eVisa
Tourist
Entry
Validity
- Processing
- 2–3 business days
- Total cost
- $83
Do US citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, almost all US 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
- $84
eVisa
Transit
Validity
2 days
- Processing
- 2–3 business days
- Total cost
- $29
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
2–3 business days
Processing time
+21k21K
Satisfied customers
Available now24/7
Expert human assistance
Sri Lanka ETA for US Citizens: Requirements & 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 window
Within 3 months of ETA issue
Apply too early and it can expire before your trip.
Stay length
30 days, double entry
Extendable online up to 6 months total.
Three routes into Sri Lanka
Most travellers
Tourist ETA
Covers holidays, visiting family, medical treatment and sports or cultural events. Apply online before you fly. It allows a stay of up to 30 days with two entries inside that period.
Business travellers
Business ETA
Covers meetings, conferences, short training under a month, and religious or art events. Apply online, through a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission, or at the Colombo head office.
No advance ETA
On-arrival facility
A limited counter at Bandaranaike International Airport issues an ETA on the spot for tourists who did not apply online. Applying in advance is still the recommended route.
Sri Lanka e-Visa types and cost for US citizens
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Double entry | 2–3 business days | $54 | $83 |
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Double entry | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | $29 |
Tourist eVisa | 180 days Single entry | 2–3 business days | $54 | $83 |
Tourist eVisa | 180 days Single entry | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | $29 |
Business trip eVisa | 30 days Multiple entry | 2–3 business days | $55 | $84 |
Transit eVisa | 2 days | 2–3 business days | Government fee not listed | $29 |
* 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 or business ETA lets you stay for 30 days from your arrival date, with two entries allowed inside that window. You can extend online, taking your total stay up to 6 months.
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, two entries: The 30-day period starts on your first arrival. A second entry can use the rest of that same 30 days; it does not restart the clock.
Extending past 30 days: Apply online before your ETA expires, through the Department of Immigration and Emigration's e-services. Extensions can take your stay up to 6 months in total, but cancel the double-entry facility.
Business ETA entries: A standard business ETA gives 30 days. Longer, multiple-entry business visas of up to 90 days must be arranged through a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission or the Colombo head office, not the standard online ETA.
Passport must outlast your stay: Your planned stay must end at least 2 months before your passport's own expiry date, so check this before requesting a long extension.
Overstaying: Letting your ETA or extension lapse brings fines. An extended stay is automatically cancelled once you leave Sri Lanka, so you need a fresh ETA to return.
Your document checklist
Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a US applicant.
Passport
A US passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date. Enter the passport number on the online form; no scan or copy is needed for the standard ETA.
Payment card
A Visa, Mastercard or American Express card to pay online. A relative, friend or travel agent in the US can submit and pay on your behalf if needed.
Onward or return ticket
A confirmed ticket out of Sri Lanka. Airlines will not check it before boarding, but immigration officers ask for it on arrival.
Proof of funds
A US bank or card statement showing you can cover your stay, in case an immigration officer asks at the airport.
Sri Lanka contact address
The hotel or host address where you'll stay, entered on the ETA application form.
Only for some visa types
Business purpose letter
Only if Business ETA applicants only. A letter from your US employer or the Sri Lankan host confirming the meeting, conference or training you are attending.
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
No fixed window is set, but the ETA is only valid for entry within 3 months of issue, so applying more than 90 days ahead risks it expiring before you fly.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Are you travelling for tourism, a short business trip, or transiting through Sri Lanka?
Will your US passport still be valid for at least 6 months after you land?
Do you already hold a valid Sri Lankan residence visa or multiple-entry visa?
Can you pay online with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card?
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 is ready
Make sure your US passport has at least 6 months of validity left from your arrival date and a blank page for the entry stamp.
- 2
Pick Tourist or Business
Choose the ETA that matches your trip. Sightseeing, visiting family or medical treatment fall under Tourist; meetings, conferences and short training fall under Business.
- 3
Have your details and a card ready
Gather your passport number, travel dates and your Sri Lanka accommodation address, plus a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card to pay.
On the official portal
- 4
Fill in the form on eta.gov.lk
Complete the official ETA application with your passport and trip details.
- 5
Pay online
Pay by card, or have a relative, friend or travel agent in the US pay on your behalf.
- 6
Save your acknowledgement
You get an acknowledgement once the form and payment go through. Keep it until your approval or referral notice arrives.
After you apply
- 7
Check for approval or referral
Most US applicants get an approval notice. A referral means contacting your nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission before flying.
- 8
Track your status if needed
Look up your reference number on eta.gov.lk, or call the 24/7 ETA call centre, if you don't hear back.
- 9
Show it on arrival
Present your passport, the approval notice, your return ticket and proof of funds to the immigration officer in Sri Lanka.
Questions US travellers actually ask
Yes. The official ETA system lets you apply and pay before you book a ticket, so you can get approval first and book later.
No. Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration says an ETA is not a precondition to board a flight or vessel. You'll still need it, and your ticket, to clear immigration in Sri Lanka.
Yes. A travel agent, airline, friend or relative can lodge and pay for your ETA application for you, using a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.
A referral means the system needs more checks. Contact your nearest Sri Lanka Overseas Mission for assistance before you travel; do not fly on a referred application.
The official ETA site accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards. If your card doesn't work, someone else can pay on your behalf.
A transit ETA covers stays of up to 2 days if you can show documentary proof of your onward travel.
A limited on-arrival facility at Bandaranaike International Airport can issue a tourist ETA on the spot, paid in US dollars. Applying online in advance is still the recommended route.
You cannot lodge a fresh ETA application while that visa is still valid. Travel on your existing visa until it expires or is cancelled.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your US 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 A and B. A A-to-D adapter works for the whole trip.
Voltage
230 V · 50 Hz
Against 120 V · 60 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.
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 United States
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 ≈ Rs294.1 · 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
Washington, D.C.
--:--:--
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
--:--:--
How much to tip, in USD
Rs 4,000($13.60)
Restaurant bill
Skip if a service charge is already added
5–10%
on a Rs 4,000 bill: Rs 200 · $0.68
Hotel porter
Per bag
Rs 100–Rs 200
$0.34–$0.68
Tour guide or driver
Per day
Rs 500–Rs 1,000
$1.70–$3.40
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
$0.34–$0.68
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 $29 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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