Sri Lanka entry requirements for Australian citizens

Sigiriya, the Lion Rock, in Sri Lanka
Photo: adamhilltravel / Pixabay

Short answerAustralian citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before travelling to Sri Lanka. Up to 30 days per visit.

How long you can stay
Up to 30 days per visit.
What you need
  • Passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka
  • Approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) obtained before arrival (keeping a copy of the ETA approval notice is advised)
  • Confirmed return ticket
  • Sufficient funds to meet expenses during the stay
Good to know
Sri Lanka requires an ETA for all foreign visitors. Australia ('AUSTRALIA') is one of the 40 countries whose nationals, with effect from 25.05.2026, 'are eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free-of-charge for a period of 30 days' (diplomatic, official, service and ordinary passports). ETA fees paid before 25.05.2026 are non-refundable. The ETA gives a 30-day tourist visa with double entry: the second entry must fall within the 30 days from first arrival, and only the balance of those 30 days is granted on the second visit. Extension: the DI&E 'How to Extend Short Visit ETA' page says a short visit visa can be extended up to a maximum of 270 days from arrival (30 days on entry, 60 days at the first extension, 90 days at the second and third), applied for at the Visa Section of the Department of Immigration & Emigration head office (Battaramulla) or via the online e-Visa Extension portal (eservices.immigration.gov.lk) 'for extension up to 6 months'; the 'How to submit an ETA application' page instead says the ETA 'can be extended for up to six months' — the two DI&E pages conflict, so the safe reading is up to 6 months unless the department confirms more. Extension fees are charged even for holders of a free ETA. Other ETA rules from DI&E: an ETA holder must enter within three months of the ETA's issue (the FAQ separately says an ETA 'is valid for six months' — a conflict on the same site); you cannot obtain a fresh ETA while inside Sri Lanka; fees are non-refundable. A visa on arrival is also listed in the fee table (US$60 tourist for non-South-Asian nationals), but DI&E states all foreign nationals 'are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their arrival', so apply in advance. Beware lookalike paid ETA sites — the only official portal is eta.gov.lk. Children under 12 of any nationality get a free 30-day tourist ETA. Documents and extension rules are from the same eta.gov.lk site: visainfo/apply.jsp (port-of-entry requirements), visainfo/extsheta.jsp (extensions), visainfo/center.jsp and visainfo/faq.jsp.

Is your passport valid long enough?

The rule: Passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka

These dates stay in your browser. They aren't saved or sent anywhere. Six months from arrival, or after you leave? How the rules compare

Source Fees — Online Visa Application (ETA), Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri LankaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

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Sri Lanka for other passports

  • Argentinaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Brazilelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Canadaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Chileelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Chinaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Franceelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Germanyelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Indiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Italyelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Japanelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Malaysiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Mexicoelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Netherlandselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Singaporeelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • South Koreaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Spainelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • Ukraineelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • United Kingdomelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
  • United Stateselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required

Other destinations for Australian citizens

Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history