Sri Lanka requires an approved online ETA before travel from 15 Oct 2025. Learn fee, application steps, waiver status and operational actions for travel agents, consolidators and corporate travel teams. (Keywords: Sri Lanka ETA 2025, online ETA, Sri Lanka visa)

Quick summary for suppliers & agents

From 15 October 2025 Sri Lanka will no longer offer visas on arrival — every tourist must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before boarding.
Apply only via the official portal: eta.gov.lk — fees, processing rules and official forms are listed there.
A government plan to expand a fee-waiver to many countries was announced in July, but implementation remains pending — do not assume fee-free ETAs until the immigration portal is updated.
Seven nationalities still qualify for free short ETAs under current policy (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand) — confirm nationality-specific entitlements when booking.
Sri Lanka’s inbound traffic is booming — arrivals passed ~1.7 million in 2025 to date, so expect continued high demand and busy airport processing.

Why this matters to B2B travel professionals

Practical checklist — immediate actions for your agency / team

How to apply — step-by-step for your clients

Messaging templates you can paste into client emails (short)

Operational tips for airlines, consolidators & corporate travel managers

FAQs

Q: Can travellers still obtain an ETA on arrival?

A: No — visas/ETAs on arrival are being discontinued from 15 Oct 2025; pre-travel online approval is required.

Q: Where is the official source?

A: The official ETA portal and the Department of Immigration hold the authoritative guidance — always rely on eta.gov.lk and immigration notices for changes.

Q: Is the July fee-waiver already active for the new 33/40 countries?

A: No — announcements were made but implementation is pending. Continue collecting ETA fees until the government publishes formal order and updates the portal.

Takeaway — what to do this week

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