What documents do I need to travel to Sri Lanka?
To travel to Sri Lanka you need a passport valid for six months beyond departure and an approved ETA. Here is what trip1 travellers should prepare before they fly.
Updated
Entering Sri Lanka - what you need
Sri Lanka's entry process is quick once your ETA is approved. Book your stay on trip1 first, because both the ETA application and the immigration officer at Colombo ask for a Sri Lankan address.
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date, with a blank page for the entry stamp.
- An approved tourist ETA, or a proper visa if you are travelling for work, study or volunteering.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Proof of where you are staying, which your trip1 booking confirmation covers.
- Evidence that you can cover your costs, such as a recent bank statement or card statement.
How the Sri Lanka ETA works
The ETA is an online pre-approval rather than a sticker in your passport. You apply on the official Sri Lankan ETA site, and approval normally arrives by email within a day or two.
A standard tourist ETA is single entry with a stay of up to 30 days. Double entry and longer stays are handled by Sri Lankan overseas missions rather than the standard online form.
Visitor visas are also issued on arrival, but the fee is higher than applying online and the queue at the airport can be long. Applying before you fly is the calmer option.
What changed recently
Since 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 countries pay nothing for the 30-day tourist ETA. The list covers the United States, the United Kingdom, EU member states, India, China, Japan, Australia, Canada and the UAE, among others.
Free does not mean automatic. You still submit the application and wait for approval, so treat it as paperwork to complete rather than a step you can skip.
Travellers outside the free list pay around US$20 online for South Asian nationalities and about US$50 for everyone else, with higher fees on arrival. Children under 12 of any nationality get a free tourist visa for up to 30 days.
Sri Lanka has adjusted this scheme several times in recent years, so confirm the current fee and eligibility on the official Sri Lankan ETA site before you apply.
Checking into a hotel in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan hotels and guesthouses ask for your passport at check-in and record the details for guest registration. Bring the passport itself, since a photo on your phone is usually not accepted.
Your trip1 booking confirmation is the document that proves you have accommodation, both at immigration and at the front desk. Save a PDF copy offline so you are not depending on airport wifi.
Some properties ask for a payment card at check-in to hold against extras such as the minibar or laundry. That hold is the hotel's own policy and has nothing to do with how you paid for the room on trip1.
Entering Sri Lanka - FAQ
Yes, most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or a visa to enter Sri Lanka. Nationals of 40 countries now get the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge, but they still have to apply for it.
It is free for nationals of 40 countries, including the US, UK, India, China, Japan and Australia, under the scheme that started on 25 May 2026. Other nationalities pay about US$20 (South Asian countries) or US$50 online, and more if they apply on arrival.
A standard tourist ETA gives you one entry and a stay of up to 30 days. You can apply to extend it inside Sri Lanka, and an extension fee applies.
You need at least six months of passport validity beyond your planned departure date, plus one blank page for the entry stamp.
Yes, visitor visas are available on arrival, but the fee is higher than applying online and the queue can be long. Applying for the ETA before you fly is the calmer option.
