Sri Lanka Visa for Indians 2026: Free ETA and How to Apply

Indians need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit Sri Lanka, and since 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA has been free for Indian passport holders: it allows 30 days with a double entry in that period, and you apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly. Our Sri Lanka trips from Ahmedabad start from ₹38,999 per person with the ETA filed for you (prices checked 16 Oct 2026).

On every Sri Lanka trip we sell, the price includes return flights from Ahmedabad, stays with daily breakfast, transfers and the listed experiences, and we file the ETA with your passport details. GST and TCS are shown in your written quote.

Prices checked 16 Oct 2026 from our live trip pages. ETA rules checked on eta.gov.lk, the ETA site of Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration, on 16 Oct 2026.

Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka in 2026?

Yes, in the form of an ETA. The official ETA site says all foreign nationals, including those from the 40 countries on the free list, must obtain an ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka (eta.gov.lk, checked October 2026). The site calls it a "tourist visa (ETA)": you apply online, and the approval is what immigration checks when you land in Colombo.

Here is the rule for an Indian tourist at a glance.

Is the Sri Lanka ETA free for Indians?

Yes. An alert on the ETA site, effective from 25 May 2026, lists 40 countries whose nationals can get the tourist ETA free of charge for 30 days, and India is number 13 on that list. Three details are worth knowing:

• ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refunded, so an older paid ETA stays paid.
• No end date for the free scheme is stated. If you are travelling months from now, check the site again before you apply.
• The free scheme covers the tourist ETA. If you are going on business, check the fees page for your case, and note that extensions beyond 30 days are charged.

Because the tourist ETA itself is free for Indians, apply only on eta.gov.lk; if a site asks you to pay for a tourist ETA, check the address, since an agent may be charging for its own service. The ETA site does allow travel agents, airlines, friends or relatives to apply on your behalf, and the approval or referral notice still comes to you.

How do you apply for the ETA online?

Apply on the official site only, eta.gov.lk, which is run for the Department of Immigration and Emigration. The steps, as the site describes them:

1. Open eta.gov.lk and start an application for a short visit (tourist) ETA.
2. Fill in the form with your passport details exactly as they are printed in your passport.
3. Submit it. The site says an acknowledgment is sent once your application is in, and you can check the status online or through its 24-hour call centre.
4. Save and print the approval. The site asks you to keep a copy of the ETA approval with you when you travel.

The site does not say how long an online approval takes, but its FAQ notes that you can get an ETA even before you book your ticket. Apply once your dates are firm, and leave yourself room before the flight in case anything needs correcting. The rule covers all foreign nationals, so apply for everyone travelling, children included.

Other ways to apply

• At a Sri Lankan mission abroad: the site says missions can issue an ETA for up to 30 days, or a short-stay visa for up to three months, within three business days.
• On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport: the site describes only a limited on-arrival facility, with extra fees paid in US dollars. If your application is referred, you are refused entry and sent back. Don't rely on it with a family.

How long can you stay, and can you enter twice?

The free tourist ETA gives you 30 days, counted from the date you first arrive in Sri Lanka. Double entry is allowed within that 30-day period, so you could, for example, spend a few days in the Maldives and come back to Colombo. The second entry only gets you what is left of the original 30 days, not a fresh 30.

Our Sri Lanka trips run from 4 to 7 days, well inside the limit. All four below include return flights from Ahmedabad, stays with daily breakfast, transfers and the ETA filed by us.

For a couple, the Weekender comes to ₹77,998 and the Highlights Loop to ₹1,29,998, before GST and TCS. Children are priced in the quote, depending on age and bedding.

What should you carry at the airport in Colombo?

The ETA site lists what immigration expects at the port of entry:

• A passport valid for at least six months from the date you arrive
• A confirmed return ticket
• Sufficient funds for your stay
• A copy of your ETA approval

The site does not name an amount for "sufficient funds", so keep a bank card and a recent statement handy in case you are asked. Carry your hotel bookings, printed and on your phone. If you are travelling with elderly parents, keep their passports, ETA copies and medicines in one cabin bag so the queue at immigration is quick.

How do you stay longer than 30 days?

Apply for an extension after you arrive. The fees page says that if your stay will exceed 30 days, visa extension fees will apply, and it points visitors to the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services once they are in Sri Lanka. The extension amount is not printed on the pages we checked, so check before booking if you plan a longer stay.

Don't overstay on the free ETA. If your plans may run past 30 days, sort out the extension early rather than at the end of your stay.

For ideas on what to see once your ETA is approved, read our Sri Lanka destination guide, or see how we put together customised travel plans around your own dates.

How we help

On every Sri Lanka trip we file the ETA for each traveller, and your flights, stays and transfers come in one written quote. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we price it: start with a message.

Sources, checked October 2026: Sri Lanka ETA, Department of Immigration and Emigration; ETA visa information; ETA fees; How to apply; ETA FAQ.

FAQs

Is Sri Lanka visa-free for Indians in 2026? Not visa-free, but free of charge. You still need an approved ETA before you travel, and since 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA costs nothing for Indians (eta.gov.lk, checked October 2026).

How many days can Indians stay in Sri Lanka on the free ETA? Thirty days from first arrival, with a double entry allowed within that period. A second entry uses only what is left of the 30 days, and longer stays need a paid extension after arrival.

Where do Indians apply for the Sri Lanka ETA? Online at eta.gov.lk, the official ETA site of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Travel agents and airlines can apply for you, and we file it on our Sri Lanka trips, which start from ₹38,999 per person.

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka? The ETA site describes only a limited on-arrival facility at Bandaranaike International Airport, with extra fees in US dollars and a risk of being refused entry if your application is referred. Apply online before you fly instead.

What documents do Indians need to enter Sri Lanka? A passport valid for six months from arrival, a confirmed return ticket, enough funds for your stay and a copy of the approved ETA, as listed on eta.gov.lk.

Will I get a refund for an ETA I paid for before 25 May 2026? No. The ETA site says fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refunded.