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Sri-Lanka
We try to constantly monitor any changes to the visa regime and promptly update this page with the most accurate information. However, we do not guarantee that the information provided matches the rapidly changing visa rules of individual countries, so the information on this page is for reference purposes. To get the most up-to-date information on entry and visas to Sri Lanka, you can join our Sri Lanka chat.
Quick summary: Sri Lanka Visa
- For citizens of Russia and 40 other countries: Visa NOT REQUIRED for up to 30 days.
- Mandatory: Fill out the free ETA electronic form before departure.
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
- For other citizens: Visa (ETA) required, cost from $50.
Do tourists from Russia need a visa for Sri Lanka?
- Tourists from Russia do not need a visa for Sri Lanka. Strictly speaking, this isn't exactly a visa-free regime like before, but a free electronic ETA visa. However, before arrival, you need to fill out the free electronic form on the website https://eta.gov.lk/, as without it you may not be allowed on the flight.
- Your passport must be valid for another 6 months after the date of entry.
- You must have a ticket out of the country back home or to any other country, as proof that you won't stay longer than allowed.
Do other tourists need a visa for Sri Lanka?
It depends on your citizenship. In short, citizens of 40 countries have not required a visa since May 25, 2026, for up to 30 days (i.e., it's free). Citizens of all other countries must apply for an online ETA visa in advance and pay the fee on the official website.
List of visa-free countries (free ETA) for Sri Lanka since May 25, 2026:
The ETA electronic visa is issued paid or free of charge strictly on the official website https://eta.gov.lk/. Visa processing for children under 12 is free for everyone. Permits issued and paid for through other websites are invalid.
The maximum stay in the country on the simplest tourist visa is 30 days. The permit is DOUBLE-ENTRY, meaning you can enter, leave, and enter again during the visa's validity period.
Each ETA has both a permitted stay period and a validity period. The cheapest tourist visa is valid for six months after issuance, but don't confuse this with the stay period. The validity period means you can use the visa to enter the country within six months (180 days) of receiving it, not that you can stay in the country for that long.
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How to apply for an eVisa (ETA) for Sri Lanka?
Attention! To apply for an eVisa (ETA), you DO NOT NEED a flight ticket, including a return ticket. The return ticket is only checked upon entry to the country, and even then not always, so you can safely apply for the eVisa and then buy tickets.
The ETA permit is issued in advance of your trip on the website https://eta.gov.lk/, and paid for there with a bank card (if necessary, see the list of countries with free visas above). The site has an interface in different languages, including Russian. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide with screenshots: how to apply for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka online.
After filling in all the required information and submitting the application, you will need to pay for it with a bank card (free for Russian citizens) and wait for the visa by email. Confirmation usually comes within a day or two, but there may be delays, and in the luckiest cases, the response comes within minutes.
At the same time, according to online reviews, due to poor website performance, there are cases of no response at all, double charges (at different times), and other similar issues. So carefully monitor and check charges on your card, contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration (through the "Contact us" form on the website https://eta.gov.lk/).
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How much does a Sri Lanka visa cost?
The cost of a Sri Lanka visa depends on its type, duration of stay, and validity period. It's important to understand the difference between the terms validity period and stay period:
- Visa validity period – how long after issuance the visa will be valid for entry, i.e., the period during which you can enter using it. For example, if you received a visa with a 6-month validity period on January 1, 2026, you can enter Sri Lanka at any time up to June 2026.
- eVisa stay period – the time you can stay in the country after entry.
Here are the visa prices. But they may change, so check the official ETA website.
- Tourist visa for up to 30 days stay with double entry, validity period after issuance 30 days – $50 USD / approximately 50 RUB;
- Tourist visa for up to 90 days stay with single entry, validity period after issuance 180 days – $50 USD / approximately 50 RUB;
- Tourist visa for up to 90 days stay with double entry, validity period after issuance 180 days – $50 USD / approximately 50 RUB;
- Business visa for up to 30/90 days with single or multiple entry, validity period after issuance 180 days – $55 USD / approximately 55 RUB;
- Transit visa for up to 2 days with single entry: free;
You can also get a visa on arrival at the airport, but it will cost $60 USD. The catch is that without a pre-arranged ETA, you might be denied boarding at your departure airport, so it's still better to get everything sorted in advance.
Airport arrival procedure: what to do and where to go upon arrival
The arrival procedure in Sri Lanka is the same as at any other international airport: you enter the international zone, then passport control, baggage claim, and customs. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide on what to do and where to go, and below there's also a photo guide for Colombo Airport:
- After disembarking, follow everyone else following the Arrival / Immigration / Passport Control signs.
- Proceed to passport control (Passport Control) and queue up at the document check counters.
- At passport control, present your passport, nothing else is needed. They may additionally ask for your boarding pass from your arrival flight and a return ticket, but this is rare.
- After that, you enter the baggage claim area, find the carousel for your flight.
- After collecting your bags, you go through customs (Customs). Here you don't need to show anything to anyone on your own initiative, just go through the "green channel." If you attract customs officers' attention, they will approach you themselves and ask to inspect your bags and check your documents. For customs requirements and what you can and cannot bring in, read our guide to Sri Lanka customs.
- After passing through customs, you enter the arrivals hall, where there are exchange offices with good rates, SIM card sales, taxi counters, hotel booking, and everything else. If you came on a tour, tour operator reps will be meeting you here with signs.
- From the arrivals hall, you immediately go outside to the taxi parking lot, and you can head wherever you want.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I pay for a Sri Lanka visa with a Mir card?
No, Russian Mir cards are not accepted on the https://eta.gov.lk/ website, and all Mastercard and Visa cards from Russian banks are under sanctions. So, as an option, you can try to get a virtual Mastercard or Visa card from one of the non-sanctioned payment systems or UnionPay from a Russian bank, and pay for the visa with that card. If that doesn't work either, you can just travel to the country and get a visa on arrival, paying in cash at the airport. But remember, you'll only need to pay for the visa if you don't have a Russian passport.
What are the passport requirements for entering Sri Lanka?
- A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
- A return ticket or a ticket to a third country, as well as a visa for that third country if required for entry.
- Sufficient funds to cover expenses during the visit.
The first two points are obvious, the third is very difficult to verify and is usually not checked.
Online, you'll often find information that a hotel booking is required for entry, and border officers at passport control ask to see hotel vouchers. In fact, there is no requirement for a hotel booking when entering Sri Lanka. Hotel information and your address of stay are needed to fill out the immigration card, so it's enough to just indicate the hotel you plan to stay at and provide its address (at least the city). In the worst case, if you're really worried and don't want to book a hotel in advance, you can make a reservation, print the voucher, and then cancel the booking.
You can find and book hotels in Sri Lanka on these sites:
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Sri Lanka on Trip.com (👍 accept Mir cards)
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Sri Lanka on Yandex.Travel
- 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru
No tour operator vouchers or similar documents are required for entry to Sri Lanka. All such requirements are travel agencies' self-initiative to profit from tourists.
Do I need a visa for transit?
If you plan to stay in Sri Lanka for no more than 48 hours, i.e., you're in transit, you also need to apply for a free transit visa (ETA) either on the website or upon arrival.
Keep in mind that you must have tickets for departure within the specified period.
How to extend a visa in Sri Lanka?
If you need to stay in Sri Lanka longer than your visa allows, you can extend your visa while in the country for up to 90 days. This means they will add another 60 days to your visa's validity (not 90). Don't get confused: we're talking about adding 60 days to your 30 days, making the total visa validity 90 days.
Extension is done online on the website https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs/home.php or at the main immigration office in Colombo (Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo) at:
41, Ananda Rajakaruna Mw, Punchi Borella, Colombo 10
Embassy contacts
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka:
Embassy of the Russian Federation,
62 Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo-7, Sri-Lanka
Phone: (8-10-94 11) 257 4959, 257 3555 Fax: (8-10-94 11) 257 4957, 68-6864
E-mail: rusemb@itmin.net
www.sri-lanka.mid.ru
Russian Cultural Center
Russian Cultural Center
10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7
Phone (8-10-94-11) 268 5440, 268 5429 Fax (8-10-94 11) 268 6084
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow:
129090, Russia, Moscow, Shchepkina St., 24
Phone: (+7 495) 688 1620, 688 1651 Fax: (+7 495) 688 1757
E-mail: moscow@srilankaembassy.org,
Tourism Department tourism@srilankaembassy.org
www.srilankaembassy.org