Tourist Visa rules & regulations for visiting Sri Lanka are simple. Tourists can visit the country with minimum formalities. Nationals of most countries can obtain the visas on arrival for 30 days. If one wants to extend the tourist visa, one can contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Countries Exempt from Visas

All the countries falling in the SAARC region are exempt from visa These countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Eligibility

A foreign national who wishes to visit Sri Lanka, who holds a return air ticket and sufficient funds] for maintenance. Funds should not be less than US $30 per day. Funds can be in currency / travelers cheques / credit card.

Mode of Issue

Tourists residents of the countries listed in Schedule 'A' shall be granted landing visa for 30 days on entry in Sri Lanka. Power of granting two months extension beyond 30 day rests with the Department of Immigration & Emigration (Head Office). Note that if you are visiting Sri Lanka for purposes other than tourism, you would need to obtain prior visas. Application for extension of tourism visa beyond 30 days shall only be considered with valid reasons. However ex-Sri Lankans will be free from this restriction. Citizens of countries not classified under the Schedule 'A' countries should possess a valid visa, obtained from the respective Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions before entering the country regardless of the purpose of the tour. Sri Lankan embassies/consulates abroad can gran tourist visas up to a period of three months for bona-fide tourists after receiving necessary fees.

Link to Schedule 'A'

A Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan

B Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria

C Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic

D Denmark

E Estonia

F Finland, France

G Georgia, Germany, Greece

H Hong Kong (China), Hungary

I India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy

J Japan

K Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan

L Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg

M Malaysia, Maldives

N Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway

O Oman

P Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal

Q Qatar

R Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation

S Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

T Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan

U United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia