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Overview — Passport & entry basics
You must carry your passport with you at all times in Sri Lanka, and your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive. Immigration may also ask to see a return/onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds on arrival.
Most short-stay visitors must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel. The ETA application is completed online at the official portal (eta.gov.lk): choose the visitor/ tourist category, complete the form, pay the processing fee by card, and print or save the ETA approval notice to show on arrival. If your ETA is approved you will receive an approval notice; keep a copy to present at immigration. The ETA is normally issued for up to 30 days on arrival and can be extended (see below). For on-arrival processing there is a counter at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), but arriving without an ETA usually means longer queues and, in many cases, a different (often higher) on-arrival fee — always check the ETA portal for the exact fee that applies to your nationality.
Short transit visas (for passengers passing through Sri Lanka) are available and are free for stays up to 48 hours in many cases; if your transit exceeds 48 hours you will usually need to apply for a short-stay ETA and pay the relevant fee. Citizens of some countries may be visa-exempt or benefit from temporary fee waivers or pilot visa-free programs — these policies change, so check the official ETA site before booking.
A standard tourist ETA is initially valid for 30 days. You can apply for extensions through the Department of Immigration and Emigration; depending on the category, extensions can be granted in stages (for example: additional 30, 60, 90-day increments) and there are limits on the total permitted stay — so plan ahead if you intend to stay longer. If you handle the extension in person, arrive early (tokens are issued in the morning) and allow several hours for processing.
Sri Lanka has standard prohibitions (drugs, weapons, certain fresh produce and obscene material). For tourist arrivals the typical duty-free allowances include small quantities of perfume and alcohol (for example, toilet water/perfume not exceeding 0.25 L and up to 1.5 L of spirits or two regular bottles of wine for tourists — check Sri Lanka Customs for precise quantities and any recent changes). Duty-free shops operate in the arrivals area at BIA. For full and current baggage allowances and restricted items consult Sri Lanka Customs.
