# 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka — visa routes

> Verified visa and immigration data for Sri Lanka from VisaPassage.
> Canonical page: https://visapassage.com/destinations/sri-lanka

17 routes with deep coverage. Every entry below is checked against official sources and carries its own verification date. Statuses describe typical eligibility — they are never a promise of approval; individual applications require review.

## Short visits by passport

- **United States**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **United Kingdom**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **Germany**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **India**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **Canada**: eTA required · apply before travel
- **Australia**: eTA required · apply before travel

Other passports: check https://visapassage.com/visa-checker for your specific passports.

## Visit

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Tourist Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) | Travel authorisation · typically eligible | 30 days | $50 | — | 3 days |
| Sri Lanka Transit Visa | Travel authorisation · typically eligible | 2 days | $0 | — | 3 days |
| Sri Lanka Business Purpose Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) | Travel authorisation · typically eligible | 30 days | $55 | — | 3 days |
| Sri Lanka Medical Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Tourist Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)** — Key documents: Passport, Online ETA application, Return/onward ticket · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: eta.gov.lk
- **Sri Lanka Transit Visa** — Key documents: Passport, Onward ticket, Transit ETA application · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Sri Lanka Business Purpose Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)** — Key documents: Passport, Online ETA application, Invitation letter, Return/onward ticket · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: eta.gov.lk
- **Sri Lanka Medical Residence Visa** — Key documents: Hospital/treatment letter, Immigration application form, Passport, Proof of funds · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Study & Training

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Student (Educational Category) Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Student (Educational Category) Residence Visa** — Key documents: Institution request letter, Immigration application form, Embassy/High Commission recommendation, Bank encashment receipts, Passport bio-data copy and passport, Health protection plan · Rights: Study: Study at the sponsoring university/approved institution. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Work & Self-Employment

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $500 | — | — |
| Investor Visa | Available | — | — | — | — |
| Sri Lanka Employment Category Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa** — Key documents: Visa application form, Request letter, Passport copy and photographs, Proof of monthly remittance, Recommendation from Ministry of Digital Economy, Police clearance certificate, Medical clearance and security clearance, International health insurance · Rights: 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. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Investor Visa** — No dedicated startup visa; under the revised investor category (first visas issued 2025) foreigners investing at least USD 100,000 get a 5-year residence visa (USD 200,000 for 10 years), covering founders investing in their own Sri Lankan company. · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: kpmg.com
- **Sri Lanka Employment Category Residence Visa** — Key documents: Company request letter, Sponsoring authority recommendation, Company registration certificate, Passport bio-data copy, Health protection plan, Passports · Rights: 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). · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Invest & Capital

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Golden Paradise Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |
| Golden Paradise Residence Visa Programme | Available | — | — | — | — |
| Resident Guest Scheme (RGS) | Available | — | — | — | — |
| Sri Lanka Investor Category Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Golden Paradise Residence Visa** — Key documents: Residence visa application, Police clearance report, Medical report, Passport bio-data copy, GPFCA deposit confirmation, Personal particulars form · Rights: 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. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Golden Paradise Residence Visa Programme** — A 10-year residence visa for foreigners who deposit at least US$200,000 in a Golden Paradise Foreign Currency Account, investable in residential condominiums, approved projects, leased land/buildings or development bonds (up to 50% withdrawable after year one). · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: eservices.immigration.gov.lk
- **Resident Guest Scheme (RGS)** — Renewable residence visa for self-funded foreigners: investors remit US$250,000 (plus US$35,000 per dependent) into an approved investment, while the professional category requires remitting US$2,000/month living expenses (US$1,000 per dependent) into a special account; US$200/year visa fee. · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Sri Lanka Investor Category Residence Visa** — Key documents: Visa application form, Request letter, Passport copy, Investment proposal, Bank confirmation letter (VPFCA), Security clearance form, Medical clearance report, Police clearance certificate · Rights: 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). · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Retire & Lifestyle

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| My Dream Home Visa Programme | Not available | — | — | — | — |

- **My Dream Home Visa Programme** — Two-year renewable retiree visa for foreigners 55+ (US$15,000 fixed deposit plus US$1,500/month remittance); the Department of Immigration & Emigration now processes extensions only for existing visa holders, so it is closed to new applicants. · Last verified 10 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Family & Origin

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Family Members Residence Visa (Spouse & Dependants of Citizens) | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $0 | — | — |
| Sri Lanka Ex-Sri Lankans Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $100 | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Family Members Residence Visa (Spouse & Dependants of Citizens)** — Key documents: Marriage certificate, Sri Lankan spouse's birth certificate, Sri Lankan spouse's NIC or passport, Consent letter from Sri Lankan spouse, Passport · Rights: 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. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Sri Lanka Ex-Sri Lankans Residence Visa** — Key documents: Original birth certificate, Passport · Rights: Study: May reside and study subject to visa conditions. · Family: Spouse and dependent children fall under the same USD 100/year fee band. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk

## Special Categories

| Route | Status | Max stay | Gov fee | Service fee | Processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sri Lanka Religious Category Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | $200 | — | — |
| Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone Residence Visa | Consular visa · typically eligible | — | — | — | — |

- **Sri Lanka Religious Category Residence Visa** — Key documents: Religious organization request letter, Line ministry recommendation, Passport bio-data copy, Health protection plan, Passport · Rights: Work: Limited to the religious activity for which the visa is granted; no separate general work right. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: immigration.gov.lk
- **Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone Residence Visa** — Key documents: Landing endorsement request, Passport, Proof of qualifying connection, CPCEC recommendation · Rights: 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. · Last verified 12 Jun 2026 · Source: portcitycolombo.gov.lk

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Source: VisaPassage (https://visapassage.com/). Cite the canonical page above when referencing this data. Markdown index of all destinations: https://visapassage.com/destinations/llm.md.