Sri Lanka now requires ETA from many (Jan 2012)
Dec 6, 2011, 8:18 pm
#1
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Sri Lanka now requires ETA from many (Jan 2012)
Sri Lanka now requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) in procured advance of arrival; the processing cost is (in USD, non-refundable and not required for Singapore or Malaysia residents):
a single entry ETA with maximum stay of two days is free, most others are $10 (7 days) - $20 (30 days). The initial ETA is generally granted for 30 days but may be extended up twice up to 90 days each time.
Use www.eta.gov.lk and click on "How to Submit an ETA".
Citizens of US, Canada and the UK and 76 other "Schedule A" countries will not need visas; others will need a visa.
All tourists / business travelers from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) are not required to obtain prior visas and may obtain visas for 30 days on arrival in Sri Lanka. See http://www.slembassyusa.org/consular...l-to-sri-lanka.
Those with ETAs will need to present their passports and ETA letter (plus visa where required). Limited possibilities at POE will be offered for securing an ETA on arrival, and the cost will be $25 when available.
a single entry ETA with maximum stay of two days is free, most others are $10 (7 days) - $20 (30 days). The initial ETA is generally granted for 30 days but may be extended up twice up to 90 days each time.
Use www.eta.gov.lk and click on "How to Submit an ETA".
Citizens of US, Canada and the UK and 76 other "Schedule A" countries will not need visas; others will need a visa.
All tourists / business travelers from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) are not required to obtain prior visas and may obtain visas for 30 days on arrival in Sri Lanka. See http://www.slembassyusa.org/consular...l-to-sri-lanka.
Those with ETAs will need to present their passports and ETA letter (plus visa where required). Limited possibilities at POE will be offered for securing an ETA on arrival, and the cost will be $25 when available.
Dec 6, 2011, 10:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Nth Coast NSW Aust
Programs: qantas airnz
Posts: 150
Sri Lanka now requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) in procured advance of arrival; the processing cost is (in USD, non-refundable and not required for Singapore or Malaysia residents):
a single entry ETA with maximum stay of two days is free, most others are $10 (7 days) - $20 (30 days). The initial ETA is generally granted for 30 days but may be extended up twice up to 90 days each time.
Use www.eta.gov.lk and click on "How to Submit an ETA".
Citizens of US, Canada and the UK and 76 other "Schedule A" countries will not need visas; others will need a visa.
All tourists / business travelers from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) are not required to obtain prior visas and may obtain visas for 30 days on arrival in Sri Lanka. See http://www.slembassyusa.org/consular...l-to-sri-lanka.
Those with ETAs will need to present their passports and ETA letter (plus visa where required). Limited possibilities at POE will be offered for securing an ETA on arrival, and the cost will be $25 when available.
a single entry ETA with maximum stay of two days is free, most others are $10 (7 days) - $20 (30 days). The initial ETA is generally granted for 30 days but may be extended up twice up to 90 days each time.
Use www.eta.gov.lk and click on "How to Submit an ETA".
Citizens of US, Canada and the UK and 76 other "Schedule A" countries will not need visas; others will need a visa.
All tourists / business travelers from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan) are not required to obtain prior visas and may obtain visas for 30 days on arrival in Sri Lanka. See http://www.slembassyusa.org/consular...l-to-sri-lanka.
Those with ETAs will need to present their passports and ETA letter (plus visa where required). Limited possibilities at POE will be offered for securing an ETA on arrival, and the cost will be $25 when available.
Jan 16, 2012, 3:17 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1
ETA Extension...UK/SLanka
Hi. In September I booked and paid for a return flight to Sri Lanka departing UK on 23rd Feb & arriving @ 0545 on 24 Feb.
My return flight home to the UK is on 26 March dep @ 0500.
At the time I was unaware of the new ETA requirements + I wasn't aware either of the 30 rule.This year is a Leap Year so Feb. has only 29 days which has also led to confusion for me.
So.....I'm in a muddle and would appreciate your help. as I've booked my stay for 31/32 days...just a couple of days over!
Immigration tell me I will have to apply for an extension once I'm there.
Can this be done immediately on arrival...before I leave the airport?
I'm staying right down South so it will be a real expedition to return to Colombo.
Do you know the cost of extensions?
If I change my flight it will cost me an enormous amount.
I look forward to some help.
Thankyou.
My return flight home to the UK is on 26 March dep @ 0500.
At the time I was unaware of the new ETA requirements + I wasn't aware either of the 30 rule.This year is a Leap Year so Feb. has only 29 days which has also led to confusion for me.
So.....I'm in a muddle and would appreciate your help. as I've booked my stay for 31/32 days...just a couple of days over!
Immigration tell me I will have to apply for an extension once I'm there.
Can this be done immediately on arrival...before I leave the airport?
I'm staying right down South so it will be a real expedition to return to Colombo.
Do you know the cost of extensions?
If I change my flight it will cost me an enormous amount.
I look forward to some help.
Thankyou.
Jan 17, 2012, 4:29 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Nth Coast NSW Aust
Programs: qantas airnz
Posts: 150
Hi. In September I booked and paid for a return flight to Sri Lanka departing UK on 23rd Feb & arriving @ 0545 on 24 Feb.
My return flight home to the UK is on 26 March dep @ 0500.
At the time I was unaware of the new ETA requirements + I wasn't aware either of the 30 rule.This year is a Leap Year so Feb. has only 29 days which has also led to confusion for me.
So.....I'm in a muddle and would appreciate your help. as I've booked my stay for 31/32 days...just a couple of days over!
Immigration tell me I will have to apply for an extension once I'm there.
Can this be done immediately on arrival...before I leave the airport?
I'm staying right down South so it will be a real expedition to return to Colombo.
Do you know the cost of extensions?
If I change my flight it will cost me an enormous amount.
I look forward to some help.
Thankyou.
My return flight home to the UK is on 26 March dep @ 0500.
At the time I was unaware of the new ETA requirements + I wasn't aware either of the 30 rule.This year is a Leap Year so Feb. has only 29 days which has also led to confusion for me.
So.....I'm in a muddle and would appreciate your help. as I've booked my stay for 31/32 days...just a couple of days over!
Immigration tell me I will have to apply for an extension once I'm there.
Can this be done immediately on arrival...before I leave the airport?
I'm staying right down South so it will be a real expedition to return to Colombo.
Do you know the cost of extensions?
If I change my flight it will cost me an enormous amount.
I look forward to some help.
Thankyou.
May 14, 2012, 3:43 pm
#6
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,742
I want to confirm that I have the proper understanding. I am a US citizen, traveling to Sri Lanka for tourism of less than 30 days. If I have read the Embassy information properly as well as that posted above, I need to do nothing in advance of arrival. Right?
May 14, 2012, 3:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
In my case I never have had to do anything prior to my trip, all was handled at CMB.
May 14, 2012, 3:59 pm
#8
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,742
Thanks, whimike, much appreciated. I continued to research while you were posting and found indeed that rules have changed.
The current rules for those of us traveling on US passports is as follows:
Please note that after 31st December 2011, all U.S. nationals expect to visit Sri Lanka have to apply visa online through ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system. A processing fee of $ 20 will be charged from the applicants.
<snip>
The 30-Day Free Visa on Arrival granted for the U.S. nationals as mentioned in the below sections will only be issued up 31st December 2011.
Please note that after 31st December 2011, all U.S. nationals expect to visit Sri Lanka have to apply visa online through ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system. A processing fee of $ 20 will be charged from the applicants.
<snip>
The 30-Day Free Visa on Arrival granted for the U.S. nationals as mentioned in the below sections will only be issued up 31st December 2011.
May 16, 2012, 8:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,198
It's quite a quick process. I filled out the form online & submitted the same and the visa was granted in about 10 mins or so.. worked pretty easy at the end of it all..
I believe one can buy the same on landing into CMB, but costs a little bit more.
I believe one can buy the same on landing into CMB, but costs a little bit more.
May 17, 2012, 7:36 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sonoma
Programs: Several here and there, but not as many during my road warrior days!
Posts: 715
It's not that efficient, and still has bugs. I applied for a group visa for the 4 of us traveling. 2 cleared with no issues, however, I along with a friend had to stand in 3 different lines while they manually cleared us. It was all very strange as we were on the same application. An interesting note is that they didn't charge the $20 fee to my credit card until we arrived Sri Lanka.
Dec 9, 2015, 9:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
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Posts: 6,016
Worked well for me. Is still $30 and got approval in less than 24 hours.
On arrival in Colombo do I now just go straight to the immigration officer with the evisa printout in hand?
On arrival in Colombo do I now just go straight to the immigration officer with the evisa printout in hand?
Dec 10, 2015, 5:01 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,799
No real need to get the ETA approval in print but it may be handy. What the immigration agent does is scan your passport and it would appear there is a short beep if everything's o.k. and you're stickered and stamped in. All takes less than a minute per person.
Aug 15, 2016, 6:07 am
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
When I arrived at CMB without a printed ETA I gave my number to the immigration officer and was admitted without difficulty. (I'd still recommend a printed copy.)
Still USD $30.00, comes with two entries in a thirty day period. (Tourist type ETA.) Approval online was within minutes.
As a side note, Dengue fever is quite common: to date, nearly 35,000 recorded patients this year, over 11,000 in the Colombo district. Authorities recommend treating fever with only paracetamol / acetaminophen, as other medications could lead to complications (such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is quite serious and can result in death)
Still USD $30.00, comes with two entries in a thirty day period. (Tourist type ETA.) Approval online was within minutes.
As a side note, Dengue fever is quite common: to date, nearly 35,000 recorded patients this year, over 11,000 in the Colombo district. Authorities recommend treating fever with only paracetamol / acetaminophen, as other medications could lead to complications (such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is quite serious and can result in death)
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 15, 2016 at 5:50 pm Reason: Add approval time