Sri Lanka visa: free ETA for 40 countries

From May 26, 2026, travellers from 40 countries pay nothing for their Sri Lanka ETA. That includes the US, UK, Australia, Canada, most of Europe and a bunch of Asian countries. Previously, the ETA cost around $50 per person. Good news.

But here's the thing headlines keep getting wrong: this is not visa-free travel.

You still need to apply for the ETA before you board. You just don't pay for it anymore. Show up at Bandaranaike Airport without one and you're going to have a bad time.

What exactly changed?

Sri Lanka introduced a free ETA model for 40 countries. The change kicks in on May 26, 2026, and is currently set to run for one year, until May 2027.

What changes: the ETA costs nothing.
What stays the same: you must apply via eta.gov.lk before you travel.

A lot of media outlets ran with "visa-free Sri Lanka" as a headline, which is technically wrong. Call it a free ETA, not a visa waiver. The distinction matters when you're standing at check-in.

Which countries qualify for the free ETA?

The full list of 40 countries:

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Belarus

Asia & Central Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

Middle East: Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

North America & Oceania: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States

A few of these countries (China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Russia, Indonesia) were already in a previous free ETA scheme. The May 2026 update adds 33 more, which is why you're reading about it now.

ETA requirements

Even though the ETA is free, you still need to tick a few boxes:

• Length of stay: maximum 30 days
• Entry: single-entry only; you can't leave and re-enter on the same ETA
• Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival
• Documents: you need to show a return or onward ticket, and proof that you have enough money for your stay

The last point rarely gets checked at the border, but border officers can ask. Keep your banking app handy just in case.

How to apply for the ETA

Go to eta.gov.lk. Fill in your details, upload a scan of your passport, pay nothing, and wait. Approval usually comes within a few hours to a day. Don't leave it until the night before your flight.

One warning: there are a lot of third-party websites that look like the official ETA portal and charge a service fee for processing your free application. They're not illegal, just a waste of money. Use eta.gov.lk only.

The rules change often

Sri Lanka has adjusted its visa rules multiple times over the past few years, sometimes with very little notice. The current free ETA deal is temporary. There's a real chance something changes before May 2027.

Check the official website shortly before you travel to confirm the situation still applies. Don't assume the rules you read about six weeks ago are still in force.

More practical info on what to sort before your trip: Sri Lanka tips before you go.