Passport Atlas
Sri Lanka

Passport Atlas

Entering Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka playbook updated 2026-09. Openness first, then how to apply and how to stay.

Openness rank

#20

Entry openness

193

Visa free

0

Visa required

3

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Country profile

Capital

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Population

21.8 million

Area

65,610 km²

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee LKR

Languages

Sinhala, Tamil

Time zone

UTC+05:30

Foreign-born

40,698 · 2024

Migrant share

0.2%

Ethnic groups · 2012

  • Sinhalese74.9%
  • Sri Lankan Tamil11.2%
  • Sri Lankan Moors9.2%
  • Indian Tamil4.2%
  • other0.5%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Travel notes

Plug

Type D

Mains

230 V · 50 Hz

Driving

Left

Emergency

Police 112 · Ambulance 112

Dialing code

+94

Airports

CMB · HRI · RML · JAF

Highlights

  • Sigiriya
  • Temple of the Tooth
  • Galle Fort
  • Trincomalee

Sri Lanka PassportVisa siteImmigration site

How to get a visa

  • ETA

    Visit / tourism · Often 30 days

    • Apply at eta.gov.lk before boarding; the stamp is issued on arrival.

Immigration routes

  • Work or investor residence

    Employer sponsor

    Residence is by employment or investment at Immigration.

    Leads to PR：Residence is by employment or investment at Immigration.

PR & citizenship

Long-term residence

Time to PR：Depends on the route

  • Lawful status, clean record, means or a sponsor.

Naturalisation rules vary — check immigration before filing.

Passports that enter without a prior visa

AOn arrival193

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