Tourist — Sri Lanka Tourist ETA (SAARC-reduced for Nepalis)
Tourism, holiday, family visit.
- Stay
- 30 days (extendable up to 6 months in-country).
- Processing
- 24–48 hours (often instant).
Sri Lanka Visa for Nepali Citizens
Up-to-date Sri Lanka visa requirements, processing time, and embassy info for Nepali passport holders. Yatra handles the full application — document review, dummy ticket, and tracking.
At a glance — Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Tourist ETA (SAARC-reduced for Nepalis)
- Processing time
- 24–48 hours (often instant).
- Stay duration
- 30 days (extendable up to 6 months in-country).
- Visa validity
- 6 months from issuance to enter; 30 days from arrival.
- Entries
- Double.
- Bank balance / financial proof
- No fixed minimum; recommended ≥ USD 1,500 in account; ≈ USD 50/day for stay.
- Where to apply
- Apply online at eta.gov.lk.
Visa categories available
Business — Sri Lanka Business ETA (SAARC-reduced)
Business meetings, conferences, trade activities.
- Stay
- 30 days.
- Processing
- 24–48 hours.
Transit — Sri Lanka Transit ETA
Transit through Sri Lanka (≤ 48 hours).
- Stay
- Up to 2 days (48 hours).
- Processing
- 24 hours.
reEntry — Sri Lanka Sticker Visa via Embassy (long-stay)
Long-stay tourism, study, religious / research, employment, dependent.
- Stay
- 90 days – 1 year per category.
Required documents — Sri Lanka tourist visa
- Required
Passport bio-page (6+ months)
JPEG.
- Required
Email + payment card
- Required
Travel itinerary (arrival/departure dates)
- Required
Onward / return ticket
- Required
Accommodation proof / address in Sri Lanka
- Conditional
Travel insurance
Recommended.
Sri Lanka embassy in Nepal
- Mission
- Embassy of Sri Lanka — Kathmandu
- Address
- "Oshin Kunj", Rudreshwor Chowk, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, Nepal (P.O. Box 8802)
- Phone
- +977 1 4720623
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00.
- Application centre
- Online — eta.gov.lk (Electronic Travel Authorisation) — Mobitel-operated ETA portal restored after Sri Lankan Supreme Court suspended VFS/IVS/GBS deal in Aug 2024. Embassy Kathmandu handles sticker visas for long-stay categories.
Important notes
- Every Nepali-language document MUST be accompanied by a notary-certified English translation — embassies will reject untranslated originals. Use a Nepal Bar Council–registered translator and have each translation notarised by a Notary Public.
- Nepalis MUST obtain ETA before travel. Sri Lanka offers SAARC-reduced fees: Tourist USD 20, Business USD 30, Transit FREE.
- Passport must have 6+ months validity.
- ETA approval typically 24–48 hours; many within minutes.
- Tourist ETA: 30 days, double entry for SAARC nationals (Nepal).
- Tourist ETA fee USD 20 for Nepalis (vs USD 50 regular international).
- Business ETA fee USD 30 for Nepalis (vs USD 60 regular).
- Transit ETA: FREE for all nationalities, max 48 hours.
- ETA can be extended in-country up to 6 months at Department of Immigration & Emigration, Suhurupaya, Battaramulla, Colombo.
- 2024 VFS/IVS/GBS contract suspended by Sri Lankan Supreme Court Aug 2024; system reverted to original Mobitel ETA portal.
- April 2024–Aug 2024: travellers paid inflated USD 75 fees during VFS interim — refunds underway in some cases.
- Visa-free for 38 countries since Sep 2024 (Nepal NOT included; Nepalis still pay reduced ETA).
- Children: separate ETA per passport.
- ETA must be obtained before boarding flight.
Machine-readable version: /visa/sri-lanka/markdown
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a Sri Lanka tourist visa take to process for Nepali citizens?
- 24–48 hours (often instant).
- What bank balance is required for a Sri Lanka visa?
- No fixed minimum; recommended ≥ USD 1,500 in account; ≈ USD 50/day for stay.
- How many days can Nepali citizens stay in Sri Lanka on a tourist visa?
- 30 days (extendable up to 6 months in-country). (Sri Lanka Tourist ETA (SAARC-reduced for Nepalis)).
- Where do Nepali citizens apply for a Sri Lanka tourist visa?
- Apply online at eta.gov.lk.
- What documents are required for a Sri Lanka tourist visa from Nepal?
- Required documents include: Passport bio-page (6+ months); Email + payment card; Travel itinerary (arrival/departure dates); Onward / return ticket; Accommodation proof / address in Sri Lanka.
- Where is the Sri Lanka embassy in Nepal?
- Embassy of Sri Lanka — Kathmandu — "Oshin Kunj", Rudreshwor Chowk, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, Nepal (P.O. Box 8802). Phone: +977 1 4720623.
- Can Nepali citizens apply for a Sri Lanka business visa?
- Yes — Sri Lanka Business ETA (SAARC-reduced). Business meetings, conferences, trade activities. Processing: 24–48 hours..
- Is there an online portal to apply for a Sri Lanka visa?
- Yes — apply online at https://eta.gov.lk (Mobitel-restored portal — primary) · https://www.govt.sl (alternate, sometimes redirects).
- How is the Sri Lanka visa fee paid?
- Visa, MasterCard, American Express online.
- Can Yatra help with a Sri Lanka visa application?
- Yes — Yatra provides end-to-end visa assistance for Sri Lanka including document preparation, appointment booking, application review, and a PNR-backed dummy ticket (NPR 999) when the embassy requires proof of onward travel.
Sources & last updated
Last reviewed:
- https://eta.gov.lk — Sri Lanka ETA (Mobitel-restored)
- https://slembkathmandu.org — Embassy of Sri Lanka Kathmandu
- https://www.immigration.gov.lk — Sri Lankan Department of Immigration & Emigration
- Sri Lanka Supreme Court — VFS/GBS contract suspension (Aug 2024)
Apply with Yatra
Document review, embassy submission tracking, and a real PNR-backed dummy ticket (NPR 999) when proof of onward travel is required — all in one place.