Visa Guide

Sri Lanka Visa for Indians 2026: Free Tourist ETA, 30-Day Stay and How to Apply

Q: What does the free tourist ETA cover?

According to the official page: - It is free of charge for nationals of the 40 listed countries, India included. - It is valid for 30 days, with double entry from the date of first arrival within that period. - It applies to holders of ordinary passports as well as diplomatic, official and service passports. - Staying longer needs an extension, which requires payment of the applicable visa fee.

Q: How do you apply for the Sri Lanka ETA?

1. Go to eta.gov.lk (type the address yourself rather than clicking an ad). 2. Choose the tourist ETA and fill in your passport details, travel dates and Sri Lankan address. 3. Submit, and save the approval, digitally and as a printout. Guides say approval usually comes within about 24 hours and often much faster, but can take up to 10 working days. Apply at least a week or two before you fly. Guides disagree about whether a photo or documents are uploaded, so follow what the official form asks for.

Kaushik RK

Co-founder, Trripah · 29 Oct 2026 · 4 min read

Sri Lanka Visa for Indians 2026: Free Tourist ETA, 30-Day Stay and How to Apply

Indians need an ETA for Sri Lanka. Reports say the tourist ETA became free from 25 May 2026. Here is what it covers, how long you can stay and where to apply.

Quick answer: Indians need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka, and for tourists it is free. Sri Lanka's own ETA page lists India among 40 countries whose nationals can get the tourist ETA free of charge for 30 days, with double entry allowed from the date of first arrival within those 30 days. You still have to apply online before you fly, and you should do it only on the official portal, eta.gov.lk.

Is Sri Lanka visa-free for Indians?

Not in the sense of arriving with only a passport. All foreign nationals, including Indians, must obtain an ETA before they arrive. What is different for Indians is the price: the tourist ETA is free. Airlines can refuse boarding without one, so do not skip it.

What does the free tourist ETA cover?

According to the official page:

It is free of charge for nationals of the 40 listed countries, India included.
It is valid for 30 days, with double entry from the date of first arrival within that period.
It applies to holders of ordinary passports as well as diplomatic, official and service passports.
Staying longer needs an extension, which requires payment of the applicable visa fee.

How much does an extension cost?

The official page does not give the extension amount. One guide lists USD 60 for Indian nationals for a stay of 31 to 90 days, but this is not confirmed, so check with the Sri Lankan immigration department before you rely on it.

How do you apply for the Sri Lanka ETA?

Go to eta.gov.lk (type the address yourself rather than clicking an ad).
Choose the tourist ETA and fill in your passport details, travel dates and Sri Lankan address.
Submit, and save the approval, digitally and as a printout.

Guides say approval usually comes within about 24 hours and often much faster, but can take up to 10 working days. Apply at least a week or two before you fly. Guides disagree about whether a photo or documents are uploaded, so follow what the official form asks for.

Why do some websites say USD 50 or ask for money?

Older pages list a tourist ETA at USD 50. That is out of date now that the tourist ETA is free. Agents also add service fees: one guide warns that a site asking for ₹2,000 or more is probably an agent. A consulate notice cited in our research warns that payments made to other websites are not valid for processing the ETA.