Sri Lanka Visa for British Travellers: Your Guide to the Free ETA

Welcome to Sri Lanka, Visa-Free!

British citizens still need permission to enter Sri Lanka, but since 25 May 2026 the tourist Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been free for UK passport holders. It allows a 30-day stay with double entry, and you apply online at eta.gov.lk before you travel. This guide explains the Sri Lanka visa for British travellers step by step: who qualifies, how to apply, what to carry and how to stay longer.

For UK travellers, a Sri Lanka holiday has just become simpler. Following Cabinet approval in March 2026, Sri Lanka removed the fee for its tourist ETA for citizens of 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, from 25 May 2026. That’s why you’ll often see the island described as “visa-free” for British visitors.

“Visa-free” here means free of charge, not free of paperwork. You still need an approved ETA before you fly. The good news is that it costs nothing and takes only a few minutes to complete. Here’s everything you need to know.

Do You Need a Visa for Sri Lanka From the UK?

Yes, but it’s now free. British passport holders visiting for tourism must apply for an ETA, which works as an online visa approved before travel. Under the scheme that started on 25 May 2026, the tourist ETA is issued free of charge to UK citizens. If you’ve been asking “do you need a visa for Sri Lanka?”, the short answer is that you need the ETA, but there’s no fee for a standard 30-day tourist stay.

One point to note: ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 are not refunded.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa for UK Citizens at a Glance

This Sri Lanka tourist visa covers holidays, sightseeing and visiting friends. Business or work trips need a different type of visa.

How to Apply: Sri Lanka ETA Application Step by Step

The visa application for Sri Lanka is completed entirely online. It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes per person:

• Step 1: Go to the official Sri Lanka ETA website and choose the tourist ETA application.
• Step 2: Enter your passport details exactly as they appear on your passport, plus your travel dates and arrival flight if you have it.
• Step 3: Give the address of your first night’s accommodation. If you’re travelling with us, we’ll send you this.
• Step 4: Check every detail carefully, then submit. Under the free scheme, eligible UK applicants shouldn’t be asked for an ETA fee.
• Step 5: Save or print the approval email and keep it with your passport.

Watch out for look-alike websites. Some unofficial sites charge “service fees” for an application that is now free. Always apply through the official government website.

What to Have Ready Before You Fly

• Passport: It should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have a blank page for the entry stamp.
• ETA approval: A printed or digital copy of your approval.
• Onward or return ticket: Immigration may ask to see proof that you’re leaving within your permitted stay.
• Accommodation details: The address of your first hotel or villa.

Entry rules can change, so check the FCDO entry requirements for Sri Lanka before you book and again before you travel. Our page on Sri Lanka travel advice for UK visitors covers health, money and safety.

Common ETA Mistakes to Avoid

Most problems at immigration come from small errors made when applying. Watch out for these:

• Name or number mismatches: Your name, passport number and date of birth must match your passport exactly. One wrong digit can mean a new application.
• Dual nationality: Apply using the passport you’ll actually travel on. The free scheme applies to that passport’s nationality.
• A new passport: An ETA is linked to a specific passport. If you renew yours after applying, you’ll need a new ETA.
• Leaving it late: Apply well before your flight, not at the airport, so there’s time to fix any problems.
• Using an old approval: An ETA from a previous trip won’t cover a new visit. Apply again for each trip.

Staying Longer, or Leaving and Coming Back

The free ETA gives you 30 days from your first arrival, which is plenty for most itineraries. If you’d like to stay longer, you can apply for a visa extension through the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka. Extensions are not covered by the free scheme, so the usual fees apply.

The double-entry rule is especially useful for luxury travellers. You can tour Sri Lanka, spend a few nights in an overwater villa in the Maldives, and then fly back to Colombo to finish on Sri Lanka’s south coast, all on the same ETA, as long as you’re back within the 30 days. Our guide to Sri Lanka luxury holidays has more ideas for combining the two.

What Happens When You Arrive in Sri Lanka?

International flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo. At immigration, show your passport and ETA approval. The officer will stamp your passport with your permitted stay, so check the date before you leave the desk. After collecting your bags, you’ll find ATMs and currency exchange counters in the arrivals hall for Sri Lankan rupees, as well as mobile phone shops selling local SIM cards. If you’re travelling with us, your chauffeur-guide will be waiting outside arrivals with a name board. The airport is about 20 minutes from Negombo and roughly an hour from central Colombo, so you can be relaxing by a pool soon after landing.

Which Countries Get the Free Sri Lanka ETA?

The free tourist ETA covers citizens of these 40 countries:

Travelling with friends or family who hold a different passport? Check that their nationality is on the list, as other nationalities may still pay an ETA fee.

Planning Your Sri Lanka Holiday From the UK

With the entry process simpler than ever, the fun part is choosing your route. Direct flights from London Heathrow to Colombo take about 11 hours, with one-stop options from other UK airports. December to April suits the south and west coasts and the hill country, and May to September the east coast; see our guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka. Two weeks is the ideal length for a first visit, and our 2 week Sri Lanka itinerary shows how to fit in the highlights.

For a smoother arrival, we can arrange a private meet-and-greet at the airport and a chauffeur-guide waiting to take you straight to your first hotel.

Plan Your Visa-Free Sri Lanka Holiday

Free entry is one more reason to make this the year you visit Sri Lanka. As an SLTDA-licensed specialist based in Colombo, Silk Way Ceylon Tours provides the accommodation details you need for your ETA, meets you at the airport and designs a private, tailor-made itinerary around your interests. Contact us today to start planning your Sri Lanka holiday.

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