Sri Lanka waives $50 tourist visa fee

Sri Lanka has made its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) free of charge for UK visitors from this week.

Travellers can apply for the short-term visitor visa online in advance of travel to the country.

The $50 fee has been waived as the country seeks to attract more overseas visitors.

The Sri Lankan government confirmed that the tourist visa fee had been waived from Monday (May 25) for travellers from 40 countries for stays of up to 30 days.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed the change but warned that anyone who overstays the 30-day ETA period risks being subject to immigration procedures “that may include temporary detention, a fine, deportation at your own expense, a travel ban or refusal of entry to Sri Lanka in the future”.  

The change came as Sri Lanka’s prime minister Harini Amarasuriya concluded an official visit to the UK when both countries committed to further deepening collaboration in student mobility, joint programmes and research.