How to Apply for a Sri Lanka Visa in Dallas

Sri Lanka remains a popular destination for residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth area seeking cultural experiences and spectacular natural beauty.  The pear-shaped island nation in the Indian Ocean offers amazing beaches, ancient cities, safari wildlife tours, and modern amenities in a unique South Asian environment.   

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon before 1948, when it was under British rule.  The country’s population of some 22 million includes members of several Asian ethnic groups, primarily the Sinhalese (75%), Tamils, Moors, and Malays.  The two official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.  However, English remains the “link language” that is used for education and commercial purposes.  Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka and has the largest number of practitioners, while Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are also represented.  Buddhism and Hinduism are also the main influences on Sri Lankan culture, although echoes of the British, Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras still linger.  Despite the lengthy flight time from Dallas and other North American cities to South Asia, citizens of the United States and Canada rank among the top 10 nationalities visiting Sri Lanka.

Colombo, the capital of and largest city in Sri Lanka, is a bustling urban center that blends modern amenities, historic traditions, fine cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and the busiest port on the Indian Ocean.  The city’s architecture features colonial buildings with European influences adjacent to structures reflecting Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian, and contemporary styles.  Colombo is the financial and cultural center of Sri Lanka, with museums, performing arts centers, and numerous cultural festivals.  The 1,150-foot Lotus Tower, the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city, with an observation deck providing dramatic panoramic views.  Other top Colombo draws include the Galle Face Green park in the Fort district, Gangaramaya Temple, Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo Racecourse, Dehiwala Zoological Garden, and the beaches of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Outside the capital, the major tourism draws are cultural and heritage sites and religious pilgrimages.  UNESCO has designated six archeological and two ecological World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka, while the national government has protected several other important sites.  The UNESCO heritage sites include the Buddhist center of Anuradhapura, Dambulla Golden Cave Temple, Galle Dutch Fort, and the ancient royal capital of Polonnaruwa.  Bloomberg named one UNESCO site, Sigiriya – a Fifth-Century palace and fortress carved from rock – as one of its “new seven wonders of the world.”  The UNESCO ecological sites are the biodiverse Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the country’s last viable tropical rainforest; and the Central Highlands, which includes the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Conservation Forest.  Yala, the most famous national park in the country, is a top site for viewing wildlife.  In fact, the country has 22 national parks, including marine preserves, archaeological sites, and nature reserves with sloth bears, elephants, leopards, wild boar, and waterfowl.

Sri Lanka’s natural features include tropical ocean coastlines, rugged mountains, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, biological gardens, and bird-watching venues.  Most tourists from the Dallas-Fort Worth area flock to the numerous beach resorts and distinctive coastal communities.  Sri Lanka is also popular for adventure sports, such as scuba diving, rock climbing, deep sea fishing, hiking, hot-air ballooning, safari tours, and whale-watching cruises.  Other popular destinations include the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, climbing Adam’s Peak to watch the sunrise, the quiet beach village of Mirissa, and surfing at Arugam Bay.

Requirements for Obtaining a Sri Lanka Visa

Sri Lanka tourism had risen steadily before the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of civil unrest significantly reduced the number of visitors in recent years.  However, tourism has rebounded since the republic stopped requiring COVID screenings or quarantines for vaccinated or non-vaccinated visitors.

Citizens of most nations outside of South Asia must obtain a visa to visit Sri Lanka.  The country offers three main types of visas:

  • The short-term Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), issued through an online portal for tourism and business visits lasting up to 30 days;
  • The traditional tourist visa for stays lasting more than 30 days, which can be obtained from an embassy or consulate in advance; and
  • The transit visa, which allows foreign air travelers to remain in Sri Lanka for up to two days before traveling onward to other countries. (No visa is required if you do not leave one of Sri Lanka's international airports.)

The basic requirements for obtaining a visa are:

  • Passport valid at least six months beyond your date of entry to Sri Lanka.
  • One recent passport-size photograph.
  • Return air ticket.
  • Proof of hotel or private accommodation.
  • Payment of application and processing fees.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Sri Lanka.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

The turnaround times are typically two to four business days for an ETA and three to seven business days for a traditional visa.  The ETA processing fee is $35 for citizens of the United States and most other countries.  For the long-term tourist visit, the fee is $140 for U.S. visitors (plus another $20 if the embassy must return your passport by mail).  There is no fee for the transit visa, which can be obtained online and is typically approved within one day.  For more information about visa programs options, visit the Sri Lankan embassy website at https://slembassyusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=915&Itemid=116.

Obtaining a Sri Lanka Electronic Visa (ETA) from Dallas

The quickest and easiest way for travelers from Dallas to visit Sri Lanka is with the ETA, a digital travel permit for tourists and business travelers.  The ETA allows you to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days and allows two entries during that period.  It can also be extended for up to six months.  The ETA is good for 180 days after it is issued.  Additional details about the ETA are available at https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp?locale=en_US.

You must have a valid email and a debit or credit card to apply online.  The ETA process consists of four steps:

  • Complete the online application at https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/etaNavServ?payType=1. It takes about five minutes to complete the simple application.
  • Pay the $35 fee online (except for children under age 12).
  • Receive an email response confirming your ETA.
  • Print your confirmation email so you can present it (along with your passport) when you enter Sri Lanka.

If you make a last-minute decision to visit Sri Lanka and do not have time to process the ETA, you can apply upon arrival at the On-Arrival ETA Counters at the BIA (Bandaranaike International Airport) Airport near Colombo and Mattala International Airport.  There is another $5 fee for the on-arrival ETA and you may face long delays when applying in person, as resources are limited. 

Obtaining a Conventional Sri Lanka Long-Term Visa from Dallas

If you plan to stay more than 30 days in Sri Lanka, you must obtain a traditional tourist, business, or other type of visa through the nearest Sri Lankan diplomatic mission.  In the United States, there is an embassy in Washington, D.C; a consulate in Los Angeles; and a permanent mission at the United Nations in New York City.  Details about obtaining long-term visas can be found at https://slembassyusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=915&Itemid=116.

To obtain the visa from the consulate you will need to fill out the application for the multi-entry long-term tourist visa and provide additional details.  The application is located at https://slembassyusa.org/images/consular/MultipleEntryVisa.pdf.  You will also need to provide a letter explaining why you require a long-term visa; an invitation or sponsor letter from any hosts in Sri Lanka; proof of your financial ability to support yourself during your stay; and funds/tickets for the return trip to the United States.   

The steps to obtain a consulate-issued visa are:

  • Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Sri Lanka to make an appointment (for those living in Dallas, the nearest Sri Lankan government is in Washington, D.C.).
  • Complete the Sri Lanka application form and submit it to the embassy or consulate along with the visa fee, your passport, and the required documents.
  • The embassy/consulate will forward your application to the Sri Lankan Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E).
  • You will receive a visa application reference number.
  • The embassy/consulate will notify you when your application has been processed.
  • Return to the embassy/consulate and receive your passport with the Sri Lanka visa attached.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Dallas or anywhere in the state of Texas and have difficulty applying for a Sri Lanka visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Sri Lanka visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Sri Lanka.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Sri Lanka visa services for our customers in Dallas:

  • Sri Lanka Tourist Visa
  • Sri Lanka Business Visa
  • Sri Lanka Transit Visa
  • Sri Lanka Diplomatic and Official Visa
  • Sri Lanka Journalist Visa
  • Sri Lanka Residence Visa
  • Sri Lanka Hotel Accommodations
  • Sri Lanka Organized Tours