Sri Lanka visa for UK citizens: the free ETA and how to apply (2026)

For a holiday, British passport holders need a tourist ETA — an online travel authorisation you get before you fly. It's not a stamp in your passport; your approval is linked to your passport electronically. You must apply before you travel: since October 2025 you can no longer get an ETA on arrival at the airport.

Yes — for now. Since 25 May 2026, Sri Lanka has waived the tourist ETA fee for citizens of 40 countries, including the UK. It was introduced as a trial scheme, so it may change — always check the official site before you apply. If a website asks you to pay for a UK tourist ETA, you are probably not on the official site.

1. Go to the official site: eta.gov.lk — type it in yourself rather than clicking on search adverts.
2. Choose "Apply" and select the tourist ETA.
3. Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport, plus your arrival date and your first hotel's address in Sri Lanka.
4. Submit. You'll get an acknowledgement email, then an approval email — usually within a day or two.
5. Save the approval on your phone and print a copy to keep with your passport.

The tourist ETA lets you stay up to 30 days from your arrival. If you'd like to stay longer, you can apply to extend it with Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration before the 30 days are up — a fee applies for extensions.

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive, with blank pages
• Your approved ETA
• The arrival card — you can complete it online up to 3 days before you land, or on paper at the airport
• A return or onward ticket (you may be asked to show it)
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate only if you're arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever (not needed when flying direct from the UK)

Many look-alike websites charge "processing fees" — sometimes £50 or more — for an ETA that is free on the official site. The only official address is eta.gov.lk. If a site isn't eta.gov.lk, close it.

When you book a tailor-made trip with me, I'll send you a simple checklist for your ETA, arrival card and passport, and remind you at the right time — so the only thing you need to think about is the holiday. Flight-inclusive packages are ATOL protected.

Now flying direct from Gatwick and Heathrow →

Entry rules can change at short notice. Information checked in October 2026 — always confirm on eta.gov.lk and the UK Foreign Office travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka) before you travel.