The Sri Lanka has just reintroduced its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) (Electronic Travel Authorization), replacing the e-Visa system that had been in place since April 2024.
According to VisasNews, this return to ETA signals a direct response to the numerous complaints raised by travelers and tourism industry stakeholders, who had highlighted high fees, increased complexity, and inefficient processing under the e-Visa regime.
The choice to revert to ETA was accelerated by a ruling from the Supreme Court, which suspended the e-Visa system as well as the contract with VFS Global, the company responsible for its administration, on August 2.
On X (formerly Twitter), the newly elected Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced yesterday that “the government has officially restored the former visa issuance system, effective from midnight tonight”.
According to VisasNews, this return to ETA signals a direct response to the numerous complaints raised by travelers and tourism industry stakeholders, who had highlighted high fees, increased complexity, and inefficient processing under the e-Visa regime.
The choice to revert to ETA was accelerated by a ruling from the Supreme Court, which suspended the e-Visa system as well as the contract with VFS Global, the company responsible for its administration, on August 2.
On X (formerly Twitter), the newly elected Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced yesterday that “the government has officially restored the former visa issuance system, effective from midnight tonight”.
The ETA travel authorization for Sri Lanka is (for now?) a paid requirement
Authorities have decided to relaunch ETA in order to restore a visa process that is smoother and more transparent, seen as essential to revitalize the country’s tourism sector, which was hard hit by the pandemic and other recent economic challenges.
The ETA can be requested before travel on the government portal eta.gov.lk.
The authorization is valid for six months and allows the holder to stay 30 days in Sri Lanka.
The ETA fee is set at US$50 (bank charges excluded).
Last month, the previous government announced that a visa exemption would be introduced for visitors from more than 30 countries, including France, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. This offer was announced to last six months from October 1.
For now, the new administration has not confirmed either the continuation or the precise modalities (visa exemption, free ETA, the definitive list of eligible countries, etc.) for applying this potential temporary entry facility to Sri Lanka.
The ETA can be requested before travel on the government portal eta.gov.lk.
The authorization is valid for six months and allows the holder to stay 30 days in Sri Lanka.
The ETA fee is set at US$50 (bank charges excluded).
Last month, the previous government announced that a visa exemption would be introduced for visitors from more than 30 countries, including France, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. This offer was announced to last six months from October 1.
For now, the new administration has not confirmed either the continuation or the precise modalities (visa exemption, free ETA, the definitive list of eligible countries, etc.) for applying this potential temporary entry facility to Sri Lanka.
