Sri Lanka is offering free short-term visas for tourists from 40 countries

Tourists from 40 countries will be offered free 30-day visas, the Department of Immigration and Emigration said on Sunday.

Travelers from these countries holding diplomatic, official, service, or ordinary passports can obtain the visa through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system operated by the department, without any fee.

The move comes amid a rise in Sri Lanka’s tourism in May, following declines in March and April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The context

The free-visa scheme had been in the pipeline since last year, but a decline in tourist arrivals this year pushed the government to expedite the process.

The scheme received Cabinet approval in March, and the necessary changes to immigration regulations received parliamentary approval last month.

Europe makes up a majority of the beneficiary countries announced, with most of Sri Lanka’s top ten source markets for tourism included in the list.

The following countries are eligible for the free-visa scheme: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Nationals from the Maldives can apply for visas of up to 90 days, the Immigration Department added, as part of its ongoing bilateral reciprocal agreement with Sri Lanka.

Cybercrimes by tourists

While Sri Lanka is making it easier for tourists to enter the country, it is also facing a surge in cybercrimes committed by foreign nationals.

In 2026, over 1,000 tourists have been arrested for operating cyber scams, with 700 arrests being made in May alone.

Police have said these operations are now being run in luxury villas, office spaces, and apartments, allowing for easier movement and evasion of arrest.