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Sri Lanka visit visa for Indians: free ETA
Indian travellers pay no visa fee for Sri Lanka. Since 25 May 2026, India is one of forty countries whose nationals get the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge, and Indians already had free access from the 2023 pilot. There is one thing to keep in mind: free does not mean skippable. You still need to complete the online ETA before you fly, even though it costs nothing.
Data current as of June 2026
What you need to visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the easiest and closest international trips for Indian travellers, from Colombo and the southern beaches to Kandy, Ella, and the ancient sites of Sigiriya. The entry process is simple and, in 2026, free, as long as you do one step before you fly.
Indian passport holders do not pay any visa fee for Sri Lanka. The country runs an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, system, and since 25 May 2026 India is one of forty countries whose nationals get the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge. Indians have in fact had free ETA access since the 2023 pilot. The tourist ETA gives a stay of up to 30 days with a double entry facility.
The point that catches travellers out is simple: free does not mean no ETA. The authorization is still mandatory, and being free only removes the fee, not the requirement. You should complete the ETA online before you fly, even though a visa on arrival counter exists at Colombo, because applying online avoids long queues. This page is a full guide: the free ETA, why it is still required, the stay and double entry, extensions up to 270 days, the documents, how to apply, and the recent policy changes worth knowing.
Free does not mean no ETA
This single idea saves Indian travellers from arriving without the one document they still need. The fee is gone, but the authorization is not.
The myth: free entry means I can just turn up
Because there is no visa fee, some travellers assume nothing needs to be done in advance. That is not correct, and it can lead to long delays at immigration.
The fact: the ETA is still mandatory, just free
You must still hold an approved ETA. Apply online before you fly. A visa on arrival counter exists at Colombo, but the online ETA is free and avoids the queue.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration, official ETA portal (eta.gov.lk) and immigration.gov.lk, current for 2026. The Electronic Travel Authorization is required for eligible short-visit travellers, and from 25 May 2026 the 30-day tourist ETA is free of charge for nationals of forty countries including India. The fee waiver removes the charge, not the requirement to hold an ETA. Rules can change, so confirm before you travel.
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The tourist ETA at a glance
Here are the key facts for Indian travellers in one view. The headline is simple: free, quick, and online.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration, official ETA portal (eta.gov.lk), current for 2026. The tourist ETA is free of charge for Indian nationals, allows a 30-day stay from arrival with a double entry facility, is applied for online before travel, and is usually approved within one to three days. An approved ETA does not guarantee entry, which the officer decides. Confirm current rules before you travel.
How the Sri Lanka visa rules changed
Sri Lanka’s entry rules have moved several times in recent years. Knowing the path explains why some older guides are out of date, and why it is worth confirming the current position.
October 2023
Free ETA pilot begins
India, China, Russia, Japan, and a few others get fee-free tourist ETA to help rebuild tourism.
October 2025
Pre-arrival ETA briefly made mandatory, then suspended
A rule making the online ETA compulsory before arrival started on 15 October 2025 and was suspended on 30 October 2025.
25 May 2026
Free tourist ETA for 40 countries
The free 30-day tourist ETA is extended to forty countries, with India on the list. The ETA itself remains required.
Confirm the rules close to your travel date
Because Sri Lanka has changed these rules more than once, and the free scheme runs until further notice, check the official portal eta.gov.lk shortly before you book and again before you fly. We re-verify the current position for you.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (eta.gov.lk, immigration.gov.lk) and government circulars, current for 2026. The free ETA pilot began in 2023, a pre-arrival ETA mandate ran briefly in October 2025 before being suspended, and the free 30-day tourist ETA for forty countries took effect on 25 May 2026. The scheme is in force until further notice and can change. Confirm before you travel.
How to apply for the free ETA
The tourist ETA is quick and fully online. This diagram shows the flow, from the official portal to carrying your approval at Colombo airport.
| Step | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Official portal | Open eta.gov.lk, choose Tourist ETA | Use only the .gov.lk site |
| 2. Enter details | Passport, dates, accommodation | Exactly as on your passport |
| 3. Submit | No fee for Indians | Keep the reference notice |
| 4. Approval | Wait for the email | Usually 1 to 3 days |
| 5. Print | Save and print the approval | Officers may want a printout |
| 6. Arrive | Show passport, ETA, return ticket | At Colombo airport |
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (eta.gov.lk), current for 2026. Indian nationals apply online for the free tourist ETA, keep the reference notice and the approval email, and present the passport, ETA approval, and a return ticket on arrival at Colombo. Apply a few days ahead, since some applications take up to three days. Only the official site should be used. Rules can change, so confirm before you travel.
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Staying longer: the 270-day ladder
The free ETA gives 30 days, but you can extend in stages up to 270 days in total, for a fee, from inside Sri Lanka. This is how the stages add up.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (eta.gov.lk, eservices.immigration.gov.lk), current for 2026. The initial tourist ETA gives 30 days, extendable in stages to a total of up to 270 days from arrival, applied for online or in person at the head office in Battaramulla, Colombo, for a fee that varies by nationality. Apply before your current stay ends, since overstaying carries penalties. The initial 30 days are free, extensions are paid. Rules can change, so confirm before you rely on them.
The free ETA is for short visits. For employment, study, or a long stay, a different visa category, such as a residence visa, is needed. We explain the rules and the right path for your plans.
Fees and what you need
For Indians the tourist ETA is free, but it helps to know the wider fee picture and the documents to carry. This table sets them out.
| Item | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist ETA, Indians | Free | 30 days, double entry |
| Transit visa | Free | For 2 days |
| Children under 12 | Free ETA | Own ETA still needed |
| Extensions | Paid, varies | Up to 270 days total |
| Passport | Valid 6 months | From arrival date |
| Travel proof | Return or onward ticket | Plus accommodation and funds |
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration, official ETA fee table (eta.gov.lk), current for 2026. For Indian nationals the 30-day tourist ETA and the two-day transit visa are free, children under twelve get a free ETA but still need their own, and extensions beyond 30 days are paid and vary by nationality. A passport valid six months, a return ticket, accommodation, and proof of funds may be checked. Fees and rules can change, so confirm before you apply.
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Do this, avoid that
Most Sri Lanka entry problems for Indians come from skipping the ETA or using the wrong site, not from fees. These pointers keep your trip smooth.
Do
- Apply for the free ETA online before you fly.
- Use only the official portal eta.gov.lk.
- Apply at least three days before travel.
- Carry a passport valid at least six months.
- Print or save the ETA approval for arrival.
- Carry Sri Lankan rupees, or exchange in Colombo.
Avoid
- Do not assume free entry means no ETA.
- Do not pay a third-party site for the free ETA.
- Do not rely on the airport counter to save time.
- Do not work or trade on a tourist ETA.
- Do not overstay your 30 days without extending.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (eta.gov.lk, immigration.gov.lk), current for 2026. The tourist ETA is free but mandatory and should be applied for online before travel on the official site, since third-party sites charge inflated fees. A tourist ETA does not allow employment or trade, and overstaying carries penalties. Rules can change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
What you can and cannot do
The tourist ETA gives Indian travellers plenty of freedom, within clear limits. Here is the picture.
You can
- Sightsee in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, and Ella.
- Visit Sigiriya and the cultural triangle.
- Relax on the southern and eastern beaches.
- Visit friends and family, and seek medical care.
- Leave and return once on the double entry.
- Extend your stay in stages up to 270 days.
You cannot
- Take up employment, paid or unpaid.
- Do business or trade on a tourist ETA.
- Skip the ETA and just turn up.
- Stay beyond 30 days without extending.
- Use a tourist ETA for long-term residence.
For business meetings you use the business ETA, and for work, study, or a long stay you need the right visa category in advance. We explain the rules and the right path for your plans.
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (immigration.gov.lk), current for 2026. The tourist ETA is for sightseeing, family visits, medical treatment, and similar short visits, and does not allow any employment or trade, which need a business ETA or a work visa. The double entry allows one exit and return within the period, and stays extend up to 270 days. Rules can change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
What can still go wrong, and how to avoid it
Entry is free and simple, but Indian travellers can still face delays. Knowing the common causes helps you avoid them.
The usual problems are skipping the ETA and relying on the airport counter, using a third-party site that charges a fee and may not be official, a passport with less than six months validity, no proof of a return ticket or accommodation, or overstaying the 30 days without an extension. Applying for the free ETA early on the official portal and carrying the right documents prevents almost all of these.
Indian travellers pay no visa fee for Sri Lanka, but they still need a free Electronic Travel Authorization, applied for online before travel, which gives a 30-day stay with double entry and can be extended in stages up to 270 days. The ETA is mandatory even though it is free, the official portal is eta.gov.lk, and the immigration officer at Colombo still decides entry. The rules have changed before, so confirm the current position before you book.
Factual overview, verified against the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration, official ETA portal (eta.gov.lk) and immigration.gov.lk, current as of June 2026. The free ETA scheme, the stay, the double entry, and the extension limits are set by the Sri Lanka authorities and can change at any time. An approved ETA does not guarantee entry.
Applying correctly puts you in a strong position, but the final decision rests with the immigration officer. We give you a realistic view and a clear, complete plan for your Sri Lanka trip.
Speak with BestMigrationConsultant.com about your Sri Lanka trip
Our experts help Indian travellers plan a smooth Sri Lanka trip, from the free ETA and the documents to the double entry, extensions, and arrival at Colombo. Call +91-7670800002 or visit BestMigrationConsultant.com, and start with a free assessment today.