New e-visa: how to visit Sri Lanka quickly and conveniently

Starting May 7, 2024, foreign tourists have been given the option of obtaining a new visa to visit Sri Lanka.

According to official sources, a special 30-day electronic tourist visa was introduced in May, This change was made after numerous complaints from travelers and travel experts about difficulties in accessing the official electronic visa (e-Visa) website, account login problems and problems in entering the country on the 60-day e-Visa.

On April 17, Sri Lanka's immigration authorities decided to cancel the ETA and introduce a new e-Visa. But it turned out to be more expensive, previously the ETA cost about fifty euros, the new e-Visa is available for 75 US dollars.

Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister, Harin Fernando, was aware of the problems encountered after the introduction of the new e-visa and decided to introduce a single entry 30 day e-visa to improve the entry process and reduce the negative impact on tourists.

The electronic tourist visa came into effect from May 7, 2024. The main change was the possibility to obtain a single-entry 30-day visa at a price of USD 50 (approximately EUR 47). This decision was announced by Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister Harin Fernando.

Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister, Harin Fernando, announced that the cost of this visa will be maintained for the duration of the e-visa fee waiver program for over 50 countries.

Currently, almost all travelers are required to obtain an e-visa to enter Sri Lanka. However, travelers from seven countries - India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia - have been extended to apply for a free e-visa until the end of May 2024.

To apply for an e-visa to Sri Lanka, one needs to register on the official website, fill out an online form, upload a photo and a scan of the main page of the passport. It is also possible to use the services of professional agencies to assist you in the process.

The introduction of the new e-visa aims to simplify the process of traveling to Sri Lanka, making it more accessible and convenient for all tourists.