Sri Lanka Makes Travel Easier: Free Tourist Visas for 40 Countries

5/25/2026

Sri Lanka free tourist visa announcement for 40 eligible countries featuring Sigiriya and an elephant.

Sri Lanka has introduced a new tourism facilitation policy offering a visa fee waiver for short-term tourist visits to nationals of 40 selected countries. The measure is aimed at boosting international arrivals, supporting tourism recovery, and improving the country’s competitiveness as a travel destination.

Under the scheme, eligible travelers are still required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering Sri Lanka. However, the visa fee normally associated with the ETA has been waived, reducing travel costs while maintaining standard immigration screening and border security procedures.

The full list of eligible countries includes: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States of America.

Officials state that the selection of these countries reflects key tourism source markets as well as strategic diplomatic and economic relationships. Major contributors such as Europe, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and North America are well represented, with the aim of maximizing inbound travel growth.

Overall, the policy is part of Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to modernize immigration services and stimulate economic activity through tourism. By removing visa fees for a wide range of nationalities while retaining the ETA system, the country seeks to balance ease of travel with necessary regulatory oversight.

Source: Special Notice to the Short Term Visitors to Sri Lanka