Getting a Sri Lanka visa was never easier

Are you planning a vacation to Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is one of the destinations on the rise for independent travellers and it has made the Sri Lanka tourist visa process really easy since the beginning of 2012.

No Sri Lanka visa required for

Citizens of Singapore, Seychelles and the Maldives for a short stay of maximum 30 days.

Sri Lanka visa on arrival is not available

Visa service

Srilankavisa.org can provide you with additional services like 24 hour customer support, an application form in your language in case, English is not your strength. They will review your application before submission to make sure it is error free and keep track of the application. Get your Sri Lanka visa with them.

Where to get the Sri Lanka Visa Online

Everyone now has to perform a visa application online here. This process is called ETA, electronic travel authorization.

You are required to enter your personal details, the details of your passport, a contact address of your residence country and a contact address in Sri Lanka. As a contact address in Sri Lanka the address of your first hotel or hostel should be sufficient.

Sri-lanka-tourist-visa

Picture source

Which documents have to be provided?

That’s the cool thing: If you apply with the ETA application, the answer is: None

Sri Lanka visa characteristics

An ETA visa is valid for three months right after issuing. The usual visa you’ll get is a double entry. Each entry allows you to stay for30 days. So with an interruption in between this would allow you to stay 60 days in Sri Lanka.

Visa fee

For citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan the fee is 15 USD.

For everyone else it is 30 USD. Children below the age of 12 don’t have to pay a fee.

Process at the immigration desk of airport or land boarder

With an ETA visa for Sri Lanka proceed to the immigration counter and have these documents ready:

Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival

Confirmed return or onward flight ticket

[Source: http://www.dontworryjusttravel.com/asiapacific/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-tourist-visa/]

Tipping Guidelines in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan

When traveling in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, it is recommended to understand the tipping etiquette in each country. This includes gratuities in restaurants, bars, and establishments that provide a direct service. There is also the personal assistance. The guides, drivers, and representatives feel great pride in being given a chance to show visitors their country. If they were being paid a salary commensurate with their work, they would be earning more than they do today. Tipping is personal and completely voluntary, and here are the standard guidelines:

India: Tipping in restaurants is customary but not required. If you are pleased with the service, you can tip 10% of the total. We recommended handing the money directly to the waiter. If it is added to a bill or left on the table, it may not be received. Some restaurants and bars charge a service fee in the final bill. This fee is not considered an inclusive gratuity. It is also customary to tip porters, guides, drivers, and transfer representatives, as well as anyone who provides a direct service, including spa therapists or a delivery service. For a certified driver and/or guide, we recommend Rs 200-400 per person for a full day of service. A transfer representative can receive Rs 100-200 per person, per transfer, and Rs 30 - 50 per bag for the porter. It is appropriate to tip the person who watches your shoes at a temple or religious site, approximately Rs 20-30. Gratuities in Indian Rupee (INR) is preferred, though you can also pay in USD or your local currency. Kindly note: Many tour packages include porterage fees, so please inquire prior to your trip.

Nepal: Tipping is a relatively new custom in Nepal. Most people who provide a direct service (taxi drivers, barbers, etc.) do not expect gratuity. It is customary, however, to tip guides, hired drivers, and transfer representatives, as well as trekking guides and sherpas. The recommended amount is slightly less compared to India: NPR 100-200 per person for a full day driver and/or guide. For a more experienced trek, consider a tip of NPR 300-400/day. Gratuities in Nepalese Rupee (NPR) are preferred.

Sri Lanka Visa: The tipping etiquette in Sri Lanka mirrors India. A 10% service fee is often added to final checks in restaurants and bars, but this often goes to the owner. If you wish to add a gratuity, please give directly to your waiter. A general practice is to tip 10% of your total bill. It is also customary to tip porters, guides, drivers, and transfer representatives, as well as anyone who provides a direct service. For a certified driver and/or guide, we recommend LKR 200-300 per person for a full day of service. A transfer representative can receive LKR 100 per person, and the porter LKR 20 - 30 per bag. It is also appropriate to tip the person who watches your shoes at a temple or religious site, approximately LKR 10-20. Gratuities in Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) are preferred.

Bhutan: Although tipping is officially discouraged in Bhutan, it has become a common practice. Kindly use discretion and tip your guide and driver for a well-performed service. You may tip in Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) or Indian Rupee (INR).

[Source: http://www.sodhatravel.com/blog/2012/10/tipping-guidelines-in-india-nepal-sri-lanka-and-bhutan]

Sri Lanka travel guide: trip planner

Visa and entry requirements

Nationals from all countries apart from the Maldives and Singapore now require a visa, or “ETA” (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to visit Sri Lanka. These can either be obtained online before you arrive at www.eta.gov.lk or on arrival at the airport. The fee for a tourist visa is currently $30 if bought in advance online ($15 for citizens of SAARC countries), or $35 if bought on arrival. The visa is valid for 30 days and for two entries. Passports must be valid for six months after arrival. You can also buy a 30-day business visa online (also $30, SAARC citizens – $25).

Sri Lanka Visa Online extensions are given at the Immigration Service Centre (Unit 01, Liberty Arcade Building, 282 R A De Mel Mawatha (Duplication Road), Colombo 3; tel: 011 237 5972; info@immigrationlanka.com). The charge is based on what your own country charges a visiting Sri Lankan (see the website for a complete list of fees). Conditions for extensions are an onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to support oneself while in the country, calculated at US$15 a day (a credit card should suffice). Proof of money spent in the country may be required, so keep all travellers cheque receipts and ATM receipts. Extensions normally take an hour or two to process.

Transport

Getting to Sri Lanka

By air

Sri Lanka’s largest international airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (www.airport.lk), at Katunayake, 34km (21 miles) north of Colombo, near Negombo. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA)   opened in 2013 just outside the southern town of Hambantota.

The national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (flight code UL), has direct flights between Colombo and many destinations in Europe (including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Zürich and Milan); the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, , Kuwait, Riyadh, Damman); India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bangalore,  and Tiruchirappali); Pakistan (Karachi); southeast and east Asia (Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo); and the Maldives (Male).

Other international carriers serving Colombo include Air Arabia, Air France, Air India, Air Seychelles, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Dragonair, Emirates, Etihad, ,Finnair, Jet Airways, Kuwait, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Mihin Lanka, Oman Air, Qatar, Qantas, Singapore, Turkish and Thai. The airport is also served by regular charter flights from Europe during the northern hemisphere winter.

SriLankan Airlines fly from MRIA to Beijing, Shanhai, Chennai, Jeddah, Male and Colombo.

[Source: https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/asia-pacific/sri-lanka/plan-your-trip]

ETA Sri Lankan Visa

Travel to Sri Lanka for a short stay for Holidays, Sightseeing, Medical Treatment, including Ayurvedic and Yoga purposes. Tourists will need to apply for a Sri Lanka ETA on-line before traveling to Sri Lanka. The process is entirely electronic. The ETA application can be submitted online, and ETA approval (authority to enter Sri Lanka) will be returned via email.

As the ETA is issued electronically, the applicant need not submit original documents or passport to the government. Your visa will be processed, even if you will submit a copy online. It is a simple process. All it requires is a fully filled application form to be submitted on the ETA Sri Lanka website. After submission, it takes 1-2 hours to get approval from the authorities. The visa is valid for a single entry visit to the nation, that too for the time duration of up to 30 days. For the stay period of more than 30 days, traditional Sri Lankan tourist visas are issued. These visas are stamped inside the traveler's passport and requires the applicant to visit the Sri Lanka embassy to apply for it.

Get Sri Lanka ETA Tourist Visa within 5 Minutes

We also provide the urgent Visa services for the customers who require their ETA Sri Lanka Visa Online within 24 hours. This service will be done with additional charges.

How ETA Works For You:

To get electronically issued Sri Lanka ETA, there is no need of original passport submission or any other original documents for processing. All you have to do is, just simply submit your application on this website, using our Online Application form and we will handle the submission and processing procedures for your ETA application with Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI & E) of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on your behalf.

All travellers to Sri Lanka regardless of their age require an ETA, if applicant’s children are holding a separate passport they should apply for a separate ETA, if the child is on parent’s passport, still they require an ETA, but applicant must fill-in their details as they appear on the passport.

Usually Sri Lanka ETA can be processed within 1-2 hours subject to all the applicant’s information submitted to this website is accurate and correct. Processing time may be extended if: applicant submitted any incorrect information in the application or having any criminal convictions. ETA is initially limited to 30days validity from the date of arrival although it may be extended for up to six months period.

To apply for an ETA applicant must be outside Sri Lanka and should hold a passport that is valid for at least 6 months period. Applicant must apply for ETA with the passport & passport number you will be travelling to Sri Lanka with; as the ETA will be linked to that same passport number.

Sri Lanka ETA visas are electronic; therefore no stamp or label will be placed or is required to be placed, in your passport. The visa is linked to your passport number.

Easy & Instant ETA Process:

1. Select the visa that suits for your purpose of visit to Sri Lanka.

2. Fill-in online application and Pay online instantly

3. Get your ETA Visa. Once you’ve got your visa, you’re eligible to travel to Sri Lanka

[Source: http://www.eta-srilanka-lk.com/]