Colombo is a four-hour flight from Dubai, and Sri Lanka has just become cheaper to visit. Since 25 May 2026, citizens of 40 countries get a free 30-day tourist visa — including Emirati, Indian and Pakistani passport holders. Everyone else still pays. In every case you must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you fly. Sri Lanka gives no special route for UAE residence: your passport decides the fee.
Checked on 19 October 2026 against Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration and Sri Lankan embassy notices. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer by passport
- The 40 countries with a free ETA
- Your passport decides — your residence does not change the fee
- How to apply for the ETA step by step
- Staying longer than 30 days
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer by passport
| Passport | Tourist ETA fee (online) | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Free | 30 days |
| India | Free | 30 days |
| Pakistan | Free | 30 days |
| Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain | Free | 30 days |
| UK, US, Canada, Australia, most of Western Europe | Free | 30 days |
| Bangladesh | US$20 (SAARC rate) | 30 days, double entry |
| Philippines | US$50 | 30 days, double entry |
| Egypt | US$50 | 30 days, double entry |
| Nigeria | US$50 | 30 days, double entry |
Children under 12 are free whatever their nationality. If you get the visa on arrival at Colombo airport instead of online, the fee is higher: US$25 for SAARC nationals and US$60 for others. For the 40 free countries, both are free.
The 40 countries with a free ETA
Sri Lanka’s free tourist visa took effect on 25 May 2026. Seven of these countries — India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia — already had free visas under an earlier scheme. The other 33 previously paid about US$50.
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| GCC | United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain |
| South and Central Asia | India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan |
| East and Southeast Asia | China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia |
| Europe | United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Belarus |
| Other | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Israel, Iran |
Separately, Maldivian, Seychellois and Singaporean citizens get a 90-day visa under reciprocal agreements.
Not on the list: the Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh and Nigeria. If your passport is not named above, you pay.
Your passport decides — your residence does not change the fee
A Filipino nurse who has lived in Abu Dhabi for twelve years pays US$50, the same as a Filipino applying from Manila. An Indian resident of Sharjah pays nothing. UAE residence is not part of the ETA decision, and you do not upload your residence visa.
It still matters at the airport: officers ask where you live and when you return. A valid UAE residence visa and a return ticket to the UAE answer both questions.
How to apply for the ETA step by step
- Go to eta.gov.lk, the Department of Immigration and Emigration’s official site. Check the address ends in .gov.lk.
- Choose Tourist ETA and individual or group application.
- Enter your passport details exactly as printed, your arrival date and your first night’s address in Sri Lanka.
- Upload a JPG of your passport photo page.
- Pay by card if your nationality pays. Free-ETA nationalities skip payment.
- Wait for the approval email — usually 24 to 72 hours.
- Print the approval and carry it with your passport.
What you need
- Passport valid at least 6 months from your arrival date.
- A confirmed return or onward ticket.
- Your first hotel booking or host’s address.
- Enough money for the stay — officers can ask.
Entries and validity
The tourist ETA allows a stay of 30 days from arrival and is double entry, so you can leave for the Maldives and come back within the period. The business ETA is a separate category with its own fee.
Staying longer than 30 days
You can extend a tourist visa in Sri Lanka, up to a total of 270 days. The free scheme covers the first 30 days only — extensions are paid at the normal rate.
| Extension | Adds up to | Total stay |
|---|---|---|
| First | 60 days | 90 days |
| Second | 90 days | 180 days |
| Third | 90 days | 270 days |
Apply before your current permission ends, online through the Department’s e-services or in person at its head office in Battaramulla, Colombo.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying an agency for a “free” ETA. If your passport is on the list, the official ETA costs nothing. Sites charging US$30 to US$100 are not the government.
- Skipping the ETA because it is free. Free does not mean optional. You still apply before travel.
- Assuming a family shares one fee. In a mixed-nationality family, each passport is charged at its own rate.
- A passport with less than 6 months left. Renew it before you apply.
- Arriving without a return ticket. Airlines in the UAE check it at check-in.
Questions people ask
Is the Sri Lanka visa free for Indians in the UAE?
Yes. Indian passport holders get a free 30-day tourist ETA. They must still apply online at eta.gov.lk before travel.
Is the Sri Lanka visa free for Pakistanis?
Yes, since 25 May 2026. Pakistan is one of the 40 countries on the free list.
How much is the Sri Lanka visa for Filipinos?
US$50 for a tourist ETA applied for online, or US$60 on arrival. Children under 12 are free.
How long does the Sri Lanka ETA take?
Usually 24 to 72 hours. Apply at least three days before you fly.
Can I combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives on one trip?
Yes. The tourist ETA is double entry, so you can fly Colombo–Malé–Colombo inside the 30 days. The Maldives gives a free 30-day visa on arrival.
Related guides
- Maldives visa for UAE residents
- Thailand visa for UAE residents
- Malaysia visa for UAE residents
- Vietnam visa for UAE residents
Sources
- Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka — official ETA portal: eta.gov.lk
- Embassy of Sri Lanka, Stockholm — “Free Tourist Visas for Nationals of 40 Selected Countries” (May 2026)
- Khaleej Times — Sri Lanka free tourist ETA for 40 countries, 25 May 2026
- TTG Asia — Sri Lanka expands visa-free entry to 40 countries, 28 May 2026
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 19 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and whenever Sri Lanka changes its free-visa list. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.