A Tourist Visa is issued to bona-fide tourists who want to enter Sri Lanka for sightseeing, excursions, relaxation, visit relatives for a short period of time.

General conditions of a Tourist Visit Visa

• Applicant should not engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid, or in any trade, media or business other than that specified in the visa during the period of your stay in Sri Lanka.
• Applicant must be utilized visa before the date of expiry noted on the visa.
• Validity of visa is subject to entry into Sri Lanka during the indicated entry period.
• Applications for the extension of all visas should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Visit Sri Lanka Immigration Department

A Business Purpose Visa is issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes for short period of time. This visa may be issued for single or double journeys.

General conditions of a Business Visit Visa

• Applicant must be utilized visa before the date of expiry noted on the visa.
• Validity of visa is subject to entry into Sri Lanka during the indicated entry period.
• Applications for the extension of all visas should be made to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Visit Sri Lanka Immigration Department

A residence visa is a permit for a non-Sri Lankan to obtain residence facilities for special purposes. Applicants are required to contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka for more details. There are sub-categories which come under residence visas

1. Employment Category

• Project Professional personnel whose services are required for projects approved by the state and expatriate personnel employed in projects under Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka and their dependants
• Personnel employed at banks and their dependants
• Volunteers
• Personnel attached to Non-Governmental Organizations
• Personnel employed in a project, institution or organization under diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka
• Personnel employed in a private company and their dependants

2. Investor Category

• Who desire to invest monetary capital in Sri Lanka
• Who engage in business activities in Sri Lanka.

3. Religious Category

• Members of the Clergy

4. Student Category

• University Students
• Students in Educational Institutions approved by the State
• Other Institutions

5. Ex- Sri Lankans and their dependants
6. Family Members of a Sri Lankan

• Spouses holding foreign nationality
• Children holding foreign nationality.

Visit Sri Lanka Immigration Department

The holder of a Diplomatic or Official Passport or a passport with a valid Diplomatic or Official endorsement will not be required to pay fees for the visa. However, it is required to submit an official request through a Diplomatic Note or any other official communication by the requesting government.

Download Application

A Transit Visa is an entry permit granted to a foreign national for admission into Sri Lanka for a brief period which is incidental and in the course of his journey to another destination. Visa must request at the port of entry indicating the period of stay and together with return travel information.

Download Application

Prior visas must be obtained by Journalists/media personnel who expect to visit Sri Lanka on an assignment. In addition to the visa application form, they are required to submit a list of equipments which they intend to take to Sri Lanka on the prescribed form. Journalists are advised to apply for visas well in advance, as the Embassy needs the clearance from the authorities in Colombo to issue visas for them.

View Guide Lines for Foreign Media of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka