Sri Lanka made its tourist ETA free for a long list of countries. Free is not the same as optional, and that is where people get tripped up.
Everyone needs one
All foreign nationals must obtain an ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka. That includes nationals of the countries that pay nothing for it.
The fee went away. The requirement did not.
Free for 40 countries, from 25 May 2026
With effect from 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 listed countries can obtain a tourist ETA free of charge for 30 days.
We are not reprinting the list. Lists like this change, and the official page is the only copy worth trusting on the day you book. The link below goes straight to it.
Eligibility covers Diplomatic, Official, Service and Ordinary passport holders, so it is not restricted to standard tourist passports.
What the free ETA actually gives you
Thirty days, with double entry, counted from the date of your first arrival.
Double entry is the part worth planning around. It means a side trip to the Maldives or southern India and back is possible on the same authorization, which is not true of every free entry scheme in the region.
Staying longer
Visitors who want more than 30 days can apply for a visa extension and pay the applicable fee. Plan that before the 30 days run out rather than after.
Two situations that work differently
Maldivian nationals receive a 90-day free tourist visa through the ETA system under a bilateral agreement.
Nationals of a small number of countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Syria, and travelers holding Taiwan-China documents, cannot use the standard route. They must apply through a Sri Lankan sponsor. If that applies to you, start much earlier than a normal ETA would need.