What are Sri Lanka's entry visa requirements — do you need an ETA, and how long does approval take?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 26 days ago
TL;DR
As of 2026, only the electronic ETA visa is required to enter Sri Lanka — no paper migration card needed; approval usually takes 24-48 hours, so apply a few days before your flight to be safe.
What the community said
ETA approval isn't always instant — some travelers applied just a couple of days before their flight and worried whether it would arrive in time. Better to apply at least 3-5 days before departure.
30 days ago ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
A long-term residency visa is only available under specific categories: work, study, investment, or family reunification. Without one of these, it's hard to legally settle long-term in the country.
39 days ago Visa types: work / study / investment / family
Currently, entering Sri Lanka only requires an online ETA — no separate paper arrival/migration card needs to be filled out.
48 days ago Online ETA