Sri Lanka business visa application, requirements, price, and processing time

Are you an international businessman, or do you have business interests in Sri Lanka? Or maybe there is a business meeting you must attend in the Asian country; for all business-related engagements, you need a Sri Lanka business visa.  The business visa is a special visa issued to foreigners from non-visa-exempt countries, which gives them legal permission to enter Sri Lanka to conduct business. However, the visa is only issued to those who meet the requirements laid down by the authorities. This page provides adequate information about the visa application process for all applicants. Keep reading to know more.

Sri Lanka At A Glance

Sri Lanka is an emerging economy closely linked to the Indian economy. The country is a third-world country with fast-evolving sectors. She suffers from the incessant balance of trade problems, but despite the challenges, it has numerous investment opportunities for investors. In almost every sector, there are opportunities for owners of capital. These opportunities differ depending on geographic location, demographics, and more. Colombo is the executive and Judicial capital and the largest city and financial center.

Foreign nationals visit annually to attend meetings and conferences and meet with partners and suppliers, among other things.

Sri Lanka Business Visa

As stated above, this visa is issued to foreigners for short-term visits and is valid for three months. This document is issued by a foreign mission of Sri Lanka in other countries. Those who wish to stay longer than the three months their visa allows can apply for extensions of up to a year.

Sri Lanka Business ETA

Also called an electronic travel authorization, the government of Sri Lanka introduced this document to facilitate the entry of foreigners at short notice. While a business visa may take up to 30 working days to get, ETAs take less time. The system is so fast that applicants can get theirs in 24 hours. Moreover, the applicant doesn’t have to submit physical copies of their passport or any other document for that matter; everything is done online, so they only need to scan and upload the documents for review and approval along with the online application form.

Sri Lanka ETA is valid for only one month, but holders may apply for an extension when theirs is about to expire. However, they must be in Sri Lanka before they can submit an application for an extension.

How to Apply For Sri Lanka Business Visa/ETA Online

If you want to apply for an ETA online, you need a reliable platform that will simplify your application process. VisaHQ is a safe and secure platform. Kindly head to the official website to complete your application form in the following steps.

• Log onto VisaHQ

• Select Sri Lanka as your destination

• Choose your country

• Select “Business Visa”

• Fill out the application form with the correct details

• Scan and upload your documents

• Pay your visa fee

• Submit for processing

These are the simple steps to apply for a visa, and you will receive your visa in your email inbox in 1-2 working days. To avoid delays, ensure you only provide valid information and documents and submit the application on a working day, as applications received on a Friday will be carried over to the new week.

Processing Fee

Business Visa applicants must pay a non-refundable fee of $25 if they are citizens of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries. Citizens of non-SAARC countries are charged $30 for processing. Do note that this fee is not a guarantee that you will be issued the visa, and if your application is unsuccessful, the money will not be refunded.

Sri Lanka Business Visa Requirements

Find below the requirements for a Sri Lanka business visa.

Valid Passport: You need a valid passport to apply for this visa successfully. The passport must have at least 6 months of validity left and nothing less than one unused page for visa entry stamps.

Photograph: Two Passport styled photographs in color form and printed on a white background.

Invitation Letter: If you are invited by a company or organization, they must issue an invitation letter which you must submit for review.

Request: There is also a special request letter that the organization inviting you to Sri Lanka must provide detailing your status, business type, accommodation information, duration of stay, and trip purpose, among other details.

Visa Fee: The nonrefundable visa service fee must be paid with the payment receipt attached to the application.

Note that the authorities may request extra documents to validate your application besides the ones listed above. Also note that this visa is not a work visa, so it is illegal to engage in paid work during your visit. For employment, apply for a work visa instead, not a Sri Lanka business visa.