Flying to Colombo — Do You Need a Visa for Sri Lanka and How Much Does It Cost to Apply?

Short answer: if you have a Russian passport, then you do not need a visa to Colombo (Sri Lanka) — you can stay in the country for up to 30 days. But it's too early to relax: strictly speaking, this is no longer quite visa-free, but a free electronic visa ETA, which must be applied for in advance online. Without it, you may simply not be allowed to board the flight at the airport of departure, so do not postpone the application until the last day.

To make everything go smoothly, fill out the free electronic form in advance on the official website https://eta.gov.lk/. There is a clear interface in Russian. Confirmation usually arrives by email in a day or two, and sometimes within a couple of minutes. We have described and shown the entire process with screenshots in a separate article — how to apply for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka online, we recommend reading it before your trip.

Remember separately: for citizens of Russia and 40 other countries the visa is free (Australia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, USA, almost all of Europe and others). Citizens of other countries need to apply for a visa for a fee and also in advance on the official website. Applying and paying through third-party intermediary websites do not work — such permits are invalid.

How much does a visa to Sri Lanka cost if it is paid:

• Tourist visa up to 30 days with double entry — $50;
• Tourist visa up to 90 days with single or double entry — $50;
• Business visa up to 30/90 days — $55;
• Transit visa up to 2 days — free;
• Visa on arrival at the airport — $60 (more expensive, and there is also a risk that you will not be allowed to leave the country of departure).

A couple more important points about documents. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. It is advisable to have a return ticket or a ticket to a third country with you. But hotel booking is not required at passport control — the hotel is only needed to fill out the immigration card (it is enough to indicate the city and address). For information on importing items and customs rules, read our instructions on Sri Lanka customs.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, the visa can be extended while already in the country — up to 90 days. This can be done online or at the immigration office in Colombo. Details — in the full article below.

You can find and book a hotel in Sri Lanka for your trip on these trusted websites that we use ourselves:

You can learn more in our reliable and honest guide in the article Visa to Sri Lanka in 2026: is it needed, how and where to get it, how much it costs — there you will find all current entry rules, answers to frequently asked questions and embassy contacts.

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