Visas to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an exotic holiday on the snow-white beaches of the Indian Ocean. Lush tropics with jungles filled with greenery, colorful birds and butterflies, funny monkeys, natural parks with numerous representatives of local flora and fauna - all this attracts the attention of Russian tourists. There are a large number of centers practicing Ayurveda here, there are ancient temples and a real fortress. Avid travelers will have plenty to do on the island.

This is a large and hospitable country with a developing tourism sector. Guests are offered flexible conditions for obtaining a residence permit, among which you can find a suitable option. To choose the optimal type of permit, you need to decide on your vacation plans in advance. This will help save money and simplify the registration procedure.

Features of obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka

From August 1, 2019 to February 1, 2020, the conditions for obtaining have been simplified. Part of the visa fees has been canceled, and hassle with registration has been reduced to a minimum. Once the grace period ends, the government will consider an extension.

The preferential treatment applies to citizens of the following countries:

Russia;
China;
EU;
India.

For representatives of other countries, standard permitting rules apply. The procedure is simple, which is appreciated by tourists from all over the world.

Visa options

For vacationers from Russia, 3 design options are offered:

Online. Request for a residence permit is carried out through the official website of the Immigration Department. The result is receiving an ERP.
Upon arrival. Issued directly at airports and major seaports of Sri Lanka.
Through the embassy. Apply at your place of residence or through a visa center.

These methods are suitable for obtaining a tourist visa.

Obtaining an ERP for short-term stays (up to 30 days)

It is possible to obtain permission only on the official website at the link: eta.gov.lk/slvisa. The resource interface is available in Russian, but you need to fill out the fields of the form in Latin.

To apply you will need:

Availability of a return ticket is mandatory;
account statement – rarely checked;
A foreign passport valid for 6 months at the time of departure from Sri Lanka.

The validity period of the ERP (entry corridor) is up to 3 months, duration of stay is up to 30 days. The cost of a single-entry visa is $35, a multiple-entry visa is $40. Review of applications takes up to 3 days, but usually the result is known in less than a day after submission.

When flying to Sri Lanka, you must have a printed sample of the ETA. A short-term visa will be affixed to your passport directly at the airport.

Visa through the consulate

Issued directly at the representative offices of Sri Lanka. Consulates in Russia are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. If the application is approved, the visa will be affixed before departure.

Required package of documents to obtain permission:

international passport and copies of its pages;
a correctly completed application form;
2 photos 35x45;
return ticket;
account statement.

The permit allows you to stay in the country for 90 days. Processing time is up to 3 days. The total cost of a visa through the consulate is $60 for a single entry, and $85 for multiple entries. To eliminate the possibility of a refusal when submitting an application (the visa fee is non-refundable), and to avoid wasting time and effort, you can seek help from an accredited visa center.

Visa on arrival

You can obtain permission upon arrival at Colombo airport. There is a separate counter in the hall marked “Visa on Arrival”, where all necessary procedures are carried out. The cost of registration is $40. This will require a completed immigration card.

The advantage of using ERP is the absence of queues. Additional difficulties may arise if passengers are checked for a visa before flying to Sri Lanka. ERP is suitable for this.

Extension options

Holidaymakers have the option to extend their residence permit, but there must be a compelling reason to do so.

Renewal conditions.

First extension. Increased length of stay by 60 days. Cost – $20.
Re-extension. Extending the period of stay by 90 days. Cost – $100.

The maximum validity of a tourist visa in Sri Lanka with extension is up to 6 months.

Overstays and penalties

Overstays and types of punishments:

Up to 7 days. Not subject to fines or sanctions.
Until 21 days. Violation subject to a $25 fine. Violators are included in the "red list".
More than 21 days. Gross violation with a $100 fine. The violator is blacklisted, which guarantees problems with obtaining a visa in the future.

Sri Lanka's policy demonstrates loyalty to tourists who could not accurately calculate the duration of their vacation. You shouldn’t count on favors in case of serious delay either.