Visa Procedure Sri Lanka: What You Need To Know

Welcome traveller and thank you for your interesting in visiting Sri Lanka.

No matter your purpose for travel, be it business or pleasure-our guide will hopefully act as a one-stop-shop to answering all your doubts about visas and their procedure in Sri Lanka.

What are the typical visa types for travelling to Sri Lanka

Visit Visa

A Visit Visa is an entry permit signifying the consent of the Sri Lankan Government for the admission of a foreign national to the country.  The Visa contains details of the period of time and the condition/s of the stay.

There are two sub-categories which come under visit visas :-

Tourist Visa

A Tourist Visa is issued to travellers who wish to enter Sri Lanka for sightseeing or holidaying, visiting friends and relatives, medical treatments, participate in art, music and dance events, participate in sport events for a short period of time.

Business Purpose Visa

A Business Purpose Visa is issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes for short period of time. This visa may be issued for single or multiple journeys.

Residence Visa

A residence visa is a permit for a non-Sri Lankan to obtain residence facilities for special purposes.

There are thirteen (13) sub-categories which come under residence visas

Employment Category

This visa is for Professional personnel whose services are required for projects approved by the government.

Are you a:

• Expatriate personnel employed in projects under Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka and their dependents.
• Personnel employed at banks and their dependents
• Personnel employed in a private company and their dependents

Investor Category

Are you a:

• Personnel who desire to invest monetary capital in Sri Lanka
• Personnel who engage in business activities in Sri Lanka

Religious Category

Are you a:

• Members of the Clergy
• Personnel who engage in religious activities

Student Category

Are you a:

• University Student
• Student in Educational Institutions approved by the government
• Volunteer

Personnel attached to Non-Governmental Organizations or International Non-Government Organizations and their dependents

Registered Indians covered by the 1954 Indo-Lanka Agreement.

Ex- Sri Lankans and their dependents

Family Members of a Sri Lankan

This is for:

• Spouses and their dependents
• Children holding foreign nationality

Diplomatic and Official visa

This is for:

• Diplomats and officers who are attached to a foreign mission in Sri Lanka
• Their Spouse and dependants

My Dream Home Visa Programme

Resident Guest Visa Programme

Medical Visa

Are you a:

• Personal who are under medical treatments
• Medical Assistant and dependents of the medical visa holder

Court Visa

Are you a:

• Personal who has a pending court case in which he need to be appear before a court

Transit Visa

A Transit Visa is an entry permit granted to a foreign national for admission into Sri Lanka for a short period which is incidental and in the course of his journey to another destination.

Who are eligible for Visa Exemptions?

There are a handful of incidents in which a person can gain visa exemption. This includes:

• Sri Lankan dual citizens.
• Children up to 21 years of age, whose birth has been registered under section 5(2) of Citizenship Act of 1948.
• Children under 21 years of age and born in Sri Lanka for Sri Lankan parents who are holding a foreign nationality.

Who are eligible for Gratis Visa?

The holder of a Diplomatic or Official Passport or a passport with a valid Diplomatic or Official endorsement. They will not be required to pay any fees for the visa as per the recommendation of the Line Ministry.

What are the general eligibility requirements for Sri Lankan Visas?

Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration may grant or issue a visa to you if:

• Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration is satisfied that you are suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration approves the purpose for which you are entering Sri Lanka.
• You hold a passport valid for a minimum period of six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka Immigration & Emigration is satisfied that you have adequate funds for your maintenance whilst in Sri Lanka and for the payment of your return passage to the country which issued your passport.
• You are in possession of a written assurance (ticket) to return to the country of domicile or a visa to the next country of destination if you are a visit visa holder.

The Dos and Don’ts

When travelling to Sri Lanka and before deciding to apply for your visa – be sure to read the following terms and conditions

What are the general conditions of a Visit Visa?

Traveller please be mindful. There are conditions to your visit visa to Sri Lanka

• You should not engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid, or in any trade or business other than that specified in the visa during the period of your stay in Sri Lanka.
• Your visa must be utilized before the date of expiry noted on the visa.
• Validity of your visa is subject to entry into Sri Lanka during the indicated entry period.
• It is a Double entry for the tourist visa and Multiple entry for business visa within 1st 30 days (This facility will be terminated if you apply for a visa extension)
• Applications for the extension of all visas should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration or online through the link here. The extension is single entry and it will be cancelled once you leave the country.
• At present, business visa cannot be extended through online

What are the general conditions of a Residence Visa?

Similarly, there are rules to an expat with a residence visa, these include:

• You should not engage in any form of activity other than the condition of your visa
• It is a multiple entry visa

What are the general conditions of a Transit Visa?

If you are staying more than 24 hours to get your connecting flight, you have to apply for a transit visa through the official Sri Lankan immigration and emigration website. It is valid only for 48 hours.