Sri Lanka Makes ETA Free as 3M Visitor Goal Gets Tougher

Sri Lanka introduced a free tourist Electronic Travel Authorization for citizens of 40 countries.

Eligible travelers can now apply for a 30-day tourist ETA without paying the usual fee. The list includes major source markets such as the UK, US, India, China, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, Australia, and Canada.

Travelers still need to apply online before arrival. This is the key detail for visitors and travel sellers: Sri Lanka has removed the fee, not the ETA requirement. Anyone who applied before May 25 is not expected to receive a refund under the new scheme.

Sri Lanka wants to protect tourism recovery

Sri Lanka is trying to build on a strong tourism rebound. The country welcomed a record 2.36 million visitors in 2025 and is targeting 3 million arrivals in 2026. Tourism generated about $3.2 billion in 2025, making it a key source of foreign exchange for the economy.

But demand has recently slowed. Official data shows arrivals increased in January and February 2026, then fell in March and April. In April, Sri Lanka received 135,643 visitors, down 22.3 percent from April 2025. The free ETA is likely meant to support demand during this softer period.

The next step is clearer traveler guidance

Travel companies should update visa guidance, booking pages, and pre-trip emails so customers understand the rule correctly. The strongest message is simple: Sri Lanka is not removing the application step, but it is making short tourist visits cheaper for eligible travelers.

The policy could help Sri Lanka stay competitive in 2026, especially if airlines, hotels, and destination marketers support it with clearer packages and stronger promotion. Still, the free ETA is only one part of the recovery. Air access, hotel prices, traveler confidence, and seasonal demand will decide whether Sri Lanka can reach its 3 million visitor target.

Asia turns entry rules into tourism strategy

Entry rules are becoming an important part of tourism strategy in Asia. China expanded 30-day visa-free travel to 79 countries to attract more visitors and increase inbound spending, while Thailand is moving in the opposite direction by tightening its broad 60-day visa-free stay. Sri Lanka’s free ETA policy sits between those two approaches: it keeps the online authorization requirement but removes the fee to make short leisure trips easier to sell.

Photo by Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash