eVisa
Tourist
Entry
Validity
- Processing
- 2–3 business days
- Total cost
- £66 (US$83)
Do UK citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, UK passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before flying to Sri Lanka.
eVisa
Business trip
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
30 days
- Processing
- 2–3 business days
- Total cost
- £67 (US$84)
eVisa
Transit
Validity
2 days
- Processing
- 2–3 business days
- Total cost
- £23 (US$29)
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
2–3 business days
Processing time
+21k21K
Satisfied customers
Available now24/7
Expert human assistance
Sri Lanka Visa for UK Citizens: ETA Guide & How to Apply
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply 0–90 days before arrival
- Decision in 2–3 business days
- Verified
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
Passport validity
6 months from arrival
Entry allowed
Double entry within 30 days
Extensions
Online, up to 6 months total
Further extensions need an in-person visit to the immigration department
Three routes into Sri Lanka
Most tourists
Tourist ETA
Covers sightseeing, visiting family, medical treatment (including Ayurveda and yoga) and sporting or cultural events. Apply online at eta.gov.lk before you fly; it allows double entry within 30 days of first arrival.
Business travellers
Business ETA
For meetings, conferences, short training or symposiums. UK citizens apply through a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission or the Department of Immigration and Emigration's Colombo office, not the online tourist form.
Transiting only
Transit ETA
Needed only if your connection is longer than 24 hours; it covers up to 2 days. Shorter airside connections need no visa at all, per UK government travel advice.
Sri Lanka e-Visa types and cost for UK citizens, in British Pounds
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Double entry | 2–3 business days | US$54 ≈ £43 | ≈ £66 |
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Double entry | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | ≈ £23 |
Tourist eVisa | 180 days Single entry | 2–3 business days | US$54 ≈ £43 | ≈ £66 |
Tourist eVisa | 180 days Single entry | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | ≈ £23 |
Business trip eVisa | 30 days Multiple entry | 2–3 business days | US$55 ≈ £44 | ≈ £67 |
Transit eVisa | 2 days | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | ≈ £23 |
* 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
A tourist ETA lets UK passport holders stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days from arrival, with double entry. Extensions taken online can raise this to six months; the immigration department's own visa FAQ describes further in-person extensions taking a stay up to 270 days.
Tourist: 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.
Tourist ETA: 30 days, double entry: Your ETA lets you enter twice within 30 days of your first arrival. The second entry uses the days left over from the first visit, not a fresh 30 days.
Extending online: Apply through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-Visa Extension portal before your current stay expires. The ETA site says this can take your total stay up to six months from arrival.
Further extensions in person: The department's own visa FAQ describes further extensions granted in stages at its Battaramulla office, taking a stay up to 270 days (about nine months). Confirm current rules with the department before relying on this.
Business ETA is separate: A business ETA also runs for 30 days with double entry, but it cannot currently be extended online. Any extension must be arranged in person at the department's head office.
Overstaying: Staying beyond your ETA or extension can lead to detention, a fine, deportation at your own cost, or a future entry ban, according to UK government travel advice.
Your document checklist
Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a UK applicant.
Passport
Any UK passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in Sri Lanka. No photo or scan upload is needed for the standard online ETA form.
UK payment card
Pay online with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit or debit card. Standard UK-issued cards work directly on eta.gov.lk; no other online payment method is accepted.
Confirmed return or onward ticket
Not uploaded when you apply, but you must show it to the immigration officer on arrival in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka accommodation address
The hotel or host address you enter on the ETA form. Have this ready before starting, since the form does not save partway through.
Proof of funds
Bank statements, cash or a card showing you can cover your stay. Checked only if an immigration officer asks at the port of entry.
Only for some visa types
Business invitation letter
Only if Business ETA applicants only. A letter from your Sri Lankan host or organiser confirming the meeting, conference or training you're attending, submitted with the business ETA application.
When should you apply?
Processing takes 2–3 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.
Processing
Standard2–3 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
2–3 business days
Official estimate
- 4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
- 5
Arrive in Sri Lanka
—
Show the approval at the border
An ETA is only valid for entry within 3 months of issue, so applying much earlier risks it expiring before you fly. Apply once dates are fixed.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your trip for tourism, visiting family, medical treatment or a similar short visit?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date?
Will your stay in Sri Lanka be 30 days or less on this visit?
Do you have a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card to pay online?
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
Confirm your passport validity
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Sri Lanka. No blank page or photo upload is needed for the online ETA form.
- 2
Choose tourist or business
Most UK visitors use the Tourist ETA. If you're travelling for business, media, political or NGO work, use a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission or the Colombo head office instead of the online tourist form.
- 3
Book your return ticket and accommodation
Have a confirmed return or onward ticket and your Sri Lanka accommodation address ready. Both are asked for on the form and checked on arrival.
On the official portal
- 4
Apply on eta.gov.lk
Fill in your UK passport details and travel dates on the official ETA site. Do not use any other website claiming to arrange this for you.
- 5
Pay by card
Pay with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card. A relative, friend or travel agent can pay on your behalf if you don't have a suitable card.
- 6
Get your acknowledgement
You'll receive an acknowledgement as soon as the application and payment are submitted successfully.
After you apply
- 7
Check for approval or referral
Most UK applications are approved automatically. A referral means you must contact a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission, such as the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, before you fly.
- 8
Complete Sri Lanka's arrival card
Fill in the separate online arrival card up to 3 days before you travel, through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services.
- 9
Show your documents on arrival
Present your passport, ETA approval notice, return ticket and proof of funds at the immigration counter in Sri Lanka.
Questions UK travellers actually ask
No. If your connecting flight leaves within 24 hours of landing, you do not need a transit visa or ETA, according to UK government travel advice. Longer stopovers need a transit ETA.
A limited facility exists at Bandaranaike International Airport, but the Department of Immigration and Emigration recommends applying online at eta.gov.lk in advance instead.
Contact the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, or your nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission, before you fly. A referral is not an approval, and travelling without one risks being refused entry.
Yes. Apply through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's online e-Visa Extension portal before your ETA expires.
You must arrive and depart through an approved port, such as Bandaranaike International Airport or Colombo Port. Arriving anywhere else is not valid for a visit visa.
Not if you fly directly from the UK. It's required only if you've recently been in a country on Sri Lanka's yellow fever risk list.
Yes. A third party, such as a relative, friend or travel agent, can submit and pay for your ETA application on your behalf.
Renew it before travelling. Sri Lanka requires at least 6 months of validity from your arrival date, and you risk being refused entry otherwise.
No. The Department of Immigration and Emigration does not allow a fresh ETA application while you're inside Sri Lanka, whether your current one is valid or expired.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your UK plug fits. Here's what to expect.
Type D
Three round pins · 5 A
Type G
Three flat pins · 13 A
Type M
Three large pins · 15 A
Type G
Type G is used both at home and in Sri Lanka, so your own plugs fit — though you may meet the other types too.
Voltage
230 V · 50 Hz
Same as the United Kingdom — phones, laptops and shavers work with only an adapter, no converter.
Pack: nothing special — your type G plugs go straight in. A small power strip is still handy where hotel rooms have one socket.
Sri Lanka drives on the left — just like home
Compare traffic side:
Sri Lanka · left-hand traffic — same as United Kingdom
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).
Rs
£1 ≈ Rs373.5 · 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
London
--:--:--
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
--:--:--
How much to tip, in GBP
Rs 6,000(£16.06)
Restaurant bill
Skip if a service charge is already added
5–10%
on a Rs 6,000 bill: Rs 300 · £0.80
Hotel porter
Per bag
Rs 100–Rs 200
£0.27–£0.54
Tour guide or driver
Per day
Rs 500–Rs 1,000
£1.34–£2.68
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
£0.27–£0.54
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
RecommendedLocal 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 three 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 £23 all-in.
- Card payments by PayPal
- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
- Support by email and WhatsApp