Sri Lanka has launched free 30-days visa for the nationals of 40 countries as a broader initiative to encourage inbound tourism.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka has announced free Electronic Tourist Visa (eTA) for visitors from 40 countries including India, UAE, Pakistan, UK and US. The new scheme has taken effect on May 25, 2026 and allows visa free stay for the eligible tourists for up to 30 days.
All foreign nationals from these countries including the nationals of Maldives, Singapore and Seychelles, who have bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka, must apply for eTA before their arrival.
The latest visa-free eTA list covers major travel markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Oceania.
The new eTA visa will allow double entry within the validity period, from the date of first arrival. The nationals of these countries can now apply for Sri Lanka eTA without any fee. Prior to this, the tourists from SAARC nations had to pay USD 20 for a 30-day double-entry tourist visa and others paid USD 50.
India Tops Sri Lanka’s Free ETA List
Out of all the foreign visitors in Sri Lanka, India remains the biggest source of inbound travel in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka tour packages are popular among Indian travelers because Sri Lanka is one of the closest neighboring countries to India.
Both countries share history, culture, food and traditions make it a comfortable holiday destination for Indians. The free eTA visa policy makes Sri Lanka even more accessible for Indians.
Other countries that offer Visa On Arrival for Indians
Indian passport holders have access to Visa on Arrival (VoA) in several countries across Asia and Africa which makes short term travel easier for Indian nationals.
In Asia, Indonesia, Maldives, Cambodia, Laos and Jordan extend VoA facility to Indian travellers, with stay durations of up to 30 days. Maldives offers Visa on Arrival for up to 30 days for Indians free of charge.
In Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya welcome Indian tourists on arrival. Although Kenya has largely shifted to an eTA system, the entry-on-arrival style processing system still exists at some points.
Nepal and Bhutan allow visa free travel for Indian travellers. The Seychelles issues visitor permits directly at the port without needing early applications.
