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Sri Lankachecked Jul 2026The free Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens
Sri Lanka made its tourist ETA free for Americans in May 2026, but free does not mean skip it: you still have to get one before you board. Here is how, and how to make sure you are not overcharged by a lookalike site.
At a glance
ETA
Required, but free since May 2026
Cost
Free for US citizens
Stay
30 days, double entry
Where
The official portal only
Yes, you need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), and since 25 May 2026 it is free for US citizens, but it is still mandatory. You must apply online before you fly at the official portal, and you get a 30-day stay with double entry. Most older guides still say it costs about $50, which is now out of date for Americans. Apply only on a .gov.lk site so you are not charged a bogus fee.
The official route
The official government ETA site (the department also links it from immigration.gov.lk). The fee for eligible nationals, including US citizens, now shows zero. Confirm the web address ends in .gov.lk before entering any details, and apply at least a week before you fly.
Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: the official ETA portal(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
Free now, but still required
This is the part travelers get wrong. As of 25 May 2026, Sri Lanka waived the tourist ETA fee for citizens of 40 countries, including the US. But the ETA itself is still compulsory: no one, whatever their nationality, may enter Sri Lanka without an approved ETA obtained before arrival. Free changed the price, not the requirement.
It grants a 30-day stay with double entry (you can leave and come back once within the 30 days). Your passport needs six months of validity, and you should have proof of onward travel and enough funds for your stay. It does not permit any work, paid or unpaid.
How to get it, and how to confirm it is free
The whole thing is online and takes about ten to fifteen minutes.
- Go to the official portal at eta.gov.lk. Check the address ends in .gov.lk before you type anything.
- Complete the tourist ETA form with your passport and travel details.
- At the payment step, confirm the fee shows zero for your nationality. If a site tries to charge you around $50, you are not on the official one, so close it.
- Submit and wait for the approval email, usually within 24 to 72 hours. Apply at least a week ahead, since the system has had occasional outages, and save the approval to show on arrival.
Why the overpaying happens
The fee change is recent, so search results are full of stale guides quoting the old $50 charge, and plenty of third-party sites will happily still charge you that (their markup) to file a form that is now free. The Department of Immigration warns travelers directly to verify they are on a .gov.lk domain before paying.
A visa on arrival is also technically available at Colombo and Mattala airports, but the department strongly advises getting your ETA online first, since it is smoother and avoids any airport queue or confusion.
If you want to stay longer
The free ETA covers 30 days. If you want more time, you can extend at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo, and the extension itself does carry a fee, so budget for it if you are planning a long stay.
For how money works once you land, cards, cash, ATMs and the rest, see the Sri Lanka money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do US citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka in 2026?
You need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which since 25 May 2026 is free for US citizens but still mandatory. Apply online before you fly at the official portal eta.gov.lk. It gives a 30-day stay with double entry. A visa on arrival exists at Colombo and Mattala airports, but applying online first is strongly advised.
Is the Sri Lanka ETA really free now?
Yes, for citizens of 40 countries including the US, effective 25 May 2026. The fee was waived, but the ETA is still required before arrival. Many older guides still quote about $50, which is out of date, and third-party sites may still charge that as a markup. On the official .gov.lk portal, the fee shows zero.
What is the official Sri Lanka ETA website?
eta.gov.lk, run by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (also linked from immigration.gov.lk). The department warns travelers to confirm the address ends in .gov.lk before entering details or paying, since lookalike sites charge inflated fees for the free authorization.
How long can US citizens stay in Sri Lanka on the ETA?
30 days, with double entry, from your first arrival. You can extend your stay at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo for a fee. The tourist ETA does not permit any work, paid or unpaid.
More on Sri Lanka
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Do I need cash in Sri Lanka, or can I use cards?Short answer: carry rupees. Cards work fine in Colombo and at hotels, but most of the everyday, and most of the fun, runs on cash. Here is how to get it well and what to keep on hand.
- Tipping in Sri LankaSri Lanka has a modest, warm tipping culture. The main things to know: restaurants often add a service charge already, and the person you will most want to tip well is your driver or guide.
- Taxis and tuk-tuks in Sri LankaThe tuk-tuk is how you will get around Sri Lankan towns, and the easy way to avoid overpaying is to let an app set the fare. Here is how, plus the airport and the traps.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigrationthe free tourist ETA scheme for 40 countries from 25 May 2026
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigrationthe official ETA application portal
- US State DepartmentSri Lanka country information, confirming the no-cost 30-day ETA for US citizens
Our own readThe free ETA scheme is recent (effective 25 May 2026) and fees and rules can change, so confirm the current fee shows zero on the official .gov.lk portal before you travel. Checked July 2026.