost?
The official Sri Lanka ETA fee is $50 USD for tourist single entry, $40 for transit, and $60 upwards for business categories. The fee is charged on the official portal eta.gov.lk in US dollars, converted to sterling by the cardholder's bank. There is no separate processing fee on the government portal. Third-party visa services typically charge £70 to £100 for the same tourist ETA and pocket the difference.
Can the Sri Lanka tourist ETA be extended?
Yes. The tourist ETA can be extended at the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo in 30-day increments up to a total stay of 180 days. Fees rise with the length of extension and are paid in Sri Lankan rupees at the immigration office. Most extensions process within a few working days, during which time the passport is retained by the immigration office. For stays beyond 180 days a different visa class is required.
Is Sri Lanka visa-free for British travellers in 2026?
No. Sri Lanka piloted a visa-free entry scheme for selected nationalities including the UK during parts of 2024, but reinstated the paid ETA in late 2024. As of 2026, every UK passport holder requires an ETA at the standard $50 tourist fee. Any online guide or third-party site claiming Sri Lanka is currently visa-free from the UK is out of date and should not be relied upon for travel planning.
How do you avoid fake Sri Lanka ETA sites?
The official Sri Lanka ETA portal is eta.gov.lk. Any URL not ending in .gov.lk should be treated as a third-party operator. Search engine results frequently display paid advertising from imitation sites that closely mimic the official portal's branding and charge £70 to £100 for an ETA the government issues for $50. The simplest safeguard is to type eta.gov.lk directly into the browser address bar rather than clicking on search results.
How we verified this
Current ETA fees and categories were verified against the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration portal at eta.gov.lk, the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Sri Lanka, all checked in May 2026. The 2024 visa-free pilot and its discontinuation are documented in the Sri Lankan Cabinet decisions of June and October 2024 and confirmed on Department of Immigration press releases. Where guidance differs between sources, eta.gov.lk is treated as authoritative for fees and the FCDO is treated as authoritative for British traveller advice.
Primary Sources
- Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorisation portal - official application and current fees
- UK Foreign Travel Advice for Sri Lanka - entry requirements for British nationals
- Sri Lanka High Commission in London - consular services and visa categories
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration - extensions and long-stay visas
- UK Foreign Travel Advice for Sri Lanka - overview and safety information
