Visa / VOA Info for Sri Lanka

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Nov 7, 2009, 1:12 am

fanofflying

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Visa / VOA Info for Sri Lanka

Does anyone know whether one needs a transit visa to stop over in Colombo for a couple of hours on my way to Bangkok? I have an Indian passport.

Thanks

Nov 7, 2009, 5:22 am

JOUY31

Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fanofflying

Does anyone know whether one needs a transit visa to stop over in Colombo for a couple of hours on my way to Bangkok? I have an Indian passport.

Thanks

Welcome to FlyerTalk fanofflying

,

I am going to move this thread to the Asia forum, where you will find posters who can address the issue you have raised. Thanks for your understanding.

With best regards,

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

Nov 10, 2012, 12:45 pm

dand99

Join Date: Oct 2010

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Colombo Visa on Arrival

Following the new electronic visa for Sri Lanka, requiring "two working days" to process. I noticed the visa website has a section that says it is still possible to obtain a visa on arrival "for an extra fee"

Would be glad to know if anyone has done this and just how much the fee is....

Thanks

D.

Nov 14, 2012, 3:24 am

Kris Rao

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: LON, SFO, SYD

Posts: 409

I think it is $25 for a single entry visa at Colombo airport

http://www.eta.gov.lk

Mar 18, 2014, 2:56 pm

blue9997

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: london

Programs: BA Executive Gold, Delta million miler

Posts: 28

Visa to Sri Lanka

Hi, buddy!!!

I need your advice.

I applied my Visa to Sri-Lanka through Online ETA Application 5 days ago.
But, I Have not received any response from Sri-Lanka.

How should I do for my Visa?

Mar 20, 2014, 6:34 am

wandering_fred

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You should have received an email indicating that the process has started.
If successful, you will get an email with the ETA codes.

If no first email, something failed and I would try again.

Happy wandering

Fred

Jun 1, 2014, 12:48 pm

ashwinsid

Join Date: Aug 2009

Programs: Skywards

Posts: 20

Transit Visa On Arrival at Colombo, SriLanka

Hi.

I will be travelling from Rome to Bangalore with a 20 hour layover at Colombo on SriLankan Airlines.

Should I get a tourist visa in advance or will I be eligible for a free TRANSIT VISA ON ARRIVAL at Colombo Airport? If yes, then will this transit visa allow me to exit the airport, explore the country/city and return to the airport for the connecting flight?

My emails to SriLankan regarding this were redirected to ETA and the ETA office has not responded to my queries.

Thanks!

Jun 1, 2014, 6:46 pm

kkjay77

Join Date: Oct 2004

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You can apply for 48 hour transit visa online free.
http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainf...p?locale=en_US

Jun 2, 2014, 8:42 am

Forrest Bump

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: NAP

Programs: LH, BA, TK

Posts: 2,409

Yes, you will get a free transit visa. Just show the outbound flight at the immigration Officer.

Jun 5, 2014, 6:57 am

#10

samosa

Join Date: Mar 2013

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Posts: 766

I did this, they will give you a free transit visa as well as a hotel at or near the airport. The airport is far from the city and on a weekday there is a lot of traffic so it might not be worthwhile to go downtown. However, the airport is near the beach so I am sure you can find somewhere to go.

Jun 5, 2014, 3:53 pm

#11

Ocn Vw 1K

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For more discussion, please follow the thread as it moves to the Asia forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Jun 5, 2014, 10:54 pm

#12

relangford

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To be on the safe side, my wife and I have applied for a tourist visa to Sri Lanka. We have never been there before, so are looking forward to the visit.

Jun 8, 2014, 11:09 am

#13

quarryking

Join Date: Oct 2009

Programs: IHG Platinum

Posts: 1,198

Do airlines still give you a room if the connections time exceeds 8 hours…?? Thought most of them did away with this over the years….??

Jul 1, 2014, 7:02 pm

#14

relangford

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Update: just returned from Sri Lanka. Visa didn't go through in advance, so my wife and I used VOA. Very quick and painless; just presented passport and completed application. Visa attached to passport within seconds (and free SIM card) was handled over - no words spoken. Visit was enjoyable. Since a relative is a VIP, I got to meet and shake hands with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat!

Sep 7, 2014, 6:07 am

#15

ashwinsid

Join Date: Aug 2009

Programs: Skywards

Posts: 20

So the Transit visa for Colombo does NOT permit one to enter Sri Lanka. They have to stay in the airport. This is an excerpt from the email I received along with the Transit Visa:

Quote:

"Validity of ETA (DD/MM/YYYY): Valid 2 days ONLY. (Use before 05/03/2015)

Purpose of Travel: Transit - Transiting through Sri Lanka
(You are NOT permitted to use this ETA for any other purpose. )
This ETA allows ONLY you to transiting through Sri Lanka and you will not be permitted to enter Sri Lanka."

I have a 20 hour layover at Colombo. Srilankan airlines say they cannot arrange a hotel for the following reason:

Quote:

3. The connecting flight must be on the first available connection.

There is an earlier connecting flight in the same route, so they say I am not eligible for hotel and now ETA says Transit visa, though valid for two days, does not permit me to enter Sri Lanka.

Guess I have to get a tourist visa then.

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