Quick answer
Indians get a free tourist visa for Sri Lanka, but must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at eta.gov.lk before arriving. The free ETA allows 30 days with a double entry. At the airport, show a passport valid for 6 months, a confirmed return ticket and enough money for your stay.
Sri Lanka visa for Indians at a glance
| Visa needed for tourism? | Yes, an ETA, but it is free for Indians (from 25 May 2026)12 |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free12 |
| Stay | 30 days, double entry (second entry gets the balance of the 30 days)23 |
| Apply at | eta.gov.lk, before arrival23 |
| Passport | At least 6 months validity from the date of arrival4 |
| Must show at entry | Confirmed return ticket and sufficient funds4 |
Visa options for Indian passport holders
Free tourist ETA12345
- Who can use it
- Indian passport holders (ordinary, diplomatic, official or service)
- Stay
- 30 days from first arrival
- Validity
- Enter within 3 months from the date the ETA is issued
- Entries
- Double entry within the 30-day period
- Fee
- Free (ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refunded)
- Where to apply
- https://www.eta.gov.lk (also via a third party, Sri Lanka missions, the Immigration head office in Colombo, or on arrival at the port of entry)
- Good to know
- Covers sightseeing, holidays, visiting friends and relatives, medical or Ayurveda/yoga treatment and similar short visits.
Documents to prepare
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.4
- Confirmed return ticket.4
- Enough money to cover your stay.4
- A copy of the ETA approval to show at the port of entry.4
- You can get the ETA before booking a ticket.6
Before you fly and on arrival
- Show the ETA approval, passport, return ticket and proof of funds at the port of entry.4
- Air passengers can fill in the arrival card online up to 3 days before travel, on the Department of Immigration and Emigration website (eservices.immigration.gov.lk). This was introduced as an optional facility.7
Applying from Kerala
- Apply online at eta.gov.lk; no embassy visit is needed for a tourist ETA.24
- A travel agent, airline, friend or relative can also apply for you as a third party.4
Extending your stay
- To stay beyond 30 days, apply for a visa extension and pay the applicable visa fee.12
- A short visit visa can be extended up to 270 days from arrival in three steps (60 days, then 90, then 90). Apply at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office, through the online e-Visa extension portal (up to 6 months), or through an authorised agent.8
What changed recently
- 25 May 2026: Sri Lanka made the tourist ETA free of charge for nationals of 40 countries, including India, for 30 days with double entry.12
How Albah Holidays can help
- We apply for your Sri Lanka ETA online — send us a passport copy and photo, and we check everything before submitting.
- Our Sri Lanka tour package includes ETA (visa) assistance, hotels and sightseeing, with flights on request.
- Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
- Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
- Flights to Sri Lanka from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Sri Lanka?
Yes, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). For Indians the tourist ETA is free and allows 30 days with double entry.12
Is the Sri Lanka ETA free for Indians?
Yes. From 25 May 2026, India is one of 40 countries whose tourist ETA is issued free of charge.12
What do I need at Sri Lankan immigration?
A passport valid for at least 6 months, a confirmed return ticket, enough money for your stay and a copy of your ETA approval.4
Can I extend my stay in Sri Lanka?
Yes, by applying for an extension and paying the visa fee. A short visit visa can be extended in steps up to 270 days from arrival.18
How long is the ETA valid before I travel?
You must enter Sri Lanka within 3 months of the ETA being issued.4
Official sources
- Free visa (ETA) for 40 countries (page id 60) — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. Page updated 2026-09-21; checked 24 September 2026.
- ETA official website – home page and Alert 01 (effective 25.05.2026) — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
- ETA information centre — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
- How to submit an ETA application — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
- Short visit to Sri Lanka — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
- ETA FAQ — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
- Facility to complete Arrival and Departure Card online — High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom. Page updated 2023-01-26; checked 24 September 2026.
- How to extend short visit visa — Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka. checked 24 September 2026.
Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.