Practical · 2026
The Sri Lanka visa,
in plain English.
British passport holders need an ETA before they fly. Here is what it costs in pounds, how long it takes, how to apply on the official site, and the traps that catch people out.
Direct from LHR
~10h 45m non-stop
Time difference
GMT + 5h 30m
Visa
ETA online · ~£40
Pricing
Quoted in £ GBP
Plan from your country
The short answer
Yes, you need a visa — specifically an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It is applied for online before departure, costs US$50 (about £39) for a 30-day double-entry tourist stay, and is normally approved within 24 to 48 hours by email.
Children under 12 travel free on the ETA. Passports need six months' validity from the date of arrival.
How to apply, step by step
1. Go to the official government portal, eta.gov.lk. Nothing else is the real thing.
2. Choose Tourist ETA, then Individual or Group — a family on one booking can be filed as a group under the lead traveller.
3. Enter passport details exactly as printed, including middle names. A mismatch between the ETA and the passport is the single most common cause of an airport problem.
4. Give your first night's hotel address as the address in Sri Lanka. If you are travelling with us, use the address on your confirmed itinerary.
5. Pay by card. Save the approval email as a PDF and keep a printed copy — Sri Lankan immigration and some airlines still like paper.
What it costs, and what you should not pay
The state fee is US$50 for the 30-day tourist ETA, roughly £39. That is the whole cost.
A large number of lookalike sites rank in Google for "Sri Lanka visa" and charge £60–£90 to submit the same form on your behalf. They are legal but pointless. If a site is not eta.gov.lk, you are paying an agency fee for nothing.
Timing
Apply one to two weeks before departure. Approval typically lands within 48 hours, but the system occasionally queries an application and that adds days. Applying six months out is also fine — the ETA must simply be used within six months of issue.
Do not apply at the airport. Airlines at Heathrow have refused boarding for passengers without an approved ETA, and being right about the rules does not get you on the plane.
Extending, and longer stays
The 30-day ETA can be extended to 90 days at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla, Colombo, for a further fee. Bring your passport, the ETA approval and proof of funds. It is a half-day job. For most British holidays this never comes up — the average trip we plan is 12 nights.
The rest of the pre-flight checklist
Passport: six months' validity, two blank pages. Insurance: medical cover, and worth checking it covers safari and any diving. Health: no mandatory jabs from the UK; hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended. Money: rupees are best drawn from ATMs on arrival; cards work in hotels and city restaurants but not at roadside stops.
Once the paperwork is done, the fun part: see when to go, what to do and our Sri Lanka holidays.
Plan with us
A senior planner will reply within 24 hours.
Personalised itinerary, indicative pricing in £, no obligation.
Begin your bespoke journeyCompare at a glance
Which Sri Lankan destination is right for you?
The short answer: pair one cultural stop, one hill-country stop and one coast. This table compares what each place is best for, when to go, how long to stay and how far it is from Colombo.
Cultural Triangle
- Best for
- First-timers, history, the iconic rock climb
- Best months
- Jan–Sep (driest Feb–Aug)
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car · 30 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Habarana safaris
Central Highlands
- Best for
- Culture, temple ritual, a soft landing before the hills
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Jul–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 3–3.5 hrs by car · 2.5 hrs by train
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya
Tea Country
- Best for
- Tea bungalows, cool air, Horton Plains
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Ella
Hill Country
- Best for
- The train ride, walks, relaxed hill romance
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 6 hrs by car · 45 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Nuwara Eliya, Yala
South-east
- Best for
- Leopards and private dawn game drives
- Best months
- Feb–Jul
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights (4 drives)
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Ella, Tangalle
South
- Best for
- Guaranteed elephants, families with children
- Best months
- Year-round
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Yala, the south coast
South-west Coast
- Best for
- Colonial fort, boutiques, villa living
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 1.5 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Mirissa, Ahangama
South Coast
- Best for
- Blue whales, easy beach days
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (whales)
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 2 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Galle, Tangalle
Far South Coast
- Best for
- Privacy, staffed villas, uncrowded sand
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 3–5 nights
- From Colombo
- 3 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Yala, Galle
East Coast
- Best for
- Summer beaches when the south-west is wet
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- From Colombo
- 5.5 hrs by car · 1 hr by seaplane
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Pasikuda
Design your Sri Lanka journey
Name, email and a line about your trip is all we need — a senior planner replies within 24 hours.
Answers
Common questions
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka from the UK?+
Yes. British passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival. It is applied for online, usually approved within 24–48 hours, and covers tourism for up to 30 days with double entry.
How much is a Sri Lanka visa for British citizens?+
The official 30-day tourist ETA is US$50 for most nationalities, which is roughly £39 depending on the exchange rate at the time. Children under 12 are free. Third-party 'visa services' charge £60–£90 for the same thing — apply on the official government site and you pay only the state fee.
How long does the Sri Lanka ETA take to come through?+
Most approvals arrive by email within 24 to 48 hours. Apply at least a week before you fly so there is room for a query. Approval is not instant and is not guaranteed at the airport, so do not leave it to the day of departure.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka?+
Visa on arrival has been available at Bandaranaike International at various points, but it is not something to rely on — policy has changed repeatedly since 2023 and airlines can refuse boarding without an approved ETA. Apply online before you travel.
How long is the Sri Lanka tourist visa valid?+
The standard tourist ETA gives you 30 days from arrival with double entry, and it must be used within six months of issue. It can be extended in-country to 90 days at the Department of Immigration in Colombo, or 180 days in some cases.
How much passport validity do I need?+
Six months from your date of arrival in Sri Lanka, with at least two blank pages. Airlines check this at the gate in London, so renew before you book if you are close.
Do I need proof of onward travel or funds?+
Officially yes — a return or onward ticket and evidence you can support yourself. In practice immigration rarely asks, but the airline may check the return ticket at check-in. If you are travelling with us, your itinerary and hotel confirmations satisfy this.
Is there anything else British travellers need before flying?+
No mandatory vaccinations for arrivals from the UK, though your GP may suggest hepatitis A and typhoid. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly advised and required by some hotels. Check the FCDO Sri Lanka page before you fly for current advice.