What happens if you overstay your visa in Sri Lanka by a few days — is there a fine?

For an overstay of more than 7 days, travellers advise obtaining an extension: one report puts the cost at a $250 penalty plus the $60 extension fee.

If an extension has been submitted and paid for, keep the receipt: officers may ask to see it on departure, and proof of payment can speed up clearance.

When paying the overstay fee at the airport, only cash in US dollars or Sri Lankan rupees is accepted — Russian Mir cards don't work, so bring physical currency.

If a visa extension was submitted as a group application (e.g. for yourself, spouse, and child), airport staff may only find the payment record for the main applicant in the system — other family members included in the same application may still be charged the overstay fine separately.

If you overstay up to 7 days and submit an online extension application before your flight, there is no penalty — just the standard $60 extension fee.

For overstays up to 7 days, border officers charge $60 — the same as a visa extension fee, with no additional fine. You can submit the application and pay at the airport on departure.

Overstays of 1-2 days are often overlooked by border officers with no charge at all. There are cases where even 5-day overstays passed without payment — it depends on the individual officer.

If you prefer not to pay $60 and the overstay is minor, you can skip the application and hope the border officer lets it go — but this is a gamble with no guarantees.