Sri Lanka Introduces Visa-Free Entry for 35 Countries, Including India, UK, and US
Sri Lanka has announced visa-free entry for citizens of 35 countries, including India, the UK, and the US, starting October 1, 2024. This six-month policy aims to boost tourism by simplifying travel procedures. Additionally, Sri Lanka continues to offer free tourist visas to visitors from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia while suspending e-visa services temporarily.
Sri Lanka has announced a significant boost to its tourism industry by granting visa-free entry to citizens from 35 countries, including India, the UK, and the US. This policy will be implemented starting October 1, 2024, and will allow visitors to stay in the island nation for up to six months.
Expanded Visa-Free Access
The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the visa-free policy to attract more international visitors by simplifying entry procedures. Harin Fernando, Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed that the new policy will cover a diverse list of nations.
Countries Eligible for Visa-Free Entry
The list of countries eligible for visa-free entry includes India, the UK, the US, China, Germany, and many others. You can find the complete list on the Sri Lankan government’s official website or consult with the Sri Lankan embassy or consulate in your country.
- India
- United Kingdom
- China
- United States
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Spain
- Australia
- Denmark
- Poland
- Kazakhstan
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Nepal
- Indonesia
- Russia
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Japan
- France
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Israel
- Belarus
- Iran
- Sweden
- South Korea
- Qatar
- Oman
- Bahrain
- New Zealand
Free Tourist Visas for Select Countries
In addition to the newly introduced visa-free policy, Sri Lanka continues to offer free tourist visas to visitors from certain countries. Travelers from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have been receiving tourist visas free of charge.
