Sri Lanka Visa information
If you need a visa, to travel to Sri Lanka, you must obtain it from the nearest Sri Lanka mission. If no such facility available, get in contact with the Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Colombo, Srilanka.
There are 5 types of visas available.
1. Multiple Entry Visas
2. Residence Visas
3. Visit Visas
4. Transit Visas
5. Special Resident Guest Visas Applications for Residence Visas / Visas under the Special Resident Guest Scheme
should be made to the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration.
These visa periods, can be extended prior to the expiration of the visa at the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration in
Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Department of immigration and emigration,
No 41 Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha,
Colombo 10 (Punchi Borella)
How to reach by public transport bus?
Use Route No 103,144,171- in front of the Fort Railway station. Get down at the Punchi Borella Junction. (Bus
conductors and general public call this place as passport office).Then go along on the Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, it is
around 50 meters distance from the bus stand.
Multiple Entry Visas
To get a multiple entry visa, you as foreigner must proof, that you are investing funds in Sri Lanka or doing business
activities in Srilanka. Validity of this visa is up to 01 year. Residence Visas to get a Residence Visa, you must Arrive in
Sri lanka with an Entry visa obtained from a Sri lanka mission with the approval of the Controller of Immigration and
Emigration. The visa will be valid for a period of one year and there after can be renewed every year. (spouses can get for
two years)
The following can apply for this visa with the necessary documents.
Expatriate personnel whose services are required for projects approved by the State,
Expatriate personnel employed in projects under Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.
A foreign national (Who desires to invest monetary capital or To engage in business activities in Sri Lanka), Members of
the Clergy, Religious Workers and Religious Students,
Volunteers, Personnel attached to Non-Governmental Organizations,
Foreign students (In Universities, Educational Institutions approved by the State, Other Institutions), Registered Indians
covered by the 1954 Agreement, Ex Sri Lankans, Spouses of Sri Lankan's, Children of Sri Lankans but holding foreign
nationality.
Visit Visas. Including Tourist Visas.
This visa is issued for people who are having enough funds to cover their stay in Sri L;nka and a valid return ticket to fly
back home or to other destination for which they have valid visas. It can be issued up to 90 days at the beginning and
can be extended up to one year. Maldives and Singapore county passport holders only can get their endorsement at the
arrival port. All the other citizens must get their visa prior to their journey as the new rule applies from 30th September
2010.
Recently Sri Lanka Government said that they are going to introduce the online visa application facility through the
internet. Those tourists who want to have their vacation in Sri Lanka can apply for the visa online and can pay the visa
fees through their credit card. Normally the visas will be processed in one day and the person will be issued with bar
coded visa that can be made in to printout and it can be read through computer at the Colombo airport, upon their arrival
to Sri Lanka.
Transit Visas.
These visas are issued to foreigners traveling via Srilanka. Validity of this visa is 30 days.
Some countries need to get this visa prior to the entry in Sri Lanka from the Sri Lankan missions overseas. Please check
with the nearest Sri Lankan mission, in what category your country is. These information's given are as of general out
line, and verify with this with the relevant authorities for its accuracy.
Here are some links which are useful
Sri lanka Missions in Foreign countries Click
Sri lanka immigration Click
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Latest News on Sri Lanka Visa .
5:44 PM 11/30/2011
Sri Lanka Introduces Online Visa System.
Sri Lanka Government requires All foreigners except Maldives and Singapore to get the entry visa prior to their arrival. The new visa fees will be US$ 20 for 78 country people. Citizens of SAARC countries will need to pay US$ 10 for their entry visa. The restriction is expected to be enforced from December 2011. Those people who are going to stay less than 48 hours in Sri Lanka and children are not requested to get the entry visas.
Earlier all country people were allowed to visit Srilanka with out a valid visa. If you have any travel plan to Sri Lanka fist ask your agent or the airline about the visa conditions here.