Visit World - German Citizens Traveling to Sri Lanka: Entry Rules, Visa Requirements & Regulations

Sri Lanka has introduced a new e-Visa system to replace the Electronic Travel Authorization.

Types of Visas Available:

• Tourist e-Visa – Single Entry for 30 days: Valid for 30 days

• Tourist e-Visa – Standard Visitor Visa: Valid for 6 months with a 60-day stay limit

• Tourist e-Visa – 1 Year – Multiple Entry: Valid for 1 year with a 90-day stay limit

• Tourist e-Visa – 2 Years – Multiple Entry: Valid for 2 years with a 180-day stay limit

• Tourist e-Visa – 5 Years: Valid for 5 years with a 180-day stay limit

• Tourist e-Visa – 10 Years: Valid for 10 years with a 180-day stay limit

Eligibility:

All eligible nationalities intending to visit Sri Lanka for tourism, business, or transit by air or sea can apply. However, citizens of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Syria, and North Korea must apply through the Sri Lankan embassy or the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka.

Required Documents for Restricted Nationals:

- Police Clearance report

- If the applicant has stayed in another country for more than 6 months, they must provide a Police Clearance from that country and a copy of the visa.

- Certificate from a Sri Lankan guarantor and a photocopy of the guarantor's NIC.

- Affidavit from a Sri Lankan Justice of the Peace (JP) or a Lawyer.

- Accommodation details (place of stay)

Special Cases:

• Nationals of Taiwan should select People's Republic of China (Special Administrative Region of China) as their nationality when applying for the eVisa.

• Nationals of Kosovo are only eligible for Visa on Arrival.

Visa Exemptions

Citizens of Singapore, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and the Czech Republic are exempt from the requirement to obtain a standard 6-month tourist eVisa to visit Sri Lanka, based on reciprocity agreements.

Additionally, all nationals are eligible for an eVisa waiver if transiting through any Sri Lankan airport, valid for a transit period of up to 2 days.

To verify if your nationality qualifies for an eVisa exemption based on passport type and eVisa duration, please refer to the Visa Exemption List.

How to Apply for a Sri Lanka eVisa

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the Sri Lanka eVisa portal.

2. Create or Log In to Your Account: If you already have an account, log in; otherwise, create a new account.

3. Complete the Online Application Form: Fill out the application form with accurate details.

4. Upload Required Documents: Provide a scanned copy of your passport, a recent photograph, and any additional documents required for your specific eVisa category.

5. Pay the eVisa Fee: Pay securely online using the available payment options.

6. Receive Acknowledgment: After submitting your application and confirming payment, you will receive an acknowledgment receipt and a unique application reference number.

7. Track Your Application: Use your reference number to monitor the status of your eVisa application online.

8. Download and Print Your eVisa: Once approved, download and print your eVisa to present to the Immigration officer upon arrival in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka eVisa Fees

The final step in your eVisa application process is paying the fee after submitting your details and the required documents. The fee for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa is $40 for most countries. For a standard visitor visa, the fee is $35 for SAARC countries and $75 for non-SAARC countries. For more information on eVisa fees, please visit the Sri Lanka eVisa information page.

Required Documents for Sri Lanka eVisa Application

To apply for any type of Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa, you will need:

1. A passport-sized color photo

2. The bio page of your passport

Documents to Carry at the Airport

When traveling to Sri Lanka, ensure you have the following documents:

- A printed copy of your eVisa approval letter from the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.

- Your passport, which must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Sri Lanka.

- A return ticket or proof of onward travel from Sri Lanka.

- If you are a citizen of any of the following countries, you must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival to comply with international health regulations: Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome And Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, Zaire.

Passengers with a connecting flight in Sri Lanka must apply for an ETA visa for transit. International passengers who will spend more than 8 hours at the airport before their next flight need a Sri Lanka ETA.

Owners of a transit ETA have to remain at the airport and leave the country in 48 hours. To comply with the requirements, applicants need to have a return ticket or any other confirmation of the further travel.

A transit visa is issued for 2 days and for free.

Please, follow the link below and choose your country in order to find out where and how to apply for a transit visa: https://www.eta-srilankatravel.com/transit-visa/

Before importing any pet into Sri Lanka, you need to obtain a permit from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

A properly filled application form alongside with a vaccination certificate of a pet has to be sent via a fax/ email address (fax – (+94 11) 08 2388619) to the CEO of the Department of Animal Production and Health. An import permit will be issued in a couple of weeks.

Cats and dogs have to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate about the health of the pet, a vaccination certificate against rabies, issued in the country of origin by a competent veterinary facility.

Upon arrival you will need to pay a mandatory fee of 5 rupees and customs duty of 250 rupees per animal.

To find out the complete list of requirements for entering Sri Lanka with a pet follow the link: https://www.srilankaembassy.fr/en/page/48-importing-pet-animals-to-sri-lanka

Emergency contacts: dial 118 or 119 for police, 110 for an ambulance and fire service.

For information and advice on customs regulations in Sri Lanka, visit the official website of the Federal Customs Authority: https://www.customs.gov.lk/

Foreign citizens visiting Sri Lanka are allowed to drive a vehicle according to the type of the driver’s license they own:

Owners of international driver’s license need to get a confirmation from Automobile Association of Sri Lanka. However, if Sri Lanka is listed in your driver’s license as one of the permitted countries, you will not need a confirmation from a Sri Lankan authority;
Otherwise, you may be able to apply for temporary Sri Lankan driver’s license in the Department of Motor Vehicles to be able to drive legally in Sri Lanka.

What documents are required to obtain a temporary Sri Lanka driving license?

Original foreign driver's license with English translation, if available, and one photocopy;
A valid passport with a photocopy of your biographical information page;
An approved Sri Lanka visa with a photocopy of the page on which it was placed in your passport. If you are traveling with an electronic Sri Lanka Travel Authorization, you will need to print a copy of it.

To rent a car, the minimum driving experience required must be at least 12 months. The minimum age is 21 years.

Missions of Sri Lanka in the countries of the world: https://mfa.gov.lk/sri-lanka-missions/

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