The move was intended to simplify entry procedures and enhance the island’s appeal as a tourist destination, building on exemptions already available to travellers from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand.
Currently, visitors from nations including the U.S., the U.K., France, Belgium, Canada, Australia, and South Korea must still pay US$50 for their ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, explained that the free ETA rollout is pending parliamentary approval. “We have to submit the new gazette notification to parliament. After that we will implement the process,” he said, noting that the scheme could be finalised by the end of the year, possibly within one or two months.
The delay is linked to unresolved legal matters concerning the previous e-Visa system. Herath stated that guidance from the Attorney General is required due to an ongoing case related to revenue issues under the former online visa scheme. This has postponed the publication of the official gazette necessary to bring the free ETA into effect.
Sri Lanka’s ETA system has undergone several transitions in recent years. The original portal was temporarily replaced in April 2024 by a private e-Visa platform, which was suspended after four months. The government subsequently reinstated the official ETA website following audits and investigations into the prior contract’s financial management.
Once implemented, the free ETA is expected to cover citizens of 33 countries, including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Until the gazette notification is officially published, travellers from these nations must continue to obtain the standard ETA and pay the required fee before entering Sri Lanka.
