tourist visa extension application form sri lanka

Extension of Visas for Foreigners in Sri Lanka

Considering the spread of COVID - 19 virus in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka has extended the validity period of all types of Visas for Foreigners in Sri Lanka from 07 th  October 2020 to 05 th  December 2020.

• Sri Lanka Holiday Guru Magazine

Sri Lanka Survival Guide

Visa extensions in sri lanka.

You can renew a 30-day tourist visa twice, for 30 days each time. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Extensions are not hard to get but require jumping through some bureaucratic hoops and downloading some forms.

To complete the process in one day, arrive at the Department of Immigration and Emigration (4th Floor, Suhurupaya, Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla. Directions ) by 10 am and expect it to take at least four hours.

Can I extend the tourist visa for more than 60 days?

A further extension would be considered by the Department of Immigration and Emigration only with valid reasons.

What are the documents I need to extend the visit visa?

Filled application form

1 Passport photo

Return ticket (optional)

Cash / credit card for the visa extension

Download here Sri Lanka Visa Extension Application Form. Take the photo and paste it on the appropriate place of the application. In case you can’t find a printer the printed form is available at the venue including an instant photo booth.

Should the applicant be physically present to extend the Sri Lankan Visa?

It is compulsory for the applicant to be present to collect the visa.

Where can I get a tourist visa renewal Application Form?

Head office of the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Colombo.

Download printable versions of the Application Forms  here

What are the other conditions to renew my tourist visa?

Your intended stay in Sri Lanka should end at least two months before the expiry date of your travel document.

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Last Modified: March 18, 2024

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How to Extend Visa in Sri Lanka

/ Last Update : 2023/05/31

Extend visa in sri lanka.

If you’re looking to extend your visa in Sri Lanka, it’s important to note that obtaining the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival is a mandatory requirement for all travelers

How can I extend my Sri Lanka visa?

There are two methods to extend your Sri Lanka visa:

In-Person Application:

To extend your visa, you need to submit an application to the visa section of the Department of Immigration & Emigration (Head Office). This can be done by visiting the department in person.

Online Application:

Alternatively, you can also apply for a visa extension through the online visit visa extension portal called e-Visa Extension. This provides a convenient and efficient way to extend your visa without the need for an in-person visit.

Can I apply for another visa before it expires?

If you are a tourist who entered Sri Lanka within the landing endorsement period granted by the authorized officers at the port of entry, you can apply for a visa extension before your current visa expires.

How many times can a tourist visa be extended?

In the first instance you can get an extension of up to 90 days from the date of arrival.

Secondly, another 90 days summing up to 180 days from the date of arrival.

Documents Required for Extending a Visit Visa:

If you have obtained a short-term visit visa, you must acquire the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering Sri Lanka. Foreigners should not enter the country without obtaining an ETA.

For a Tourist Visa, the following documents are needed:

✓ Return air ticket. ✓ Address and telephone number of the place of accommodation. ✓ Completed application form with a photograph of the applicant. ✓ Valid Passport. It is compulsory for the applicant to be present during the application and collection of the visa. This requirement is applicable only for those submitting applications at the Department of Immigration and Emigration (Head Office).

For a Business Visa, the following documents are required:

✓ Completed application form with a photograph of the applicant. ✓ Request letter from the business institute/company/agency to extend the business visa. ✓ Valid Passport. ✓ The relevant person or an authorized representative from the business institute should be present to collect the visa. By following these guidelines and providing the necessary documents, you can smoothly extend your tourist visit visa in Sri Lanka.

Key Details

New immigration office sri lanka address & route.

If you plan to visit the immigration department in person and prefer to handle the process on your own, here is a comprehensive DIY guide to help you through the process. Your Visa Extension Sri Lanka Address: 4th Floor, Suhurupaya, Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla.

Sri Lanka Visa Extension Photo Size

Sri Lanka Visa Extension Photo Size : 35mm ( Width ) x 45mm (Height). Head must be between 70 -80 from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. The background should be white. Photos must be in high-resolution colour taken in the last 6 months. You need to take the photo with a neutral expression. Wearing Glasses and head-wear are not permitted except religious or medical reason.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa Extension Fee

Sri Lanka tourist Visa Extension Fee is Depend on Your Country. Please Check Your Visa Extension Cost here : Country and Visa Extension Fee

So, let us begin with the list of what you need there

• Duly filled an application form

• 1 Passport photo

• Return ticket (optional)

• Cash / credit card for visa extension fee

It will be a lot easier if you do your homework before going there.

Download Here  Sri Lanka Visa Extension Application Form  , print it and fill it properly. Take the photo and paste it on the appropriate place of the application.

But, don’t worry if you couldn’t. You can take the application from there and fill. There is a photo counter too.

The office is open Monday to Friday from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM . But earlier you go, lesser the time you spend.

However, you will have to spend some time waiting for your passport to come back. Hence better to be prepared with some entertainment, snacks and water.

Our Experince

We understand the challenges and concerns involved in extending visas in Sri Lanka. Being located near the visa office, we have hosted many guests who have gone through this process. Their questions and expressions reflect the confusion involved. Therefore, as a group of tour guides, we aim to share our knowledge and make the visa extension process in Sri Lanka easier for you.

DIY Guide to Extending a Visa in Sri Lanka in Person

4th floor } immigration office sri lanka.

You will be right there at the entrance to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to extend visa in Sri Lanka.

Just follow the crowd and enter the building through the doors on your left. Walk to the back of the busy waiting area and take the exit to your right hand.

Cross the small street and head up to the building where your office is in. Enter the building from the first glass door.

Walk up to the elevators passing the front desk and take the elevators on your right hand side to get to the 4th Floor of the building. (You can NOT take the elevators on your left as they cater to floors above 9th level)

Tip : Try to be there by 8.30 AM itself to avoid any delays.

Take the right turn, walk up to the Visa division and enter the room passing the sign board which says “Welcome to the Visa Division”. Here you have to follow few steps to extend visa in Sri Lanka

If you already have the duly completed application form along with a passport sized photo attached to it then there is nothing much to do here.

Just hand the application over to the Token Issuing Counter that you find as soon as you enter the Visa division and obtain a token.

Don’t forget to take the application back with you!! .

If not, take an application from the Token Issuing Counter. Fill it properly and proceed to the photo counter to take a photo.

Then show the filled application along with the photo back to the Token Issuing Counter and obtain a token from the Token Issuing Counter.

Go to the waiting area in the same room and stay vigilant for your number to be flashed on monitors.

Once your number is called, hand over your token to the clerk behind the desk who scan it and ask you to proceed to Visa Applications Acceptance Unit.

In here, there are 4 small office rooms labelled A to D and a waiting area where token numbers appear on a monitor as earlier.

Take a seat and wait for your number to be flashed on the screen and proceed to the relevant office room mentioned against your token.

The visa officer there will check your application, scan your passport and instruct you to do the payment at paying counters in Visa Division (where you started the process).

Head back to the Payment Counters and again wait for your token number to appear on the screen.

When your number is called proceed to the counter, hand over your token and pay the relevant amount for your country of origin.

You can either pay the equal amount in Sri Lankan Rupees by cash or in USD itself by credit card. Take your receipt and go to the Visa Issuing Counter.

You will have to stay here for some time where your patience and entertainment options that you brought come in handy.

You can also visit the canteen, found in the first building you entered, to have a snack.

Check the monitors time to time and head to the counters up front when your number is called. Sign the release sheet and get your passport back.

Make sure that the visa extension sticker is pasted on your passport. Double check the new expiry date and other details.

That is it! You have now earned yourself 60 extra days in Sri Lanka!

Thank you for reading our Visual guide to extend visa in Sri Lanka !

We hope you have a wonderful extended stay in Sri Lanka !!

Accommodation Option

If you are staying outside Colombo we suggest you come to Colombo the previous day and stay in a nearby hotel as you have to be at the immigration office as early as possible to avoid any hassle and get your visa extended within the day itself.

As a quality accommodation option nearby, we would like to propose, which is only 4km away from Immigration Office, for your consideration. Here, you will get a high graded hospitality & the team will help in many ways to get your work done.

DBL Room : 42USD   (Morning tea + Snack included)

SGL Room : 32USD   (Morning tea + Snack included)

Book your room > WhatsApp :   +94 (75) 606-6645

Email : [email protected]

cool things to do while visa extension

When you are in Colombo for visa extension, as a traveller, your stay should be meaningful other than just spending your time for the extension. Here are some cool things to do while your visa extension process is going on.

Use this Link:     10 Cool Things to do around Immigration Office Colombo

Visa Extension Gallery

We Love hearing your feedback !! Because your opinion matters to us. we appreciate you taking some time to share your feedback on below comment section. your valuable feedback will certainly help us for better understandings how we can improve your experience. Thank you in advance for your kind assistance & We’re looking forward to hearing what you have to say!.

Blog Comments

Right here is the perfect web site for anybody who wants to understand this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a subject which has been discussed for many years. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!

Really helpful article.

I read somewhere that you can get a Visa extension online by reapplying for the 30 day ETA – is that correct? Everywhere else says you have to go to the immigration office but would be great to avoid the trip as it doesn’t fit well with our travel plans

Thank you for your feedback. not sure about this.

Thank youuu!!! Was really good the guide!!! I appreciate you’re time invested!!!

Thank you for being so helpful when I messaged about the visa extension forms ????????✨ xxx

Your welcome Ana & Laura!Thank you for your feedbck! ????????✨

I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet people, its really really nice article.

Thank you for your wonderful comment!

Thank you for the great Guide!

We are planning to travel to Weligama for 60-80 days and will have to get the ETA online. Is it going to be a problem if we indicate the tickets back with dates that are after 60 days, rather than 30 days that ETA visa will be for? Also, does it make sense to go to the immigration office right away after arrival and extend visa, or better to come later?

Thank you for your comment. Already answered your question. Please ready below

I am here on a 30 day tourist visa but I have a flight back to India at the end of the 30 days like 1day later ? would that be a issue? do i need to get a visa extension for that one day?

Yes, Technically you need to have an extension.

Thanks for your excellent guide! Q1: if I go to the visa office can I get an extended visa for my wife too or does she has to show up personally? Q2: Sri Lanka consulate told me on the phone that there is maybe the possibility to get an extended visa already at the Airport when entering the country. Do you know if that is correct/possible?

Hello! Thanks for the article! How much will cost each extension? And If I come by online visa and plan to be in SriLanka for 180 days, can I have back tickets booked at the end of 180 days period? Or they should be booked on 30 days expirations of first online visa?

Thank you for contacting us. We have already answered the question. Please check

Hi Fantastic guide, I was wondering if it is the same procedure for an extension of visa to a 3 year old child? My daughter is staying more than a month and wouldn’t want any problem when we are in the aitport Thank you

Dear Guest, Thank you for your comment. Yes, it is. that’s the general policy

You don’t have to take your daughter for the extension. but you need to have documents to approve.

I am from India and I want to visit Sri Lanka for scuba diving, and my course is 6 months long. Is it possible for me to extend my visa for 6 months, ie first extension is 90 days and then 180 days. How true is that? as i would love to complete my course without leaving srilanka after 3 months as per the out of no where rules !! Kindly help me with the final and detail inquiry for the said .

Hi how many days before i need to extend my visa for another 90 days.can i extend my visa before 1 week

Dear team, Thanks for your wonderful information. And wanna know,if I need to stay only 5 days more after my 30days visa expired,can I get only 5days visa extension?As I will not stay a month,dont want to waste money for extra 25 days. Please reply me as soon as possible. Thanks in advance.

I recently extended my visa for another month. Arrived at 8:30 and had my passport back at 11:30 which I was quite impressed with (I expected to be there all day). I wasn’t asked for proof of funds nor a return flight – not to say they won’t of course.

Thank you very much for your invaluable feedback. We are extremely happy to hear that our blog helped you to get the visa extended within just 3 hours, which took around 2 days earlier. Yes, they don’t ask for those in some instances but it is always safe to keep them with you to avoid unnecessary hassle

Hi Rustic Tour Guide. Such an informative article, thank you! Do you know if there are any restrictions on travelling in/out of Sri Lanka whilst on an extended tourist visa? I may need to go back to UK for a few days. Thanks in advance, Briony

I have a similar question to Bryony! In January, I got my visa extended until the 20th April. I went to Thailand for a week to see a friend and came back yesterday. I was surprised to find out that I needed to buy another 30 day visa at Colombo airport to come back in. Is my original three month visa extension now invalid? Ie do I need to get my 30 day visa (the one I had to get yesterday) extended again? Or am I still ok to stay until the 20th April? I’m somewhat confused, would really appreciate your help! Caroline

Hi Caroline,

Let me explain you which is not explained anywhere on the internet. When you apply for online visa (ETA) or On Arrival Visa, you get a 30 day visa with dual entry. However, if you extend it before expiring (ie within first 30 days of your arrival), then you dual entry option gets cancelled automatically and if you leave the country, your whole visa gets cancelled as well. In that case you are considered a new traveler and you will have to get a new visa to re-enter the country. So, in your case, you will have to get a new extension to your new visa if you would like to stay until April.

However, since you get a dual entry with your online 30 day visa, you can leave and re-enter the country during first 30 days of your arrival as long as you have not extended it. Hope this helps and clear !

Ah thank you for your help! I had assumed it was double entry because the ETA was. Oh well! Glad you are here to clarify things!

Yes, your visa gets cancelled if you leave the country whilst on extension. So, you will need a new visa to re-enter the country if you leave for UK in between. However, since you get a dual entry with your online 30 day visa, you can leave and re-enter the country during first 30 days of your arrival as long as you have not extended it.

Got it, thanks so much for taking the time to explain. This is a really useful blog post!

Hi Briony ! its pleasure to help you !! Have a nice trip !!

Hi guys! Just wanted to drop you a line to say that I really enjoyed reading your article. Great perspective. Have an awesome day!

Thank you Ching!! Appreciated !!

I don’t have an outbound flight as yet, has this typically been a problem for people trying to extend their visas?

We recommend you to take it with you to avoid unnecessary time waste and rejections.

Somebody asked the same question above but it hasn’t yet been answered — I will be going to the office to get a visa extension for my family (wife and 2 kids). Does anyone know if everybody needs to be there at the office, or if I can just bring their forms, photos and passports? Thx!

Except Kids, Others are advised to come ! Parents need to have documents to prove absent children`s custody !

Hi Team I was in SriLanka recently (with my wife) for 6 weeks holiday. I extended my visa for another 30 days just before the 30 day current visa, through someone known to immigration office. I paid him 25000Rs for both of us. Is this the correct amount or not. I believe he robbed our money. Please let me know what is the correct amount in total for 2 of us. Thanks Sunil

Dear Sunil, Thank you for reaching to us. We feel sorry about the situation you ran into. Please provide us a little more information. What is your residential country. tks !

Hi, I’m also interested in knowing if it is possible for only me to be present to apply for extensions for our whole family (me, my husband and our baby). I imagine the long wait will make my 6-month-old infant quite cranky and it would be nice to avoid that. Also is it possible (and if yes, then what is needed) to extend the stay beyond 90 days? We would love to stay for 115 days in total.

Except Kids, Others are advised to come ! Parents need to have documents to prove absent children`s custody

Is a flight out required for the extension?

Hi Daniel, We recommend you to take it with you to avoid unnecessary time waste and rejections.

This is fantastic advice. We plan to stay in Sri Lanka for 80 days so we went to the immigrant office on Monday at 2pm just after we arrived in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately they could not process the extension that day. ( A note that although they state they are open until 4pm, they actually stop taking applications at 2pm). We had to leave early the next day to head south and will now have to go back to Colombo to apply. My question is do you know if my wife and daughter have to be present to apply for the visa extensions or can I make the trip back to Colombo myself with their passports and forms? This would save them having to making the trip as well…

Usually They advice everyone to attend the extension process personally. But let us check your case with them and get back to you.

Hi, do you know a cheap agency that does visa extension for you? Thanks!

Dear Clau, Yes,We have an experienced team of assistants who will give you an invaluable service in extending the visa in Sri Lanka. They will accompany you to relevant places and do the paperwork on behalf of you or guide you to do it. It is a saving of your precious time and you will have your peace of mind. Please drop us a mail at [email protected] with your request.

Hii this article is really worth. .I would like to know that I’m landing to sl November 27th. Is there anu possible that I can go n extent my visa on November 29th .. just before I start my journey if I can do it ..it will be awesome. ..thank you for the informations

Dear Thilini, Thank you for your message. Yes, This is possible but you need to give them a proper reason for the early extension.

Hi, I would also like to apply for the extension as soon as I arrive. What would you class as a proper reason? I’m travelling by bicycle so for me returning to the capital from somewhere else on the island would be a lot of time and effort, do you think this would be classed as a valid reason? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi Nicki, Thank you for the question. Yes, it is.

The great article was written here This provides a very informative content on the visas

Thank you for taking time to share your valuable feedback!

Super helpful, bookmarked! Since it seems so easy to extend your visa, why is there such a strict requirement to show an outward ticket when you arrive? I am coming to SR in a few days and I don’t know how long for – but I have to buy a plane ticket out which I am not planning to use. Do you know of any way round this problem?

Thank you for the helpful post.

Dear Mike, I feel sorry to hear if you found any inconvenience to arrive. Please let us know your country to give you some tips.

I am here on a 30 day tourist visa but I have a flight back to china at the end of the 30 days (Oct-10) my flight coming back to Colombo is not until the (Dec-10) can the extension start when I get back on(Dec-10)?

Also I will be leaving for 8 days (Dec-22-30) for Christmas

What is the most cost effective way to handle this?

Best option would be to come back using a new entry permit rather than extending visa as extension starts immediately after your entry permit (if 30 tourist visa you already have) expires. There is no option to start the extension on the desired day. In your case extension will start Oct 10th and end on Dec 10th as an extension is given for 2 months. So, come back using a new entry permit and extend the new visa accordingly if you wish to stay longer.

Wow! what a helpful blog… Thank you for your vaulable information as all in one well illustrated guide. Could you please anyone share the price details for extension? My baby son from Germany will stay with his mother for another 2 more months! Thank you

For a German national it will cost 26.8 USD. Please refer to http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=203&lang=en#G

we only have one day (Monday) to extend visa, flying Monday late night out of colombo. is it feasible to say that a visa extension can be gotten within ONE DAY? Otherwise we have to arrive in Colombo on Thursday to get it on Friday as office is closed on the weekend. thank you. We would waste 5 days just to get this visa early. We cannot get it when we arrive as we have an ayurveda treatment starting right away and will be picked up at airport in the middle of the night.

it depends, but mostly you may get the extension within one day.

Great guide, thanks. We plan to travel Sri Lanka for 35 days, but only plan to stay in Colombo a few days when we arrive, and then return just before we leave. Do you know if it possible to get the visa extension at the beginning of your stay in Sri Lanka, so we do not have to return to Colombo in the middle of our stay? Thanks

Hi Holger, at the moment It is possible. it could be changed without prior notice. So, we recommend other guest to check if there is new regulation implemented at their time. Hope this helps !!

Great! This article saved couple of my days. Had it not been for this I would have spent lot of time and money looking for this information. It is quite a comprehensive article with all the required documents, instructions on the process and map inside the office. Since I was staying in a village so far away, I came to Colombo the previous day and stayed at the Villa which very close to the Colombo immigration office. It is a cool place with a great personality. highly recommend to stay if you come a day before to Colombo !!

Thank you very much for your precious time in giving us a motivating feedback. Really happy to hear that it helped

Thank you very much for the wonderful Guide. You saved my time !! I have 30 days on arrival Visa and I need another 10 days extension. This week I have to Visit Immigration office, Colombo. This would be a big help !!

You are welcome and thank you very much for your valuable feedback. Nice to know that it was helpful to you

sehr gründliche und umsetzbare Guideline, das hat mir sehr geholfen, sonst hätte ich mehr Zeit damit verbringen müssen, nichts im Immigrationsbüro zu wissen. Vielen Dank!! Ich ging durch das Internet, um zu erfahren, wie Touristenvisa in Sri Lanka verlängert werden können. Zum Glück habe ich das gefunden.

Ihr Feedback ist sehr geschätzt und großartig zu hören, dass es Ihre Zeit gespart hat. Vielen Dank für den wertvollen Beitrag

I am traveling to SL for a total of 44 days this July and August. I have taken a gander at the visa application process and I think I can enter with the multi day visit visa, and should then extend it. I’ve likewise observed that I can download and print the shape for extending the visa on-line.

Does anybody know where I have to go to process the augmentation? Are there offices that will help with this (for a charge obviously!) and any thought if extending is costly?

You have to visit the immigration and emigration office in Colombo as mentioned in the article above. There can be some individuals who help with the process but not official places. So, we can’t recommend anyone and I think it is not that difficult to get it done yourself if you follow our article above. Please refer to this link for the cost of extending visa

Oh wow! Thanks so much for this detailed information about extending a tourist visa. I was actually wondering about that for my travels when I stumbled on to your site. I love all the details and visuals to go with everything. Definitely answered my questions I had!

You`re Most Welcome !! Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad I was able to help You !!

Really great information here, I have to read. A visitor wishing to remain over 30 days in Sri Lanka, may apply for an augmentation. The Short Visit visa might be extended up to 90 days from the date of landing in the primary instance and further 90 days at the second instance.

Thank you for your feedback!! it`s a pleasure to hear the guidance is helped

Great informative article for everyone :). While Sri Lanka offers an approach to get a 30-day Tourist Visa online, getting it extended isn’t as helpful. With a specific end goal to extend your stay in Sri Lanka as a tourist, you should by and by visit the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo and apply for one.

Thank you for taking the time to write a comment. I`m really glad if it could help you !!

Excellent guide! All around me people were lost and asking where to go and I was able to help thanks to you!

One note to add, don’t trust that the token numbers appear in order. Be alert!

Thank you Dave !! Highly appreciate your words and taking time to write.

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Sri Lanka Tourist Visa Rules and Extension

In October 2023, Sri Lanka announced a new visa policy in order to increase tourism and encourage foreign investment in the country.

In this article, we will discuss new tourist visa regulations and the extension of tourist visas in Sri Lanka and provide a comprehensive guide to Sri Lanka visa photos.

Table of contents

• Sri Lanka tourist visa policy in 2024
• How to apply for Sri Lanka eTa online?
• Can you apply for Sri Lanka visa-on-arrival?
• How to extend Sri Lanka visa online?
• How to extend Sri Lanka visa at the Immigration office?
• Sri Lanka visa photo requirements
• Get a digital Sri Lanka visa photo online
• Take a Sri Lanka visa photo with phone. 7ID App
• Sri Lanka tourist visa fees

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa Policy in 2024

Every traveler planning a visit to Sri Lanka is obliged to secure a visa, either upon arrival or through prior arrangements. For those embarking on a journey for tourism, the mandatory requirement is an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This authorization grants a complimentary 30-day visa period and the flexibility of double entry, commencing from the initial arrival date in Sri Lanka and valid for 30 days.

In October 2023, Sri Lanka updated its tourist visa policy 2024 to offer free visas to nationals of seven countries: China, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This visa waiver is for a maximum stay of 30 days and can be obtained upon arrival or through an online application. The free visa waiver initiative continues until March 31, 2024, and allows for double entry from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka after October 24, 2023.

Once in Sri Lanka, tourist can extend their stay without leaving the country. Extensions are usually provided in three-month blocks, with a maximum total extension of up to 270 days from the entry.

How to Apply for Sri Lanka ETA Online?

Any traveler planning a short visit to Sri Lanka must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) in advance. Upon arrival, the applicant may be granted a 30-day ETA, with double entries permitted from the first entry date.

To apply for a Sri Lanka ETA online, follow these steps

• Go to the “Apply” option on the official website of Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration & Emigration .
• Fill out the form with the required details, such as personal information, passport details, and travel plans.
• Pay the processing fee with a valid credit or debit card.
• Submit the form and await a confirmation email, which usually arrives within a few hours.
• Print the received ETA approval notice to present to the immigration officer upon arrival in Sri Lanka.

As a reminder, residents of China, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are exempt from the ETA until March 31, 2024, and will receive a free visa on arrival or through an online application.

The ETA is initially valid for 30 days from the date of arrival but can be extended up to six months. To do this, you will need to apply for an ETA visa extension Sri Lanka.

Can you Apply for Sri Lanka Visa on arrival?

It is possible to apply for a visa upon arrival in Sri Lanka. However, most tourists are advised to obtain an ETA before departure for a smoother process. This way, you will avoid a separate visa payment queue on arrival and can go straight through immigration control.

How to Extend Sri Lanka Visa Online?

To apply for your visa extension from Sri Lanka online, follow these steps:

• Go to the Visa Extension Portal on the official website of the Department of Immigration & Emigration of Sri Lanka.
• Fill in all the required details on the visa extension application form for Sri Lanka. This includes personal details, passport details, and itinerary.
• Upload the scan of your passport’ bio page and a digital photo. File sizes must be 100 kb as a maximum.
• After completing the information, apply for an online visa extension in Sri Lanka and await a confirmation email, which usually arrives within a few days.
• Once your visa extension is confirmed, you will receive an approval letter with a payment link. Pay the visa fee online using an accepted credit or debit card.
• Print the ETA approval notice and have it ready to present to the immigration officer when you arrive in Sri Lanka.

Remember that the duration of a short-stay visa can be extended up to a total of 270 days from the date of arrival, with the first extension being for 60 days and the next two extensions for 90 days each.

After 180 days, no electronic visa extensions are available; you must personally visit the Immigration Office in Colombo.

How to Extend a Sri Lanka Visa at the Immigration Office?

Tourist visa extension in Sri Lanka can also be applied for at the Immigration Services Center in Colombo's central business district. Here are the steps:

• Visit the Immigration Services Center with your application and fees. They will give you an approximate time to pick up your passport.
• The center will forward your application to the Department of Immigration for processing and later collect the processed passports.
• You can either pick up your passport in person at the Service Center or have it delivered for a small additional fee.

Sri Lanka Visa Photo Requirements

The Sri Lanka visa photo specifications are as mentioned below:

• The Sri Lanka visa photo size should be 45×35 mm.
• The file size must not exceed 100 kb.
• The photo must be in color.
• Your face should fully face the camera, with a direct gaze and both ears visible.
• The background should be plain, white, and without patterns.
• Head coverings or hats are not allowed, and both sides of the face must be visible.
• Eyeglasses that alter the appearance are not acceptable. It's recommended not to wear glasses for the photo.

These rules apply to both visa and passport photographs for Sri Lanka. The photograph must accompany all fully completed residence visa applications.

Get a Digital Sri Lanka Visa Photo Online

The Visafoto.com service is convenient for getting your Sri Lanka visa photo from home. Simply take a photo with a digital camera or smartphone against a white or off-white background and upload it to the website. You will get a professional-looking passport photo instantly.

The Visafoto tool enhances your photo in moments by:

• Resizing and cropping the image to the correct size.
• Refining the background.
• Correcting a tilted head.
• Resizing for online submissions.
• You will receive a digital copy for online submissions and a print-ready version.
• Guaranteed accuracy of 99.7%. If the photo isn't accepted, Visafoto offers a 100% refund.

Take a Sri Lanka Visa Photo with a Phone

Take a Sri Lanka visa photo with your smartphone using the 7ID App, supported by Visafoto.

Available for iPhone and Android, the 7ID visa photo app provides an easy platform for capturing and editing passport photos. The app is suitable for both online and physical submissions, making the photo editing process seamless.

Simply upload your image, select the appropriate country and document type, and take advantage of 7ID's fine-tuned features:

• Automatic resizing: 7ID's app minimizes manual editing by automatically resizing your image to the required passport size, precisely positioning the head and eyes.
• Background color adjustment: A simple left drag on the slider allows you to change the background to universal colors (such as white, light gray, or blue), as required by official document guidelines.
• Printable templates: Once your passport photo editing is complete, 7ID provides a print-ready template that adheres to your specified size requirements. Suitable for standard paper sizes such as 10×15 cm, A4, A5 or B5. Print at home or your local print shop.
• Advanced Editing (Expert feature): 7ID's Advanced Passport Photo Editor uses sophisticated algorithms to improve image quality, enhance edits, and remove backgrounds flawlessly for critical documents such as passports or DV lottery applications.
• 24/7 Support and Quality Checks (Expert feature): With the Expert feature, you get uninterrupted support and image checks to ensure the best results. If the image is unsatisfactory or rejected, a photo replacement is available.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa Fees

The cost of a tourist visa for Sri Lanka depends on both the nationality of the applicant and the location from which they are applying. Below are the details:

Nationals of SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) are charged a fee of US$20 for an ETA for a 30-day double-entry tourist visa. Other nationalities are charged US$50 for the same.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from ETA fees.

The ETA for the 30-day tourist visa with a double entry facility is US$30 for SAARC nationals and US$55 for other nationalities.

Travelers from SAARC countries pay a fee of US$25, while those from other countries pay US$60 for the 30-day double-entry tourist visa.

The 30-day double-entry tourist visa fees are US$30 for SAARC countries and US$55 for other countries.

Indian nationals can obtain a tourist visa for Sri Lanka from INR 1999.

Sri Lanka tourist visa extension fees in 2024 are as follows:

• The first extension costs $60, and the visa will be extended for 60 days.
• The second extension costs $150, with an extension period of 90 days.
• The third extension costs $200, providing an additional 90 days of extension.

Prices may vary depending on your nationality.

Note that these prices may vary from time to time, and it's recommended to check the current fees on the official ETA website .

With convenient tools like Visafoto and the 7ID app, you can take perfect and compliant visa, passport, and ID photos anytime, anywhere.

Install Visafoto (7ID app) on your phone!

Passport photos, visa photos and ID photos. QR code storage, PIN code storage, signature file maker.

7ID Website with more information >

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

How to apply for Sri Lanka visa extension online – A step-by-step guide

Published: January 1, 2022 4 Comments

You can apply for a Sri Lanka visa extension from within the country from the comfort of your hotel room. The entire procedure to extend the visa is online, from application submission to payment to receiving the extension.

To prevent tourists from gathering at the immigration office in Colombo, Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration is encouraging tourists to use their online visa extension portal. 

The online visa extension portal is clean, simple and quite easy to use. It takes about 10 minutes to fill the application. About 2 working days to process the extension and another working day for the payment. 

For any reason, if you cannot extend your visa online, you will have to go to the Immigration and Emigration office in Colombo or you have to take the help of an agent. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How long is the visa extension valid for, when should you extend your visa, how long does it take to process the visa extension, how much does the visa extension cost, step 1: registration, 2a. application, 2b. group member / dependent, 2c. confirmation, 2d. success, 3a. payment details, 3b. proceed with the payment, 3c. terms and conditions, 3d. confirm payment details, 3e. card details, 3f. thank you for your payment, 3g. payment success, step 4: visa endorsement, appendix 1: how to reduce the file size to 50kb or less.

Sri Lanka ETA allows you to stay up to 30 days in Sri Lanka. You can extend your visa twice from within the country, once for 60 days and again for 90 days. 

The maximum time you can remain in Sri Lanka continuously as a tourist is 180 days. 

If you exhaust your two allowed extensions, you will have to leave the country.

You can extend your visa anytime after you have entered Sri Lanka on your ETA. You don’t have to wait till the last minute. 

I suggest extending your visa at least a week before your current visa expires as the extension procedure takes a minimum of 3 working days. 

The online Sri Lanka visa extension process takes about 3 working days. It takes 2 working days to process your visa extension application and 1 working day to process your visa extension fee payment. 

The Sri Lanka visa extension fee is $60 USD for the first extension and $90 USD for the second extension. A convenience fee of $2.5 USD will be charged if paying by a Visa/MasterCard and $1.5 USD if paying by American Express. 

STEPS FOR ONLINE SRI LANKA VISA EXTENSION

• Go to Sri Lanka Online Application for Visa Extension
• Click on the “LOGIN” button located at the top right corner of the screen

You will be taken to the “SIGN IN” page.

On the “SIGN IN” page, click on the “REGISTER” button.

You will be taken to the “REGISTRATION PAGE”.

Enter the following in the “Personal Information” section.

• Title [ Comment: Select your title depending on your gender,marital status and profession]
• Last Name [ Comment: Enter your last name as it appears in your passport]
• First Name [ Comment: Enter your given name (or first name + middle name combination) as it appears in your passport]
• Date of Birth [ Comment: Enter your date of birth as it appears on your passport]
• UNSPECIFIED

NOTE The above details DO NOT have to be the same as they appear on your passport. But I suggest keeping them the same so things are clear, clean and leave no room for confusion.

Enter the following in the “Contact Information” section.

• Email [ Comment: Enter the email where you would like to receive your visa extension approval]
• Confirm Email [ Comment: Re-enter your email to confirm]

Enter the following in the “Passport Information” section.

• Password [ Comment: Enter a new password so you can log into the account]
• Confirm Password [ Comment: Re-enter the password to confirm]

Enter the following in the “Address of Resident” section.

• Address of Resident [ Comment: Enter your address from your country of residence or home country]
• Contact Number (Foreign) [ Comment: Enter your phone number from your country or residence or home country]

Enter the following in the “Address in Sri Lanka” section.

• Address in Sri Lanka [ Comment:   Enter your current hotel or apartment address in Sri Lanka]
• Contact Number (Sri Lankan) [ Comment: Enter your Sri Lanka mobile phone number]

Click on the “SAVE AND CONTINUE” button.

You will be taken back to the SIGN IN page. You will see a “Please check your email for the Account Verification Code” popup. 

Click on the “OK” button to close the popup.

Check your email inbox for an email with the subject “Welcome to Online Visa Extension”. It will have a verification code in it. You need this verification code to sign in.

Enter the following on the “SIGN IN” page.

• Email Address [ Comment: The email address used to register your account earlier]
• Password [ Comment: The password you have created during registration earlier]
• Verification Code [ Comment: The verification code from the welcome email]
• Remember me [ Comment: Check this box so your browser will remember your info for the next time]

Click on the “LOGIN” button. 

You will be taken to the home page again. You should see your email as the logged-in user.

STEP 2: APPLY

Enter the following information on the home page.

• Passport No [ Comment: Enter the number of your passport that you have used to enter Sri Lanka]
• Nationality [ Comment: Enter your passport nationality]

Click on the “APPLY>” button.

You will be taken to the “APPLICATION” page.

The online visa extension portal automatically pulls your Sri Lanka entry details from their immigration database using your passport number and nationality. 

Review the following information in the “Personal Details” section.

• Your Current ETA
• Will Expires On
• Reason for visiting
• Nationality
• Visa Issue Date
• Passport Exp. Date

Upload the supporting documents in the “Please Upload Supports Documents For Your Visa” section.

Documents need to be uploaded

• Passport size photograph [ Comment: MANDATORY. Upload your passport size digital color photo]
• Copy of the passport [ Comment: MANDATORY. Upload a scan of your passport ID page]
• Return air ticket (if available) [ Comment: OPTIONAL. Flight ticket is not required for the first extension, but maybe required for the second extension]
• Company request letter (if available) [ Comment: NOT REQUIRED]
• Other document [ Comment: NOT REQUIRED]

Document file format

The two mandatory documents (a) passport size photo and (b) passport ID page must be in “JPG” format only. 

Document file size

Each file must be less than 50kb in size. If the file size is larger than 50kb, the system will not accept the file upload.

50kb is ridiculously small, so it can be quite challenging to compress your documents that small. But there are quite a few online tools that do a good job. I have provided you with a tool that I used and the steps to compress your files to 50kb or less in APPENDIX 1 [ GO TO APPENDIX 1 ].

Follow the below steps to upload your passport size photo

• From the dropdown, select “Passport size photograph”
• Click on “Choose a file” button
• Select the your 50kb or less passport size digital photo in JPG format
• Click on “Upload File”
• You will see a “File uploaded successfully” popup
• Click on “OK” button to close the popup
• You should see your uploaded file renamed as “photograph.jpeg” under “Uploaded Files”

Follow the below steps to upload your passport ID page

• From the dropdown, select “Copy of the Passport – jpg format”
• Select the your 50kb or less passport ID page in JPG format
• You should see your uploaded file renamed as “passport.jpeg” under “Uploaded Files”

Enter the following in Address of Resident (Overseas Address)

• Address of Resident (Overseas Address) [ Comment: Enter your current address in your country of residence or home country]
• Contact Number (Foreign) [ Comment: Enter your mobile phone number in your country of residence]

Enter the following in Address in Sri Lanka

• Address in Sri Lanka [ Comment: Enter your current hotel or apartment address in Sri Lanka]
• Contact Number (Sri Lankan) [ Comment: Enter your Sri Lankan mobile phone number]

Enter the following information in the rest of the page.

• Details of previous visit to Sri Lanka within immediate six months if any [ Comment: If you have visited Sri Lanka earlier in the last 6 months, enter the details here]
• Email [ Comment: Enter the email where you would like to received your extension approval]
• Reason for Extension [ Comment: Select “TOURIST” or “HOLIDAY”]
• Extend Until [ Comment: You are allowed to extend until “Allowed Max Date”, so enter any date on or before “Allowed Max Date”]

The following dates will be displayed at the bottom of the form to give you an idea of when you’ve entered, how long you are allowed to extend and also the longest extension date possible. 

Arrival Date This is the date on which you arrived in Sri Lanka.

Allowed Max Date This is the date until which you are allowed to extend your current visa. 

Max Date This is the date until which you are allowed to stay in Sri Lanka if a second extension is requested and approved. 

You will be taken to the “GROUP MEMBER / DEPENDENT” page.

If you are extending the visa just for yourself, you can skip this section. If you are traveling as a couple, family or group, you can use this section to extend the visas for your group members as well. 

Some travelers have expressed issues when extending visas as a group. I suggest extending each visa individually to avoid any troubles.

Review the information displayed on this page, especially your passport number and Visa Extend Date.

Check the box for declaration.

Click on the “CONFIRM” button.

You will be taken to the “SUCCESS” screen.

On this page, your application reference number will be displayed. 

Check your email inbox, you will receive an email confirming the application submission.

STEP 3: VISA PAYMENT

After about two working days, once your visa extension is approved, you will receive an email with payment instructions. 

The email will contain a PDF attachment with payment instructions. 

Open the PDF attachment.

The PDF attachment will have a link for online visa payment specific to your visa.

Click on the link.

You will be taken to the “PAYMENT DETAILS” page.

On the “PAYMENT DETAILS” page, you will see your visa extension details along with the green “PAY ONLINE” button.

Click on the green “PAY ONLINE” button.

You will be taken to the “PROCEED WITH THE PAYMENT” page.

On this page, you will see the two payment options and the convenience fee for each option. 

If you use an American Express card, you will be charged a convenience fee of $1.5 USD.

If you use a Visa or MasterCard, you will be charged a convenience fee of $2.5 USD.

Click on the green “Proceed” button.

You will be taken to the “Terms and Conditions” page.

NOTE Occasionally, you will see an error when you click on the “Proceed” button. In such a case, try clearing your cookies or use the Chrome Incognito browser.

Enter the following details on the “TERMS AND CONDITIONS” page.

• I Accept [ Comment: Read through the terms and conditions and check this box]
• AMEX/Diners
• Any Visa/MasterCard (Paycorp/AutoSettle – USD)

Click on the blue “Proceed” button.

You will be taken to the “CONFIRM PAYMENT DETAILS” page.

NOTE From this step onwards, you will have only 10 minutes to complete the payment. Else, it will time out and you will have to start over from step “3a. PAYMENT DETAILS”.

On this screen, you will see the total amount you need to pay including the convenience fee. 

Click on the blue “Pay Now” button.

You will be taken to the credit card form.

Enter the following information in the credit card form.

• Card Number [ Comment: Enter your credit or debit card number]
• Expiry [ Comment: Enter the expiry date as it appears on your card]
• CVC [ Comment: Enter the CVC number as it appears on your card]
• Name on Card [ Comment: Enter your name as it appears on your card]
• Amount($) [ Comment: No need to enter anything here as the total amount will be shown here by default]

Click on the orange “Submit” button.

Your payment will be processed and then you will be taken to the “THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAYMENT” page.

On this page, a payment receipt will be displayed with details such as your payment result, reference number, amount, etc. 

You can print your payment receipt by clicking on the green “Print” button.

Check your email inbox. You will also receive an email confirmation of your payment. 

Now you can go back to the “PAYMENT DETAILS” page and refresh it to see if your payment status is updated.

Usually, it takes a few hours for the payment status to get updated. 

Once your payment status is updated, the green “PAY ONLINE” button will be replaced with a yellow “✓Paid” status.

Also, you will see a statement at the bottom of the page indicating your payment was successful. 

After one working day, you will receive a visa endorsement email notifying you that your visa has been successfully extended.

The email contains a PDF attachment of your visa endorsement. 

Open the PDF attachment and check the details. Make sure your full name, passport number, visa number and extension date are all correct.

Print or save this visa endorsement PDF as you may need it to present at the passport control when leaving Sri Lanka. 

Follow the below steps to reduce your file size to 50kb or less.

• Go to resizepixel.com
• Click on “UPLOAD IMAGE”

• Once the image is uploaded, at the bottom of the screen, you will see the original and current dimensions and the file size of the image uploaded

• From the left side menu options, click on the “Resize” option
• Change the longest dimension to 1000px. Keep the “Fixed aspect ratio” checked
• Click on the “Resize” button
• Once the image is resized, at the bottom of the screen, you will see the new dimensions and new file size of the image uploaded

• From the left side menu options, click on the “Compress” option
• Enter 50 kb for the compression
• Click on the “Compress” button
• Once the image is compressed, at the bottom of the screen, you will see the new file size of the image
• Click on the “Go to Download” button to download your new image.

Check the quality and size of the image. If necessary, repeat the above steps. 

That’s it, guys! Make sure to carry a print of your Sri Lanka visa extension PDF with you when leaving Sri Lanka. 

If you are having any troubles with your Sri Lanka visa extension application, let me know in the comments below.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

06. Get your zero-fee ATM card

You can manage money internationally in over 70 currencies using  Wise . With a Wise card, you can store and withdraw cash in 40 currencies with zero ATM fees. 

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Hi! I'm Nico and these are my stories as a third culture kid who calls Sri Lanka home.

How To Extend A Sri Lanka Tourist Visa (2019 Updated)

– Last updated on March 11, 2019

– This post originally appeared on www.whereintheworldisnico.com and has been optimized for this site.

– Updated link for form thanks to Marjorie ! She also provides a great tip applying for a Multiple Entry Visa if you plan on using Sri Lanka as a launching pad to visit nearby countries.

– Added contact for 3rd Party Visa Service

–  Mayeu M pointed out that someone calls numbers for Visit Visas and Residence Visas.

While Sri Lanka offers a way to obtain a 30-day Tourist Visa online , getting it extended is not as convenient. In order to extend your stay in Sri Lanka as a tourist, you will need to personally visit the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo and apply for one.

The process is straight forward but can be time-consuming since the office gets quite busy. I went through this process myself in 2017 and 2019 and the following post details what you can expect.

How to extend your 30-day Sri Lanka Tourist Visa (Electronic Travel Authorization):

1. Pick a day you want a pay a visit to the Department of Immigration and Emigration. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm with an hour long break for lunch in the middle.

If you apply for the extension before lunch, you are going to get your passport back before the day ends. On the other hand, if you apply much later in the day, you might be asked to come back the next day to pick up your passport.

2. The day before you plan to go, print out and complete this form . It is also mandatory to include a passport sized photo with the application so stick one on if you have one. There is a photo station at the office if you don’t have access to a photo but you will save a lot of time if you go in with the application fully completed and a picture in hand.

Here’s everything you need to bring with you:

• Completed form
• 1 x passport photo
• Cash/credit card for visa extension fee (amount per country is below)
• Water & snacks
• Some form of entertainment (book, movies, podcasts, etc)
• Sweater if you get cold easily
• Patience , everything is done in waves so you’ll be sitting around a few times waiting for something to happen.

There is a refillable water station in the hallway just outside of the area labeled “A”

3. The most convenient way to get to the office, which is actually located just outside of Colombo city limits, is using the taxi hailing services PickMe or Uber . It is imperative to get there as the office opens at 8:30 am to have the shortest waiting time. Unfortunately, the stretch of road heading to this side of town is jam packed with morning rush hour traffic. Depending on where you are coming from, give yourself 30 minutes to an hour to get to this office. 

4. The Department of Immigration & Emigration is the name of the office and you can enter that in the taxi app you are using or just tell your driver to take you to the Immigration office. Most of them know should know where that is. The ride should cost anywhere from 150 – 500 Rupees (~USD 1 – 3.50) so don’t get hit with the “tourist tax” by a driver trying to take advantage of an uninformed tourist. 

This is the location of the office:

5. Once you arrive, you will see a big blue sign that says Department of Immigration & Emigration with an entrance right alongside it. Go through the doors and you’ll see a rather busy waiting area. 

6. Walk to the back of this room, take the exit, and cross the little street to the building that the office is really in.

7. Head up the stairs and take the first glass door to your right.

8. After entering the building, walk past the front desk and stairwell towards the two sets of elevator banks. The one on your left goes to floors 09-19 while the one on the right goes to G – 08. The office you are looking for is on the 4th floor so take the elevator bank on your right to go upstairs.

9. Get off on the 4th floor, turn right towards a room with a C on it and a sign that says “Welcome To The Visa Division” . Walk through the doors, pull out your completed application and passport and hand it to the clerk sitting at the desk right after you enter this area. He will hand you a number token and ask you to sit in Wing C nearby and wait for that number to be called.

1. If you don’t have a passport photo, there is a photo station to your right as you walk into this room. You can get 4 photos for 250 Rupees (~1.75 USD). You cannot get a number token unless your application has a photo.  2. If the clerk issuing the number token asks you to stick on your passport photo to your application, there is a bottle of glue located in Wing C by the pillar.

10. Head to Wing C, take a seat, and watch the monitors by the wall for your number to flash. At the bottom of the screen are the numbers that are due to be called so you can see how far back in line you are. 

There is also an extension fee schedule posted on the wall by the monitors in this area so you can see how much your extension is going to cost.

11. Once your number is called, hand over your token to the clerk behind this desk who will scan it and then tell you to proceed to Area B. Head out through the doors of this room, walk straight along the hallway to a door labeled B called “ Visa Application Acceptance Unit”  and walk in.

You will see another monitor hoisted on the wall on the pillar for Waiting Area B . Take a seat here and wait for your number to be called. Once your number flashes, head to the counter indicated for your number. It is really an office, not a counter, and there are four of them labeled A – D that are all lined up against each other.

I was called into counter B. After waiting 5 minutes for the visa officer to show up, I handed him my passport and application. He flipped through the pages, scanned my passport and asked me to go pay for the extension. Payments are made in Area C (where you started) so thank the officer and head back to that other area.

While the immigration officials recommend that you have a onward ticket and evidence of why you want to extend your stay on the island, I got very little indication that is 100% necessary. Nevertheless, your YMMV but I didn’t get the impression that supporting documentation of any kind is required.

12. Head back to Area C and find the Shroff Counters which are located behind the desk that issues number tokens in step (9).

13. Take a seat and wait for your number to flash on the screens. You will be seated in this section for a while so get your entertainment ready and periodically keep an eye out on the large monitor above the desk for your number to be called.

There is a counter near the entrance of Area C which sells some short eats and coffee. If they sell out, you can purchase more snacks, fresh juice, and a nice rice & curry lunch at the cafeteria on the 7th floor.

14. Once called, hand over your token number and confirm the amount that you have to pay for your country of origin. The teller is going to quote you a price in Rupees after a conversion from USD. You can either pay in cash in Sri Lankan Rupees or hand them a Visa or MasterCard and be charged in USD.

As a Philippines passport holder, I was on the hook for USD 30. Since I was paying with a credit card, it didn’t really matter what the Rupees rate was.

After you complete the payment, get your receipt and head over to the waiting area behind Wing C in step (10).

15. This is the last step and you will have to wait here until your passport is ready to be released. When I visited in 2017, the large monitor on top of the desk would indicate which tokens were available for pickup. In 2019, someone just started reading out token numbers which caused a large mob to form up front. I suggest getting a seat in the first 2 rows so you are able to hear the numbers being called without having to get up.

Someone comes on the PA system periodically and starts calling out numbers for tourist visas and residence visa applicants to pick up their passports. Your number might also flash on the screens above when your passport is ready for pick up.

16. Once your token number is called, head to the counters up front, hand over your token number, sign the release sheet, and get your passport back. Check whether the visa extension sticker is in your passport with a new expiry date. You’re all set!

17. On your way out, you could also check out the food court by the entrance you came into in step (5) for some cheap eats. There is a wide range of food from Sri Lankan food to burgers. I got a fried rice lunch for 450 Rupees (~USD 3).

You can extend your stay one more time by repeating the same process as above but you will pay an additional  10,000 Rupees (~USD 56)  government tax on top of your extension fee. They might scrutinize your application more since you’ve already had one extension so bring some supporting documents with you. If successful, you can extend you stay for another 60 days for a grand total of  150 days .

PERSONAL VISA EXTENSION TIMELINE (2017):

Arrived at Department of Immigration & Emigration

Sat down in Wing C after getting number

Number called, scanned and headed to Area B

Number called in Area B, handed passport and application before going back to Area C for payment

Sat down in Area C and waited

Paid $30 and moved to the waiting area for visa issuing

Picked up application forms and passport with visa extension sticker 

PERSONAL VISA EXTENSION TIMELINE (2019):

Visa Extension Services

You’re in luck because there are many 3rd party agencies that can do it for you for a fee. One such agency that was recommended to me by a friend is  Island Visa Services . I rang them up and they quoted me  12,500 Rupees (~USD 82) , which includes the visa fee and pick up/drop off service, to renew my visa based on my Philippines passport. It was a little more than I wanted to spend which is why I did it myself.

Hooray! You get to stay in Sri Lanka a little longer. What are you most excited to see or do now that you can stay on the island a little longer?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nico Atienza

Chief Storyteller

An expat remote worker based in Colombo, Sri Lanka with a penchant for window seats on planes, travel, and technology that makes everyone’s lives easier.

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👋🏼 My name is Nico and I am an expat based in Colombo, Sri Lanka with a penchant for window seats on planes, travel, and technology that makes everyone’s lives easier.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa

• Table of contents

Traveling to Sri Lanka

Who needs an sri lanka visa, sri lanka tourist visa validity, a complete application form, valid payment method, valid return ticket, proof of sufficient funds, sri lanka visa application steps, sri lanka tourist visa fees, where to apply, sri lanka tourist visa processing time, approved visa applications, sri lanka visa extension, sri lanka tourist visa faq.

From diverse wildlife to some of the most exquisite heritage sites, Sri Lanka is a very popular tourist destination. The small country has made a name for itself as an affordable and scenic vacation spot. Beach resorts and ecotourism are some of the top tourist choices. For history fans, UNESCO has named eight World Heritage Sites across the country and there are even more natural reserves declared by the government. Sri Lankans are known for being warm and hospitable. 

Citizens of Syria and North Korea are required to apply for a Sri Lanka tourist visa prior to traveling, while tourists from all other countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization (eTA) through the official Sri Lanka online portal before arriving in the country. Sri Lankan dual nationals are exempt from any visa requirements.

Sri Lanka Visit Visas are available for tourism, business, and transit purposes. The tourist visa is primarily intended for sightseeing, visiting friends and family, or attending a cultural or sporting event. Sri Lankan tourist visit visas are valid for 30 days and permit single or double entry. Double entry visas allow tourists to leave and reenter the country twice during their stay.

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa Requirements

Applying for a Sri Lankan visa is easy and fast with just a few basic requirements. Applicants must submit the following to ensure a successful outcome for their tourist visa:

The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.

The visa application form must be completed with the correct information through the online visa portal. 

Applicants can use any electronic payment card, including credit cards and e-commerce compatible debit cards. Only Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted.

The return ticket should clearly show the date the applicant will be departing from Sri Lanka. 

Applicants should be able to present proof of financial support for the duration of their trip.

Tourists traveling to Sri Lanka will find the eTA application process to be very straightforward and easy to follow. To obtain their eTA, they can follow these simple steps:

Applicants should visit the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization System to start the online application.

The eTA form can be completed easily online and submitted through the electronic portal.

Fees should be paid online using a valid credit or debit card. Some alternative options are available on the official website.

Once the application is successfully received, applicants will receive a notice of receipt promptly. 

ETA applications can be submitted in one of several ways: by the applicant, by a third party, at a Sri Lanka Overseas Mission office, at the head office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E) in Colombo, or upon arrival at the port of entry in Sri Lanka. 

Applicants will be contacted by the Sri Lankan immigration authorities if they need to take any further steps. The eTA should arrive within a few working days and should be presented to the border officer upon arrival.

The Sri Lanka tourist visa is very affordable and can be obtained for just $50 for most nationalities. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries will pay only $20 for the same visa.

Applicants who plan to visit Sri Lanka to engage in tourism activities for a short period of time can apply for and obtain an eTA online at the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization System .  Applicants can log on and complete the eTA application form in just a few minutes. Citizens of Syria and North Korea are also required to apply for a visa at the Sri Lankan embassy.

Applicants can expect to see a decision regarding their eTA very shortly after submitting their application. Tourist visas for Sri Lanka are usually processed within a few working days.

If the tourist visa has been approved, the applicant should print out their eTA and be prepared to present it to the border officer upon arrival to Sri Lanka. It’s a good idea to keep a copy while traveling in the country as well.

Tourists who want to stay longer than 30 days can apply to extend their Sri Lanka tourist visa. Short-term visas can be extended for up to 270 days in three instances. In the first instance, they can request an extension of 60 days and an additional 90 days in the second and third instances. 

Applications for tourist visa extensions must be submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration. They have a designated visa section in their Head Office. Tourists can also submit their applications through the visit visa extension portal . 

Applicants who plan to visit Sri Lanka to engage in tourism activities for a short period of time can apply for and obtain an eTA online at the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization System . Citizens of Syria and North Korea are also required to apply for a visa at the Sri Lankan embassy.

No, the eTA can be obtained before any flights are booked.

The eTA processing fees can be paid for with a valid credit or debit card through the online portal.

Check if you need a visa for your next destination

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