Sri Lanka is an island country in Southeast Asia and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. For years it has remained a top destination for tourists, including Indians who visit with a Sri Lanka visa for Indians. The government of Sri Lanka has made the nonimmigrant visa application process stress-free over the years, triggering a mammoth influx of visitors from different corners of the world.
If you are an Indian citizen planning to visit Sri Lanka, this page contains all the information you will need to make your visit successful. Keep reading to learn more about the Sri Lanka visa process.
Do Indians Need A Visa To Enter Sri Lanka?
Indians need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. Despite having close ties with India due to their shared ancestry, Indian visitors still require a visa to visit. However, the authorities have made the visa process much them, including granting Indian passport holders certain privileges not extended to other nationals, as you will see below.
Types of Sri Lanka Visa for Indians
Indian citizens can apply for different types of visas as long as they qualify. We review them below.
Visit Visa: A Visit Visa is a travel permit issued to Indians who have family or friends in Sri Lanka that they wish to visit. The family member or friend may be a permanent resident or a Sri Lanka citizen. This visa falls under the non-migrant visa and allows the visitor to stay in the country for up to 30 days.
Tourist Visa: Tourist visas are for Indian tourists coming into the country for sightseeing, touring, or simply spending their holidays. Holders of tourist visas are not allowed to hold a job in Sri Lanka.
Employment Visa: An employment visa is also called a work visa which is issued to Indians who have secured a job in Sri Lanka. The visa allows the Indian to live and work in the country, but they must provide evidence of the job.
Residence Visa: This visa is for those who want to reside legally in the country. Other visas that fall under this category include a religious, investor, and student visas.
Transit Visa: A Transit visa allows the holder to change flights in Sri Lanka en route to another country. The visa allows you to stay for only 8 hours.
Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization
Another type of travel document Indians can apply for is the Sri Lanka ETA. This document is obtained online and at short notice, so the applicant does not have to visit the embassy in New Delhi or any consulate or visa center to submit their application.
ETA can be done by oneself and is mostly issued to tourists or those coming for short business visits.
Sir Lanka Visa For Indians Validity
The average Sri Lanka visa or Eta allows the holder to stay for 30 days and is valid for 90 days. However, there are longer-stay visas, like residence visas, that are valid for one year and above. Fortunately, the Sri Lankan authorities allow Indiana to extend their visas by a month or 6 months, depending on the type of visa in question. However, the application for an extension must be submitted before the current visa expires.
Can Indians Apply For Visa on Arrival?
Indians remain one of the few foreign nationals that can apply for a visa on arrival once they arrive at the airport. This is among the numerous benefits Indians enjoy in Sri Lanka due to the close historical links with the countries. India belongs to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which includes Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Citizens of these countries enjoy visas on arrival, but you have to pay a $25 application fee.
How To Apply For Sri Lanka ETA?
For long residency visas, you will have to visit the Sri Lanka embassy in New Delhi or any of their consulates, but for an electronic travel authorization permit, you can apply for it online via VisaHQ. Just do the following
Visit VisaHQ
Select Sri Lanka as your destination
Select India as your country
Choose the visa you want
Complete the application form
Scan and upload the required documents
Pay the application fee
Submit for approval
Sri Lanka Visa For Indians Documents
These are the documents the applicant must attach to their application form before they can be issued a visa.
Indian passport: A passport valid for at least 6 months
Photograph: 2 recent Passport sized photographs in matte white background
Proof of funds: A statement of account to prove financial means
Proof of accommodation: Hotel reservation or house address where you will stay
Itinerary: Travel Itinerary showing your travel plans, including your arrival and departure date
Return Ticket: Reserved return ticket to India after the trip.
Vaccination: Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
If you want to get your Sri Lanka visa for Indians within 72 hours as a tourist, head to VisaHQ to complete the online application form.