Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, an electronic travel authorisation: Indians must hold an approved ETA before boarding for Sri Lanka (up to 30 days, double entry).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Electronic travel authorisation |
| Allowed stay | up to 30 days, double entry |
| Verified | 2026-10-22 |
| Processing | Same day once filed |
| Government fee | ₹0 |
Free tourist ETA from eta.gov.lk on passport details (no uploads); also issued on arrival.
What "Electronic travel authorisation" means for Indians
An electronic travel authorisation is a pre-clearance, not a visa. Indians 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 (up to 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 up to 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 India 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: Free tourist ETA from eta.gov.lk on passport details (no uploads); also issued on arrival. 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 2026-10-22. 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 India 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 Sri Lanka entry cost? No government fee for Indian tourists. Vistolane's optional service, from ₹20 per traveller, completes the ETA before you fly, checks your passport validity, ticket and booking against the official rule and reminds you before you fly.
How long does the ETA take? There is no decision to wait for: the ETA is confirmed within minutes of submission. Entry itself is the border officer's call.
What documents do I need for Sri Lanka? The tourist ETA is free for Indian passports. No documents are uploaded; the ETA is issued on passport details. Passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket and your accommodation details. Nothing else is uploaded.
Can I enter Sri Lanka without the ETA? No. The ETA is mandatory for every traveller even though there is no visa; airlines and border officers check it. Vistolane files it in its window so it is never late.
How long can I stay in Sri Lanka? Up to 30 days. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, an electronic travel authorisation: Indians must hold an approved ETA before boarding for Sri Lanka (up to 30 days, double entry).
How long can Indians stay in Sri Lanka?
up to 30 days, double entry under the electronic travel authorisation rule.
What does a Sri Lanka visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹0 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹20; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does Sri Lanka entry cost?
No government fee for Indian tourists. Vistolane's optional service, from ₹20 per traveller, completes the ETA before you fly, checks your passport validity, ticket and booking against the official rule and reminds you before you fly.
How long does the ETA take?
There is no decision to wait for: the ETA is confirmed within minutes of submission. Entry itself is the border officer's call.
What documents do I need for Sri Lanka?
The tourist ETA is free for Indian passports. No documents are uploaded; the ETA is issued on passport details. Passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket and your accommodation details. Nothing else is uploaded.
Can I enter Sri Lanka without the ETA?
No. The ETA is mandatory for every traveller even though there is no visa; airlines and border officers check it. Vistolane files it in its window so it is never late.
How long can I stay in Sri Lanka?
Up to 30 days. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.