Every way into Sri Lanka.

The Tourist ETA is the standard short-stay authorization for sightseeing/holidays, visiting friends and relatives, and certain medical treatments. It is valid for 30 days from first arrival with double entry permitted, and is applied for online at the official portal eta.gov.lk before travel (or obtained on arrival at a higher fee). The fee is USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 20 for SAARC nationals (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan); on-arrival issuance costs USD 60. Children under 12 are exempt from the fee. With effect from 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 designated countries (including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, China and most of the EU) obtain the 30-day tourist ETA free of charge; reciprocal arrangements also waive the fee for Singapore, Seychelles and the Maldives. The ETA can be extended through the Department of Immigration & Emigration up to a longer total stay (commonly to 90 and ultimately up to 180 days) on payment of extension fees that vary by nationality and duration. The Tourist ETA confers no work or study rights and does not convert into a residence permit; longer-term stays require a Residence Visa.

Government fee

$50

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

30 days

Validity

30 days

The Transit Visa is a free entry permit granted to foreign nationals passing through Sri Lanka in the course of a journey to another destination. It is issued at no charge and is valid for a short period — the official guidance states it is valid for 48 hours (single entry). Travellers transiting for under 24 hours within the airport generally do not need it; those whose stopover exceeds 24 hours, or who need to leave the airport, should obtain a transit visa via the ETA portal or at a Sri Lankan mission. It confers no work or study rights, cannot be extended into a tourist stay without a separate ETA, and does not lead to residence.

Government fee

$0

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

2 days

Validity

2 days

The Business Purpose ETA is for foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for short-term business activities such as meetings, conferences, negotiations and exploratory trips. It may be issued for single, double or multiple journeys and is applied for online at eta.gov.lk before travel. The fee is USD 55 for most nationalities and USD 30 for SAARC nationals (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan). The standard stay is 30 days, extendable through the Department of Immigration & Emigration; business-visa extensions are handled in person rather than online. The Business ETA permits business engagement but not local paid employment — taking up a job in Sri Lanka requires converting to an Employment-category Residence Visa. It does not by itself lead to permanent residence.

Government fee

$55

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

30 days

Validity

30 days

The Medical Category Residence Visa is for foreign nationals undergoing medical treatment in Sri Lanka, together with an accompanying medical assistant/attendant where needed. (Short courses of treatment may also be undertaken on a tourist visa; the Residence Visa applies where the treatment requires a longer, supervised stay.) Issuance is based on documentation from the treating hospital or medical institution confirming the treatment plan and expected duration. The visa is granted for the period recommended (up to one year) and is renewable; the fee is USD 200 per year (or part thereof) under the residence-visa schedule. Holders must confine their activity to the visa condition (medical treatment), with no work authorization. The official pages do not publish a fixed processing time or a permanent-residence pathway for this category.

Government fee

$200

Validity

365 days

The Educational Category Residence Visa covers students at universities and government-approved educational institutions, as well as volunteers and internship holders. It is issued for one year, or for a period recommended by the institution/line ministry, and is renewable annually on submission of a performance report. Financial self-sufficiency is enforced: applicants must provide bank encashment receipts to the value of USD 1,500 per year per person. A Health Protection Plan has been mandatory since 3 June 2019 and forms part of the document set. The fee is USD 200 per year (or part thereof). Guardians of students under 16 are accommodated under the same category. Residence-visa holders must not engage in any activity other than the condition of their visa, so a student visa confers study rights only with no separate work authorization. The official pages do not publish a fixed processing time or a permanent-residence pathway.

• Study: Study at the sponsoring university/approved institution.

Government fee

$200

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

$1,500

The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is an officially published Residence Visa sub-category for foreign professionals aged 18+ who live in Sri Lanka while working remotely for clients or companies based outside the country. The core test: the main applicant must be in remote employment, freelancing, or own a business that is NOT registered in Sri Lanka and serves clients outside Sri Lanka, and must remit a minimum of USD 2,000 per month; where dependents exceed two, an additional USD 500 per month is required for each extra dependent. The visa is issued for 1 year and is renewable annually — at extension the holder must also submit proof of tax registration with the Inland Revenue Department. The fee is USD 500 per year each for the main applicant, spouse and every dependant. The visa is strictly for foreign-sourced income: local employment in Sri Lanka is prohibited, and any change in employment, income or dependents must be reported within 30 days. Stated benefits include opening Sri Lankan bank accounts, property rental/lease agreements, enrolling children in private/international schools, and access to telecom/utilities and co-working spaces. Applications are made in person to the Residence Visa Division, Battaramulla. No permanent-residence pathway is described in the official DNV document.

• Work: Foreign-sourced remote work/freelancing/non-Sri-Lanka-registered business only; local employment in Sri Lanka is prohibited.
• Study: Dependent children may enrol in international or private schools.
• Family: Spouse and dependants eligible (USD 500/year each); income requirement rises USD 500/month per dependent beyond two.

Government fee

$500

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

$2,000

The Employment Category is one of the sub-categories of Sri Lanka's Residence Visa — a permit for a non-Sri Lankan whose stay and vocation are deemed not prejudicial to local interests. Four eligible groups are named: professionals on government-approved projects; expatriates employed in Board of Investment (BOI) projects; banking-sector staff at banks recommended by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; and personnel of a private company carrying a line-ministry recommendation — in each case with their dependents. The visa is granted on institutional sponsorship (BOI, the relevant ministry, or the Central Bank) rather than to the individual directly. It is typically valid for one year (or the recommended period) and is renewable annually. The standard route is to enter Sri Lanka on an entry visa for employment and then obtain/convert the Residence Visa at the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Battaramulla. The fee is USD 200 per year (per applicant, spouse and each dependant). Work rights are tied to the sponsoring employer/project; the official pages do not publish a fixed processing time or a formal permanent-residence timeline.

• Work: Employment is the visa purpose, but tied to the sponsoring employer/project (BOI, government project, recommended bank, or sponsoring private company).
• Family: Dependents are explicitly eligible under all four employment sub-categories (USD 200/year each).

Government fee

$200

Validity

365 days

The Golden Paradise Visa is a special long-term Residence Visa launched by the Department of Immigration & Emigration in 2025 for foreigners who make a qualifying deposit/investment through a government-approved bank. The main applicant, spouse and dependants are eligible. The requirement is to open a Golden Paradise Foreign Currency Account (GPFCA) at a Central-Bank-recognised commercial bank and deposit a minimum of USD 200,000. After completing the first year from the date of issuance, the investor may withdraw up to 50% of the minimum investment. Holders may invest, live and study in Sri Lanka, purchase Sri Lanka Development Bonds, buy a condominium, lease land and buildings (subject to Sri Lankan law) and engage in other government-approved investments. The visa is valid for 10 years; the fee is USD 200 per year, with the total 10-year fee payable. The Department first issues a letter to open the GPFCA; once the bank/Central Bank confirms the remittance and the visa fee is paid, the Golden Paradise visa is issued. The deposited sum can only be withdrawn after cancellation of the visa. No statutory permanent-residence or citizenship timeline is published for this route.

• Work: May invest and manage approved investments/business; live and study in Sri Lanka.
• Study: Applicant and dependents may study in Sri Lanka.
• Family: Spouse and dependants may apply for the same visa.

Government fee

$200

Validity

3,650 days

Min. investment

$200,000,000

The Investor Category Residence Visa lets foreign nationals enter and reside in Sri Lanka while managing qualifying investments, aimed at promoting foreign investment in sectors such as IT and tourism. Eligible persons are the main applicant plus spouse and dependants. The minimum investment is USD 100,000 for a 5-year visa or USD 200,000 for a 10-year visa. Funds must be routed through an Inward Investment Account (IIA) and a Visa Programme Foreign Currency Account (VPFCA) at a licensed commercial bank; permitted investments include at least 10% of the voting shares of a Sri Lankan company (subject to exclusions/limitations under Foreign Exchange Act regulations), opening/operating a registered place of business, government/Central Bank debt securities with a minimum 5-year maturity, term deposits, or acquisition of immovable property. The visa is initially granted for 5 years; applicants who invest USD 200,000 receive an official letter extending it for a further 5 years (10 years total). The fee is USD 200 per year for the applicant, spouse and each dependant. Holders must notify the Department of material changes within 2 months, and the project is reviewed every 2 years by the Department's Investigation Division. No formal permanent-residence timeline is published; the visa is a long-term renewable investor residence.

• Work: May manage and operate the qualifying investment/business; political or disruptive activity is prohibited.
• Study: Holders and dependents may reside and study; dependents covered under the same visa.
• Family: Spouse and dependants eligible under the same visa (USD 200/year each).

Government fee

$200

Validity

1,825 days

Min. investment

$100,000,000

This category covers foreign spouses and dependants of Sri Lankan citizens, plus foreign-national children. The principal sub-type — a non-Sri Lankan spouse in a subsisting marriage of six or more months to a Sri Lankan citizen — receives the visa free of charge, valid one year on first issuance, then renewable in two-year increments up to five years and in five-year terms thereafter. Dependent children are included; a visa fee (USD 150/year) becomes payable only for a child aged 16 to 22. Three further spouse sub-types each carry a USD 100/year fee and one-year validity, each requiring prior employment approval: spouses of deceased Sri Lankans (not remarried), spouses resident in Sri Lanka 10+ years, and spouses with children under 18 living separately. Core documents are the attested marriage certificate, the Sri Lankan spouse's birth certificate and NIC/passport, a consent letter from the Sri Lankan spouse, and (for children) English-translated, attested birth certificates. The graduated 1→2→5-year residence ladder is the only progression published; naturalization is administered separately and no citizenship timeline is stated on these immigration pages.

• Study: Not restricted; family members may reside and study.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Spouse and dependent children of a Sri Lankan citizen; child fee (USD 150/yr) only ages 16-22.

Government fee

$0

Validity

365 days

This category is for former Sri Lankan nationals who now hold foreign passports, together with their dependants (spouse and dependent children fall under the same USD 100/year fee band). Applicants establish their former-citizen status with original birth certificates — or birth registration under section 5(2) of the Citizenship Act — and, where they were registered citizens, citizenship certificates. A marriage certificate and dependants' birth certificates are required where a spouse or children are included. The visa is issued for one year and is renewable annually, with renewals handled at the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Battaramulla; the fee is USD 100 per year (or part thereof). As with all residence-visa holders, activity is restricted to the visa's stated conditions. This category is distinct from 'children of Sri Lankan parents holding foreign passports' (USD 150/year). Dual citizenship is administered under a separate process and is not described on these pages; no processing-time or formal permanent-residence timeline is published.

• Study: May reside and study subject to visa conditions.
• Family: Spouse and dependent children fall under the same USD 100/year fee band.

Government fee

$100

Validity

365 days

The Religious Category covers members of the clergy and persons engaged in religious activities. The defining requirements are institutional sponsorship and government endorsement: a request letter from the religious organization plus a recommendation from the relevant line ministry (the ministry responsible for religious affairs). A Health Protection Plan is required, though religious dignitaries may obtain it free of charge where the line ministry's endorsement confirms free services are provided. The visa runs for one year, or for the period recommended by the line ministry, and is renewable. The fee is USD 200 per year (or part thereof) under the clergy band. Per the general-information page, residence-visa holders must not engage in activity outside their visa conditions, so the permitted activity is the religious work for which the visa is granted; no separate general work right is conferred. The official pages do not publish a fixed processing time or a permanent-residence pathway.

• Work: Limited to the religious activity for which the visa is granted; no separate general work right.

Government fee

$200

Validity

365 days

The Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), established under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021 and governed by the CPCEC, offers a preferential 'green channel' residence-visa pathway for foreign nationals connected to the zone. Categories include Investor, Business, Employee, and Residential Property Lessee (foreign nationals only), plus a residence-visa category for CPCEC expatriate staff and their spouses and dependent children. Applicants first request a Landing Endorsement (documents submitted to the CPCEC), enter Sri Lanka on that endorsement, and must obtain the resident visa within 30 days of arrival. The zone has offered preferential five- to ten-year residence visas for qualifying foreign professionals, investors and their dependents. Specific fees and processing times are administered by the CPCEC and the Department of Immigration & Emigration and are not published as a single fixed schedule; applicants should confirm current requirements with the Commission.

• Work: Work/business permitted within the Port City SEZ framework for the relevant category (investor/employee/business).
• Study: Dependents may reside and study.
• Residency: Preferential 5-10 year residence; longer-term residence administered by the CPCEC.
• Family: Spouse and dependent children of qualifying applicants and CPCEC expatriate staff.

Validity

1,825 days