Do I need a return/onward flight ticket to enter Sri Lanka, and how to get the cheapest one?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 53 days ago

TL;DR

Sri Lanka requires proof of onward/return travel to enter; the cheapest tickets bought locally (e.g. on Tripcom) usually start around $150-170, so many travelers instead buy refundable tickets or route their onward flight through a country where they already have a cheap connection (like Thailand).

What the community said

Instead of buying an expensive one-way-back ticket just to satisfy entry requirements, consider a refundable airline ticket you can cancel later, or use online check-in/registration as proof of onward travel.

Some travelers pick their return ticket to a country where they already have a cheap flight home — for example, if you already booked Moscow–Bangkok–Moscow, it makes sense to fly Sri Lanka to Thailand for the exit requirement instead of straight back to your home country.

Route via Bangkok

On booking sites like Tripcom, return flights out of Sri Lanka rarely go below roughly $150-170, and cancellation is either not allowed or costs the full ticket price — factor this into your budget.

from ~$150-170 (Tripcom)

The date on your return ticket doesn't have to match your tourist visa expiration — you can extend the visa separately later regardless of the flight date shown on your ticket.