Whether for vacation or for business, a Sri Lanka visa is required to travel to the country. However, the procedure is quite simple, quick and relatively inexpensive. In this article, we will explain in detail, how to proceed to obtain this sesame.
Summary
Visa for Sri Lanka: what are the different scenarios?
First of all, it is important to specify that depending on the reason for your stay, the type of Sri Lanka visa required is not the same. We distinguish in particular:
Tourist visa for Sri Lanka
If you are planning to vacation in Sri Lanka, you need to apply for a tourist visa. For a stay of less than 30 days, a digital version of the visa, or ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), is sufficient. The request is made directly online; no need to go to the Sri Lankan embassy for that.
Once there, if you plan to extend your stay beyond the 30 days, all you have to do is go to the Immigration Services Center in Colombo. There, you can request an extension of your visa (up to 90 days).
For business trips
If you are going to travel to Sri Lanka for work or business, you should apply for a visa for business travelers. Here too, the request can be made online by carefully selecting the reason for your stay.
Transit visa
If you are just going to transit through the country to go to a neighboring state, such as India or the Maldives, for example, you must apply for a transit visa. This is only valid for two days.
What is the procedure for applying for a Sri Lanka visa?
The application for ETA for Sri Lanka must be made well in advance of travel. The procedure is quite simple and only requires a few minutes. It can be done by the traveler himself, by a relative, or even by the travel agency for a whole group of people. Of course, when the application is submitted by a third party, this person must have all the details of the applicant’s passport.
Once the form has been completed, all you have to do is pay the visa fees directly online. The request is processed fairly quickly and the visa is sent automatically by e-mail.
Note that when applying for a Sri Lanka visa online, no document is required. However, to make the trip, you must present:
- One passport whose period of validity exceeds at least 6 months from the date of your return;
- Your return plane ticket or transit, as the case may be;
- Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay on Sri Lankan soil.
Visa price and validity
The tourist visa for Sri Lanka is valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and 30 days from the date of entry into the country. It is a visa with two entries and exits. It costs US $ 30 per person. The business visa costs US $ 40 and is a multiple entry visa. As for the transit visa, it is free.
The amount is paid directly online, by credit card (VISA, Mastercard or American Express), via Bancontact or Paypal.
Note that for children under 12, the visa is free.
Obtain an urgent Sri Lanka visa
The validation of a visa application for Sri Lanka can take up to a few days. It is therefore recommended to make the request several days before the trip to avoid any disappointment.
However, if you did not do it in time, you have the option of apply for a Sri Lanka visa urgently. To do this, all you have to do is complete the online application form, then check the « Urgent » option before validating. Your request will then be processed in less than half an hour. Note that there is an additional charge for this type of procedure.
Good to know : Once you have received the email confirmation of your Sri Lanka visa, you can proceed with your trip. To do this, print the email and have the documents mentioned above. During the flight, a landing card will be provided to you. Fill it out correctly and present it with the other documents to the customs checkpoint.
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