Sri Lanka Visa for German Citizens: Free ETA & How to Apply

Visa required · e-Visa
Apply about 3 days before arrival
Decision in 3–5 business days
Verified 26 October 2026

Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: Sri Lanka ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), eta.gov.lk.

Table of contents

Do you need a visa?
Types and cost in EUR
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Germany vs. Sri Lanka essentials

Tourist ETA cost
Free for German passports
Business ETA still carries a fee
Passport validity
6 months from arrival
Typical stay
30 days, extendable to 6 months

Two routes into Sri Lanka

Most travellers
Tourist ETA (free)
Germany is on the list of nationalities that get the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge. It still must be applied for online before travel, covering sightseeing, family visits, medical treatment and similar short stays.
Business travellers
Business ETA
German citizens travelling for meetings, conferences or short training must apply for the Business ETA instead. This route carries the standard processing fee, unlike the tourist route.

Sri Lanka e-Visa types and cost for German citizens, in Euros

e-Visa	Validity	Processing	Government fee	All-in with Plusvisa*
Business trip eVisa	30 days Multiple entry	3–5 business days	US$55 ≈ €51	≈ €88
Transit eVisa	2 days	3–5 business days	Government fee not listed	≈ €27
Tourist eVisa	30 days Double entry	3–5 business days	Government fee not listed	≈ €37
Tourist eVisa	30 days Double entry	3–5 business days	Government fee not listed	≈ €37

* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.

The 30-day rule, and what it does not mean

The tourist and business ETA both allow a stay of up to 30 days from the date of first arrival, with double entry inside that period. The 30 days can be extended, in Sri Lanka, up to a total of six months.

Arrive

Leave

Business trip: 30 days per visit.

Arrive 1 March

21 of 30 days

1 Mar – 21 Mar: 21 of the 30 days this visa allows in one visit.

30 days from arrival, not issue: The 30-day count starts on arrival in Sri Lanka, not on the day your ETA is approved. The ETA itself stays usable for entry for three months from its issue date.
Double entry included: A standard tourist or business ETA lets you leave and re-enter once inside the 30 days. The second visit uses up whatever is left of the original 30 days, it does not reset the clock.
Extending beyond 30 days: Apply online through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services after you arrive. Extensions can take the total stay up to six months, with extension fees for the extra time.
Not a residence right: The ETA, even extended, is a visit permit. It does not let you work, study or settle, and it does not replace a residence visa.

Your document checklist

Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a German applicant.

Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from arrival. Only the passport number is entered online; German applicants do not upload a scan or photo for the standard ETA.
Onward or return ticket
A confirmed ticket out of Sri Lanka, shown at the immigration counter on arrival.
Proof of sufficient funds
Bank statements or cash in any currency can be shown if asked. No fixed amount is published.
Sri Lanka contact address
Hotel or host address, entered on the online ETA form.

Only for some visa types

Payment card
Only if Business ETA applicants. Visa, Mastercard or American Express. German cards work, but the tourist ETA is free for German passports, so no charge applies unless you apply for the Business ETA.
Business purpose evidence
Only if Business ETA applicants only. A letter from the German or Sri Lankan company confirming the meeting, conference or training.

When should you apply?

Processing takes 3–5 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.

Arrival in Sri Lanka

Processing

Standard3–5 business days

Pick your arrival date

1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
3
Processing
3–5 business days
Official estimate
4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
5
Arrive in Sri Lanka
—
Show the approval at the border

The official ETA site sets no fixed window. You can apply before booking a ticket. Apply a few days ahead: the fee is non-refundable.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Is your trip for tourism, visiting family, or medical treatment, rather than business, media, political or NGO work?
Will you arrive and leave through one of Sri Lanka's approved airports or seaports?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date?
Do you already hold a valid Sri Lankan residence or multiple-entry visa?

Result

Answer all four

Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.

The application, step by step

Before you apply

1
Check your German passport
Make sure it is valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in Sri Lanka.
2
Confirm the tourist category fits
Germany gets the tourist ETA free of charge. If you are travelling for business instead, you need the paid Business ETA.
3
Gather your trip details
Have your passport number, travel dates and Sri Lanka accommodation address ready before starting the form.

On the official portal

4
Fill in the ETA form
Go to eta.gov.lk and complete the form with your passport and travel details, choosing Tourist or Business.
5
Submit the application
Tourist applicants from Germany pay nothing. Business applicants pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express; German-issued cards are accepted.
6
Save your acknowledgement
You get an acknowledgement as soon as the form is submitted successfully. Keep the reference number.

After you apply

7
Wait for approval or referral
Most German applications are approved automatically. A referral notice means you must contact a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission before travelling.
8
Check status if unsure
Look up your reference number on eta.gov.lk, or call the 24/7 ETA call centre, if you have not heard back.
9
Show it on arrival
Present your passport, a copy of the approval notice, your return ticket and proof of funds at the immigration counter.

Official website: eta.gov.lk (opens in a new tab)

Questions German travellers actually ask

Yes. Germany is on the list of nationalities that get the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge. A Business ETA still carries the standard fee.

No. The online form only asks for your passport number and travel details. No photo or passport scan is required for the standard ETA.

The portal accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. German-issued cards in these networks work, though your bank may add its own conversion fee since the charge is in US dollars.

Apply using the passport you will travel on. If that is your German passport, you get the free tourist ETA; if you use a passport from a country that pays a fee, that fee applies instead.

You can, but an approved ETA is only valid for entry up to three months from its issue date. If your flight is further off than that, wait before applying.

You need to contact a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission, such as the Sri Lankan embassy in Germany, before travelling.

Yes. Apply online through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services after arrival. Extensions can take the total stay up to six months.

Visa sorted

The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home

Your German plug won't fit. Here's what will.

Type D
Three round pins · 5 A
Type G
Three flat pins · 13 A
Type M
Three large pins · 15 A

Type D

Sri Lanka uses type D, G and M sockets and your plugs are type C and F. A C-to-D adapter works for the whole trip.

Voltage

230 V · 50 Hz

Same as Germany — phones, laptops and shavers work with only an adapter, no converter.

Pack: one type D adapter and a small power strip — hotel rooms rarely have more than two sockets.

Sri Lanka drives on the left — the opposite of home

Compare traffic side:

Sri Lanka · left-hand traffic — the opposite of Germany

Getting around
Tuk-tuks, metered taxis and ride-hailing apps cover cities; trains link Colombo to the hill country and coast; long-distance buses reach most towns.
Health precautions
Drink bottled or filtered water, use mosquito repellent against dengue, and check whether a yellow fever certificate applies to your journey before you fly.
Dress and temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats before entering temples, shrines and other religious sites.

Sri Lankan Rupees, cash and cards

Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).

EUR

LKR

€1 ≈ Rs317.6 · indicative mid-market rate, possibly a few days old

ATMs are widely available
ATMs are common in cities and tourist areas and dispense Sri Lankan rupees; check with your home bank about foreign withdrawal fees.
Carry cash outside cities
Smaller towns, tuk-tuks and local markets often expect cash, so keep rupees on hand outside hotels and main tourist strips.
Cards work in tourist areas
Hotels, larger restaurants and shops in main tourist areas take cards, but a fee or minimum spend sometimes applies.

Weather by month (Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

22°22.6°24.2°25.3°25.8°25.2°24.6°24.5°24.5°24.4°23.9°23°

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Month	High, °C	Low, °C	Rain, mm
January · best	28.7	22	75.6
February · best	29.9	22.6	70.9
March · best	30.7	24.2	114.7
April	29.8	25.3	225.6
May	28.8	25.8	223.5
June	28.1	25.2	143.4
July	27.7	24.6	98.9
August	27.7	24.5	112.8
September	27.9	24.5	162
October	28	24.4	291.7
November	28.2	23.9	304.5
December · best	28.2	23	175.2

Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.

January · ideal

The best window runs January, February, March and December.

High 28.7°CLow 22°CRain 75.6 mm

Sweet spot: Colombo has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. The main dry season runs from December to March, while the south-west monsoon brings heavier rain from May to September.

One time zone, a half-hour offset

Berlin

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Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

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How much to tip, in EUR

Restaurant bill

Rs 5,000

Rs 5,000(€15.74)

Restaurant bill

Skip if a service charge is already added

5–10%

on a Rs 5,000 bill: Rs 250 · €0.79

Hotel porter

Per bag

Rs 100–Rs 200

€0.31–€0.63

Tour guide or driver

Per day

Rs 500–Rs 1,000

€1.57–€3.15

Taxi or tuk-tuk

Rounding up the fare is common but not expected

No tip expected

Hotel housekeeping

Per night, left in the room

Rs 100–Rs 200

€0.31–€0.63

SIM, eSIM or roaming?

Local SIM

Recommended

Local SIM card

Dialog, Mobitel or Airtel counters at Bandaranaike International Airport or in town Bring your passport to register the SIM.

eSIM

Travel eSIM

Installed online before arrival from an eSIM provider Useful if your phone is eSIM-compatible and you want data as soon as you land.

Roaming

Roaming from home

Activated through your home network before departure Simplest option but usually the most expensive per megabyte.

Get your Sri Lanka e-Visa in about five business days, without the portal headaches

Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From €27 all-in.

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Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
Support by email and WhatsApp

Do German citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Tourist

Business trip

Transit