Sri Lanka’s ‘Free Visas’ For 40 Countries Coming Up!

Sri Lankan Government is planning to implement its Free Visas for 40 countries from the first quarter of this year.

The scheme was announced last year, but did not come into operation.

However, the Minister of Foreign and Foreign Employment Minister Vijitha Herath said.

“It will be implemented from the first quarter of this year,”

Once implemented, Sri Lanka will not charge visa fees from countries, including the existing 7 countries.

Already the ‘Free Visa’s’ are in place for China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand.

What does “waived visas” mean? Visitors from the following countries no longer have to pay the typical visa processing fee (previously around USD 50).

However, traveler will need to complete the required Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or e‑Visa application, which will be given free.

List of Countries to Receive Visa-Free Entry to Sri Lanka:

1. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2. Federal Republic of Germany

3. Kingdom of the Netherlands

4. The Kingdom of Belgium

5. The Kingdom of Spain

6. The Commonwealth of Australia

7. Republic of Poland

8. The Republic of Kazakhstan

9. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10. The United Arab Emirates

11. Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

12. People’s Republic of China *

13. The Republic of India *

14. The Republic of Indonesia *

15. The Russian Federation *

16. The Kingdom of Thailand *

17. The Federation of Malaya *

18. Japan *

19. Republic of France

20. United States of America

21. Canada

22. Czech Republic (Czechia)

23. Republic of Italy

24. Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)

25. Republic of Austria

26. State of Israel

27. Republic of Belarus

28. Islamic Republic of Iran

29. Kingdom of Sweden

30. Republic of Finland

31. Kingdom of Denmark

32. Republic of Korea

33. State of Qatar

34. Sultanate of Oman

35. Kingdom of Bahrain

36. New Zealand

37. State of Kuwait

38. Kingdom of Norway

39. Republic of Türkiye

40. Pakistan