Sri Lanka is abolishing visas on arrival from October 15, 2025: all tourists will now have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online only. Find out who the new rule applies to, how to apply and which countries can get a free ETA

From October 15, 2025, Sri Lanka is introducing a new rule for all tourists: obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) must be done online only before traveling. Visas on arrival are no longer available, so travelers will not be able to apply after landing.

Sri Lankan embassies in France, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries have already confirmed this change. Previously, travelers could apply for an ETA both online and directly at the airport, but now this option has been canceled.

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Who is affected by the innovation regarding the ETA system in Sri Lanka?

The new requirements apply to all foreign nationals, regardless of their country of origin. Even tourists from countries that currently qualify for a free ETA (India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan) must now apply online in advance.

How to apply for an ETA in Sri Lanka in 2025?

- Where to apply: only on the official government website eta.gov.lk.

- Cost: 50 USD for double entry.

- Processing time: usually a few minutes or hours, confirmation is sent by e-mail.

- Validity: 6 months from the date of issue.

- Stay: up to 30 days with the possibility of extension already in Sri Lanka.

Is the cancellation of fees for ETA Sri Lanka planned?

In July, the government announced plans to expand the free ETA program to 33 more countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the EU, and the Middle East. However, this plan has not yet been approved.

So until an official decision is made, all tourists must pay the standard fee when completing the online application.

For which countries will Sri Lanka's free ETA be available in 2025?

Currently, the free ETA is only available to citizens of 7 countries: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand.

For which countries does Sri Lanka plan to abolish the ETA fee?

Here is the full list of potential countries that will be eligible for ETA fee waivers in the future: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.

Sri Lanka is a popular destination for international tourism

Despite the tightening of regulations, Sri Lanka has already welcomed over 1.7 million visitors in 2025, with almost 150,000 in September alone. India remains the main tourist market.

Experts predict that the country could surpass its historic record of 2.3 million tourists, set in 2018.

Sri Lanka is moving to digital procedures. This means more order and predictability, although fewer opportunities for “spontaneous” travel. Here is a quick checklist for travelers:

- Forget about getting an ETA at Colombo airport.

- Take care of the online application in advance.

- Save the confirmation and check that the passport details match.

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- It is issued online, you receive the result by email in a few minutes.

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Reminder! South Africa is moving to a digital border control format. Read all about the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system here: launch dates, implementation stages, application rules and key benefits for tourists and business travelers.

Photo – Freepik

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