Sri Lanka has officially waived its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee for short-stay tourists from 40 countries, following Cabinet approval on 30 March 2026. The programme is now live and applies to single-entry visits of up to 30 days — enough to cover the large majority of leisure trips.
Who it covers
The 40-country list spans key outbound markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Between them, these markets account for the bulk of Sri Lanka's traditional tourist base.
How it works
Travellers from eligible countries still need to complete the ETA application online before departure, submitting passport and travel details. What has changed is the financial side: the standard visa fee (previously $50 for most nationals) has been dropped entirely for short-stay tourism. Business travel, long-stay visas and extended-stay tourism are outside the scope of this programme.
Why now
Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals have softened in 2026 amid broader regional instability and competition from neighbouring destinations. Scrapping the ETA fee is the fastest and cheapest lever the government has to move the numbers. The Tourism Ministry's own projections suggest it could lift arrivals by low-double-digit percentages over a twelve-month horizon.
The Maldives angle
For travellers combining Sri Lanka and the Maldives — still the most popular paired itinerary in the region — the cost saving is real if small. The bigger effect is psychological: removing even a modest fee and a form removes one of the friction points that decides between "let's do both" and "let's just do one."
Resorts and DMCs in the Maldives that market combined packages (typically two or three nights in Colombo or the Sri Lankan hill country, then a week in the Maldives) have already begun updating landing pages and sales copy to reflect the change.
What to know before booking
Apply for the ETA at least 72 hours before departure via the official Sri Lankan government portal. Unofficial intermediary sites charge fees for what is now a free service — use only the government URL. Confirm the exact country eligibility list before travel, as additions and adjustments are expected over the coming months.
