• Office Hours : Mon - Fri: 9:00 am - 4.45 pm
  • Consular Service Hours : Mon - Fri: 9:30 am - 1.30 pm
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
HOLIDAYS
APPOINTMENT
student Registration Portal

VISA

Sri Lankan Visa

The Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka may issue a visa to an applicant if:

the Department is satisfied that the applicant is suitable to enter Sri Lanka.
the Department approves the purpose of entry to Sri Lanka.
the applicant holds a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka.
the Department is satisfied that the applicant has sufficient funds for the stay in Sri Lanka, and for the return passage to the country of origin.
the applicant possesses a written assurance (ticket) to return to the country of origin, or to an onwards destination.

Visa is not required to enter into Sri Lanka for;

Dual Citizens of Sri Lanka (Dual Citizenship Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
Children under the age of 21, born overseas, whose birth & citizenship has been registered under Section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act 1948 of Sri Lanka. (Sri Lankan Citizenship Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
Children under the age of 21, born in Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan parents. (Sri Lankan Birth Certificate/endorsement of the Passport should be provided at the port of entry)
Minors below the age of 12. (ETA should be applied, ONLY visa fee will be exempted)

Table of Contents

Categories of Visa

Sri Lanka issues the following types of visas for non-Sri Lankans:

Tourist Visa

Read More

Business Visa

Read More

Transit Visa

Read More

Journalist Visa

Read More

Work Visa / Study Visa / Long Term Resident Visa

Read More

Visas for Expatriates working and seeking to work in Voluntary Social Service Organizations/NGOs

Read More

How to Apply

Short Visit Visa (Tourist /Business / Transit Visa)

Sri Lanka has introduced an online system to issue an authorization (Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA) for short visits up to 180 days, which can be obtained by applicants on their own through www.eta.gov.lk.

To apply for an ETA, please visit the official ETA website ONLY. It has been reported that third-party websites offer to arrange Sri Lankan ETA and charge exorbitant amounts. This office would not be responsible for any payments made to these third-party sites or agencies.

Applying at our counter: If you so require, we can facilitate your ETA application. You can submit your application by visiting us in person.

To submit the application at the counter, you must obtain a prior appointment. You can obtain an appointment on any working day between 9.30am -1.30pm. through the link provided in this website. For public holiday closures please visit here.

Submitting via post: You can also submit your application for ETA for more than 30 days (Up to 90 days) via post. You must send the application to us at least 7 working days prior to your departure.

Journalist Visa

This visa can be obtained only through the Consulate General and the following guidelines need to be followed in doing so:

  • Media teams are advised to submit visa requests at least 2 weeks in advance of their date of departure.
  • Regulations pertaining to media equipment are strictly enforced by Sri Lanka Customs
  • Visiting journalists & media personnel must obtain a Carnet (a temporary import document) for their media equipment (cameras, etc.), for customs clearance.
  • In the absence of a Carnet, a bank guarantee for the value of the imported media equipment must be submitted.
  • If the visit is sponsored by a state institution, a letter from the institution concerned, guaranteeing that the media equipment will be re-exported, must be provided.
  • Telephone equipment such as satellite phones require a prior license from the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
  • A list of media equipment to be carried by the visiting journalists & media personnel must be sent to the Public Diplomacy Division of the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka through the Consulate General, to facilitate clearance at airport Customs. A letter of undertaking must also be provided by the media organization, guaranteeing that the media equipment will be re-exported upon the departure of the media personnel.
  • All foreign media personnel working in Sri Lanka must obtain media accreditation. (Media accreditation will not be recommended/granted for any person who travels to Sri Lanka with a tourist visa.)
  • Media personnel must possess the relevant visa, issued by the Consulate General, in order to obtain media accreditation.
  • Media accreditation requests submitted to the Consulate General are forwarded to the Department of Government Information via the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka. Accreditation is provided upon recommendation from the said Ministry.
  • Journalists wishing to obtain media accreditation should visit the Department of Government Information in Colombo.
  • Journalists may contact the Public Diplomacy Division, Foreign Ministry for courtesy meetings, clearance of media equipment, coordination to meet VVIPs, etc.

Guidelines for shooting films in Sri Lanka

  1. The filming of all documentaries & feature films (except Tourism Promotional Documentaries & Wildlife Documentaries) require prior approval from the National Film Corporation (NFC)
  2. Media teams must complete & submit the NFC Agreement, a synopsis of the documentary/film, itinerary of the media team while in Sri Lanka, and filming locations.
  3. Media teams intending to film Tourism Promotional Documentaries, or participate in FAM tours, must complete the Application “Selection Criteria for Journalists/TV Crews for FAM Tours”
  4. Prior approval from the Department of Wildlife Conservation is necessary to film in Protected Areas. The “Application for Filming in Wildlife Protected Areas” form must be completed and submitted.

Visas for expatriates working and seeking to work in voluntary social service organizations/NGOs

Government of Sri Lanka has introduced a set of new guidelines for strict compliance in granting of visas to expatriates attached to NGOs/INGOs in Sri Lanka.

Following are some of the key requirements laid down in the new guidelines:

  • All Voluntary Social Service Organizations/NGOs registered under the Voluntary Social Service Organizations Act No. 31 of 1980 and wish to obtain visas should submit their NGOs/INGOs registration certificate and MoU signed with Government of Sri Lanka to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for the registration of the organization.
  • Visa will only be processed for the organizations fulfil the above requirement.
  • All foreign nationals who intend to work in NGO/INGO in Sri Lanka should apply for prior visa/entry visa following the new procedure.
  • Residence visas are issued by the Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration for the expatriates who are holding entry visas on the recommendation of the Director of National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations, subject to a minimum period of one year. Any extensions of Residence visa for expatriates to work in Sri Lanka beyond first one year will not exceed three years.
  • Foreign nationals holding tourist visas are not recommended or considered for granting of Residence visas.

Application Forms

Download

Application For Tourist Visa

Application For Business Visa

National Film Cooperation Agreement

Selection Criteria For Journalists / Tv Crews For Fam Tours

Application For Filming In Wildlife Protected Areas

Journalist Declaration

Supporting Documents

When applying for visa at the Consulate General you are required to furnish the following documents:

Tourist Visa

  1. Duly filled Tourist Visa Application Form.
  2. Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of arrival).
  3. One recent passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photograph
  4. Confirmed Return Ticket.
  5. Self-addressed registered envelope, if the applicant wishes to have their visa stamped passport posted back to them (please do not tear off the slip on the envelope).

 

Business Visa

  1. Duly filled Business Visa Application Form.
  2. Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of arrival).
  3. One recent passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photograph
  4. Confirmed Return Ticket.
  5. International Vaccination Certificate
  6. Letter from Australian authority/business partner
  7. Letter from the Sri Lankan organisation recommending the issuance of Visa.
  8. Self-addressed registered envelope, if the applicant wishes to have their passport posted back to them (please do not tear off the slip on the envelope).

 

Journalist Visa

  1. Duly filled relevant Application
  2. Duly signed Journalist Declaration
  3. Current Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of arrival).
  4. One recent passport-sized (3.5cm x 4.5cm) photographs
  5. International Vaccination Certificate
  6. Confirmed travel itinerary
  7. Credentials
  8. List of equipment to be cleared by Sri Lanka Customs on arrival
  9. Letter of Invitation by the Sri Lankan authorities (if applicable)

Payment

Visa Category Designated Countries Period Visas Fee in Australian Dollars (AUD)
Tourist Purposes (Electronic Travel Authority – ETA) Any country other than SAARC countries (Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands etc) Up to thirty (30) days AUD 74.00
Any country other than SAARC countries (Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands etc) Up to Ninety (90) days (Single entry) AUD 221.00
Any country other than SAARC countries (Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands etc) Up to Ninety (90) days AUD 368.00
Business Purposes (Electronic Travel Authority – ETA) Any country other than SAARC countries (Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands etc) Up to thirty (30) days AUD 81.00
Any country other than SAARC countries (Passport holders of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands etc) Up to Ninety (90) days AUD 375.00

Notification & Collection of the visa endorsed Passport

For ETA applied on your own – notification will be sent to you directly by the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

For the applications submitted to the Consulate General -approval granted for the visa will be notified to you by email, by the Consulate General.

You do not need to obtain a prior appointment for collection of the passport endorsed with visa. You can collect your passport by visiting the Consulate General between 9:15 – 9:30am OR 1:30 – 1:45pm on any working day. Please check our website for any public holiday closures prior to visiting us.

For collection of your visa stamped passport, it is mandatory to bring the receipt issued by the Consulate General at the time of the submission of application.

For collection of your visa stamped passport by a third party, you are required to provide the third party with an authorization letter and the receipt issued by the Consulate General at the time of the submission of your application.

If you wish to receive your visa endorsed passport via registered post, please email to mail@slcgmel.org with your name, passport number, application reference number and the postal address. The tracking number will be emailed to you to follow-up, once your passport posted. 

office for overseas sri lankan affairs

SL Government web portal

Government information center

Dept. of Governemt Information

Sri Lankan
Airlines

Sri Lanka Tourism

Board of Invesment of sri lanka

Ministry of foreign affairs

Dept. of immigration and emigration

Lanka eVisa Website

Registrar generals department

high commission of the democratic socialist republic of sri lanka

department of
pensions

consulate general of the democratic socialist republic of sri lanka (with consular jurisdiction for victoria, south australia & tasmania)

Dr. Charitha Perera

honarary consul for sri lanka in adelaide, south australia

© 2016 - 2025 sri lanka consulate of the deomocratic socialist republic of sri lanka.

Designed and Developed by xyz.com

Tourist Visa

Tourist Visas are issued to bona-fide tourists who wish to visit Sri Lanka for sightseeing or holidaying, visiting friends & relatives, medical treatments including Ayurvedic, participate in sports events competitions and activities relating to cultural performance for a short period of time.


Conditions for Tourist visa holders:

  • Visitors cannot engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid, in any trade/business other than that specified in the visa during their stay.
  • The visa must be utilised before the specified date of expiry.
  • An extension of two (2) months beyond the original 30 days shall be granted at the Department of Immigration & Emigration, if required.
  • Further extensions will be considered only with valid reasons. This restriction will not apply to ex-Sri Lankans.

Business Visa

Business Visas are issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes (business meetings & negotiations, conferences, workshops, seminars, short-term training programmes, art/music/dance events, religious events or symposiums) for short periods of time. Visas may be issued for single, double, or multiple journeys.


Conditions for Business Visa holders:

  • Visa must be utilised before the specified date of expiry.
  • Application for the extension of visa should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration Head Office.

Transit Visa

Transit Visas are granted to foreign nationals for entry into Sri Lanka for a short period in the course of their journey to another destination.

As of now, Transit Visas are not issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka.

However, a maximum permitted transit time of 16 hours for passengers with an onward confirmed connection is allowed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo.

This direction will be applicable with effect from 0001hrs on 16th November 2021 onwards and until further notice.

Journalist Visa

Sri Lanka has longstanding democratic traditions, and respects the freedom of speech & expression. In keeping with this spirit, journalists & media personnel are welcome to visit Sri Lanka.

All journalists & media personnel travelling to Sri Lanka must obtain visa from the Consulate General prior to their travel to Sri Lanka.

Work Visa / Study Visa / Long Term Resident Visa

Visas under these categories are issued only by the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Colombo. For further details, please visit the website of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka

Visas for expatriates working and seeking to work in voluntary social service organizations/NGOs

Non-Sri Lankans who wish to enter in to Sri Lanka to work in social service organisations/NGOs need to apply for visa at the Consulate General.