UK and US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travelling. Since 25 May 2026 the 30-day tourist ETA is free for both – but you still have to apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly.
UK citizens
British passport holders apply online for a tourist ETA before departure. It is checked on arrival and converted into a tourist visa for up to 30 days.
US citizens
US citizens also need an ETA for tourist stays of up to 30 days. Business trips require a Business ETA; work or volunteering requires a visa from an embassy.
Step by step
The process takes about ten minutes.
Sri Lanka visa for British citizens
British passport holders need a tourist ETA for a holiday in Sri Lanka. Since 25 May 2026 the UK has been on the list of 40 countries whose citizens receive the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge. It allows two entries within 30 days of your first arrival. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive. Apply online, receive your approval by email and show it with your passport at immigration in Colombo.
Sri Lanka visa for US citizens
US citizens follow the same process. The United States is also on the free list, so the 30-day tourist ETA costs nothing – but airlines check for an approved ETA at boarding, so do not skip it. Business trips need a Business ETA, and work, study or volunteering require a visa from a Sri Lankan embassy.
Is the Sri Lanka ETA free?
For citizens of 40 countries – including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and most of western Europe – yes, since 25 May 2026. For many other nationalities the 30-day tourist ETA costs US$50 online or US$60 on arrival. Children under 12 of any nationality get a free tourist ETA. Rules in Sri Lanka have changed several times in recent years, so check the official site before you travel.
Applying online: avoid copycat sites
Search for “Sri Lanka visa online” or “Sri Lanka eVisa” and you will find many websites that look official but charge a service fee for the same form. Use only eta.gov.lk. The process takes about ten minutes: choose a tourist ETA, enter your passport details, travel dates and the address of your first hotel, check everything carefully and submit. After booking with us you receive a step-by-step guide with all the details you need.
Entry requirements on arrival
Bring your passport, your ETA approval (on your phone or printed) and proof of a return or onward flight, which may be requested. A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Drones need a permit from the authorities, so it is easiest to leave them at home. Larger sums of cash must be declared on arrival. For prescription medicines, carry the prescription or a letter from your doctor.
Staying longer than 30 days
If you want to stay beyond 30 days, you can extend your visa through the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo for a fee. For most tours with a week on the beach afterwards, 30 days is plenty.
Travelling with children
Children need their own passport and their own ETA. For children under 12 of any nationality the tourist ETA is free. If a child travels with only one parent, we recommend carrying a consent letter in English from the other parent – it is rarely requested, but it can avoid questions at immigration.
Arriving at Colombo airport
Most international flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, about half an hour from Negombo. After landing you go to immigration, where your passport and ETA approval are checked and you receive a 30-day stamp. Then you collect your luggage. The arrivals hall has exchange counters, ATMs and desks selling local SIM cards. On our tours your driver waits at the exit with a name sign – even if your flight is late.
Leaving Sri Lanka
Arrive at the airport about three hours before an international flight, as there is a security check at the terminal entrance. Airport taxes are included in your ticket. You can change leftover rupees back before passport control if you kept your exchange receipts.
Travelling on another passport
The passport you travel on is what counts. If you hold two nationalities, apply for the ETA with the passport you will show on arrival. Citizens of countries that are not on the free list pay the standard fee, so check the official site in good time.
Entry checklist
Before you fly, check that you have a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, your ETA approval on your phone and printed, a return or onward ticket, the address of your first hotel (it is in your travel documents), travel insurance details and, for any prescription medicines, the prescription or a letter from your doctor. With these in your hand luggage, arrival in Colombo usually takes less than an hour from landing to meeting your driver.
Frequently asked questions
You need an ETA, applied for online before travel.
For UK, US and many other nationalities, the tourist ETA is currently free of charge – check the official site for the latest rules.
Extensions are possible through the Department of Immigration in Colombo.
Yes, an ETA. Since 25 May 2026 the 30-day tourist ETA is free for US citizens, but it must be approved before travel.
Usually a few days. Apply two to four weeks before you travel to be safe.
Yes – almost every visitor needs an ETA before travelling. For UK and US citizens the 30-day tourist ETA has been free since 25 May 2026.
The ETA is your pre-approval. On arrival it is turned into a tourist visa for 30 days, with two entries allowed.
Online at eta.gov.lk in about ten minutes: passport details, travel dates and your first hotel. Approval usually arrives by email within a few days.
