As of August 2, travelers can no longer apply for eVisas before traveling to Sri Lanka, following the temporary suspension of the recent electronic visa system (e-Visa).
Tourists wishing to visit Sri Lanka must now obtain a visa on arrival. Sri Lanka launched the eVisa system in April 2024 and replaced it with its electronic travel authorization (ETA) system, VisaGuide.World reports.
The eVisa was an online application that approved a double entry on short visits (up to 30 days, extendable up to 60 days) and transit entry (up to two days).
The decision to suspend the eVisa system reportedly came after numerous controversies surrounding Sri Lanka’s e-Visa scheme since its introduction.
Local tour operators have protested against this visa system since it was presented in parliament. After that, the island nation’s government was accused of over a billion dollars in corruption around this visa scheme.
We have been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today regarding the agreement under which this platform is operated. In view of these orders, the website is suspended effective August 2 at 17:00 Sri Lanka Standard Time.
According to Sri Lanka authorities, travelers from eligible countries can apply for 30-day tourist visas on arrival. However, business visas are currently suspended indefinitely.
Countries That Are Not Eligible for a Visa-On-Arrival to Sri Lanka
Citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria cannot obtain a visa upon arrival in Sri Lanka. Applicants from these countries must submit their applications to the Immigration Department’s headquarters through a representative.
In April 2024, Sri Lanka also introduced an increase in visa fees, requiring nationals of countries that are not part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to pay $75 for a standard tourist visa. After some criticism from the tourist leaders, Sri Lanka canceled such a decision a month later. This means that the tourist visa fee, which increased to $75, remained at $50.
The new VFS system led to a near doubling of Sri Lankan visa fees, as well as the addition of an $18.5 service fee and $5 convenience fee charged by VFS Global.