Transit Visa
Please note that if you are not leaving the airport during your transit, a transit visa is not required.
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.
The applicants themselves or a third party on their behalf can apply for a transit ETA by submitting an ETA application online via Official Website of the ETA . Transit visa up to 48 hours is currently issued free of charge only at Official Website of the ETA (Travelers must have ETA reference number)
If there is any inquiry regarding ETA pleases contact:
Hotline: 0094 71 9967888
Fax: 0094 11 2674631
Email: eta@immigration.gov.lk
However, if you wish the Embassy to submit your ETA online application on your behalf or if you are unable to submit the online application through the Official Website of the ETA due to technical reasons, please hand over your dully completed application form to us together with other required documents mentioned below for the process of obtaining ETA approval.
Required Documents
- Duly completed Transit ETA application form
- Two recent passport-size photographs.(Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
- Air ticket
- Passport – N.B. The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka
Processing Time
02 working days
Journalists Visa
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.
Media personnel visiting Sri Lanka on a media assignment cannot enter Sri Lanka on a tourist or business visa. Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat requires prior approval from the Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka to issue visa under this category and therefore applications should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.
Required Documents
- Duly completed application for Entry Visa “Form B”
- Duly completed Journalist Attestation Form
- Passport – The validity of the passport must be at least six months beyond the date of entry in to Sri Lanka
- Two recent passport-size photographs.(Colour, 3.5 cm x 4.5cm or 2” x 2”)
- A request letter addressed to the Embassy giving details of the planned synopsis of the film, duration, locations, the names and passport details of the media personnel visiting Sri Lanka
- ‘Condition for Filming Agreement’ – It is mandatory for those filming in Sri Lanka to sign the ‘Condition for Filming Agreement’ which could be obtained from this Embassy and forwarded with the request letter and the synopsis of the film
- Equipment list for electronic media along with a carnet or bank guarantee for customs purpose
- Letter of Commission: a letter from the respective media organization detailing the tentative programme with dates, places and if it contains interviews, the persons to be interviewed etc. (For freelance journalists, a letter from the editor of the publication)
- Return air ticket
- For filming in wildlife-protected areas, prior approval from the Department of Wildlife Conservation should be obtained
The duly completed “Application for filming in wildlife protected areas”
The Department of Wildlife Conservation requires at least two weeks to process the relevant documents before the scheduled commencement of the project.