Do Bangladeshis need a visa for Sri Lanka?

The rule

Paid electronic travel authorisation before travel; not in the free-visa country list.

• Official source

What "Electronic travel authorisation" means for Bangladeshis

An electronic travel authorisation is a pre-clearance, not a visa. Bangladeshis apply online, usually in minutes, and the approval is linked to the passport number. Airlines check it at check-in, so the authorisation must be granted before the flight. On arrival the officer still decides the stay (30 days, double entry); the ETA only confirms you may travel to the border.

Before you apply

Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Print or save the approval: airlines verify it at check-in and some borders ask to see it again. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.

At the Sri Lanka border and during the stay

Sri Lanka sets a stay of 30 days, double entry, double, on a visa valid for 30 days. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for Sri Lanka and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.

When this rule does not apply

This answer is for ordinary Bangladesh passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the Sri Lanka destination page. Note for this rule: Paid electronic travel authorisation before travel; not in the free-visa country list. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.

How this answer is kept current

The rule comes from Sri Lanka's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-11-05. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.

Sri Lanka for Bangladesh passport holders: costs, documents and timing

Indian passport holders get a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA from eta.gov.lk. The online form uses your passport details only; no documents are uploaded. Carry your return ticket and hotel booking. The ETA can also be obtained on arrival.

Indian passport holders get a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA from eta.gov.lk. The online form uses your passport details only; no documents are uploaded. Carry your return ticket and hotel booking. The ETA can also be obtained on arrival.

How much does a Sri Lanka visa cost? From ₹20 per traveller all-in: ₹0 government fee plus ₹20 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.

How long does a Sri Lanka visa take? Same day once filed; eta.gov.lk publishes Same day. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.

What documents do I need for a Sri Lanka visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The Sri Lanka checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.

How much bank balance do I need for a Sri Lanka visa? About ₹56,772 for a tourist visit, rising to ₹94.62 lakh for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: Sri Lanka publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.

Can I apply for the Sri Lanka visa online, or is it visa on arrival? Online. Sri Lanka issues an e-visa; it is not a visa on arrival, so apply and receive the approval before you fly.

How long can I stay in Sri Lanka on this visa? Up to 30 days, double entry, valid 30 days. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.

Is an interview or biometrics required for Sri Lanka? No. Sri Lanka decides on the documents; there is no interview and no biometrics appointment for this route.

Applying for the Sri Lanka visa

Why are Sri Lanka visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the Sri Lanka list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.

Can I apply for the Sri Lanka visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.

Where else Bangladeshis travel without a visa

• Maldives: Visa on arrival
• Nepal: Visa-free
• Bhutan: Visa-free

Questions, answered