Citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan will be eligible for free visas for traveling to Sri Lanka through a pilot program that came into effect from November 27 to March 2024.
According to the Comptroller General of Immigration and Emigration, this innovative initiative aims to revive the tourism sector. It also includes individuals holding diplomatic, official, public, service and ordinary passports from certain countries, allowing them to experience a visa-free regime, VisaGuide.World reports.
Within the framework of this innovative initiative, tourists are granted a 30-day visa-free period, coupled with the flexibility of a double entry option permissible within 30 days from their initial arrival in Sri Lanka.
As local media report, to participate in this opportunity, eligible travelers must secure an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka, with the application process facilitated free of charge until the program ends on March 31, 2024.
However, the granted free ETA is non-extendable and confined to a duration of 30 days. Should the 30-day period expire beyond the stipulated date of March 31, 2024, tourists seeking an extension would be required to apply for a visa extension, subject to the appropriate fee payment.
Recently, Malaysia announced that it is set to implement a 30-day visa-free entry policy for citizens of India and China, effective from December 1. This move aligns Malaysia with other regional players like Thailand and Sri Lanka, who have also introduced similar initiatives in recent weeks.
In addition, the decision to offer visa-free entry to foreign nationals underscores a collective effort among these countries to boost tourism by providing increased accessibility and convenience for travelers from key nations.
Thailand has also expanded its welcoming approach by lifting visa requirements for visitors not only from India but also from Taiwan. For Indian passport holders, this means a possibility to travel to Thailand without a visa and enjoy a stay of up to 30 days, as per the recent government announcement. The visa-free access for Indians is applicable from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024.
At the same time, China is gearing up to offer visa-free access to individuals holding ordinary passports from Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The visa arrangement, effective from December 1, 2023, until November 30, 2024, reflects China’s commitment to facilitating travel and nurturing stronger connections with these countries during the specified period.