Sri Lanka ETA 2025: Online Application Now Mandatory

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

• Ticketing risk: Airlines may refuse boarding to passengers without an approved ETA — confirmed authorisation must be checked before issuing/e-ticketing.

• Group & FIT logistics: Group itineraries and transfers must include ETA confirmations for every passenger to avoid denied boarding or last-minute rerouting.

• Corporate travelers: Business travellers with multi-city or multi-entry itineraries must verify ETA type (single/double entry) and validity against corporate travel policies.

• Customer experience: Agents who pre-check and attach ETA confirmations reduce day-of-travel stress and reputational risk.
  
  

Practical checklist — immediate actions for your agency / team

• Update SOPs & booking systems to require ETA confirmation before issuing tickets.

• Add an ETA verification step in your PNR workflow: request ETA reference or screenshot; store it with the booking.

• Train sales & ops teams: explain where to apply (eta.gov.lk), fee amounts and which nationalities may be exempt today.

• Communicate with corporate clients: distribute a pre-departure checklist (passport match, ETA print/email) and remind travellers 72–48 hours before travel.

• Flag group departures: for group manifests, collect passports early and confirm ETAs at least 72 hours prior to departure.

• Monitor the fee-waiver rollout: marketing/ops should watch eta.gov.lk and official ministry channels for formal implementation updates before advising fee-free status. 

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

• Direct travellers to eta.gov.lk (official portal). Fill in passport details, travel dates and contact info.

• Select ETA type (single/double-entry) and pay the required fee if applicable. Double-entry ETAs and fee amounts are shown on the official fees page.

• Processing is typically fast (minutes to a few hours) but advise clients to apply well before travel — allow room for corrections, payment issues or rare rejections.

• Save the ETA approval email/PDF to the traveller’s file and attach to the booking record. Airlines may request proof at check-in.

• If a traveller expects a fee waiver (based on July announcements), do not assume it’s active until eta.gov.lk is updated — still pay/complete the ETA now to avoid travel disruption.
  
  

Messaging templates you can paste into client emails (short)

• Pre-ticketing: “Before we issue tickets, please upload your ETA approval or confirm you have applied at eta.gov.lk. Boarding may be denied without a validated ETA.”

• Pre-departure: “Confirm your approved ETA is in your email and that name/passport data match your ticket. Contact us if you need help re-applying.”
  
  

Operational tips for airlines, consolidators & corporate travel managers

• Airlines should lock check-in workflows to block passengers lacking ETA confirmation.

• Consolidators: include ETA advisory text on supplier confirmations and mark which markets may expect a surge in processing queries.

• Corporate travel managers: update traveller policy docs to mandate ETA checks for international trips to Sri Lanka and allocate time for visa support where needed.
  
  

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

• Embed an ETA check step in every Sri Lanka booking workflow.

• Alert sales & corporate teams and push a short client-facing email reminding travellers to apply at eta.gov.lk.

• Monitor immigration channels daily for fee-waiver implementation or additional operational guidance.
  
  

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