It's official: Sri Lanka now offers visa-free access to 40 countries

The happiest beach, a stunning ancient fortress, and surf breaks for all levels...We didn't need more reason to travel to Sri Lanka, but we'll gladly add this one to the list: as of July 25, 2025, Sri Lanka has officially extended visa-free access to 40 nations worldwide (up from just seven countries), including heavy-hitters like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

The Sri Lankan government is giving up $66 million worth of visa fees per year, but is betting that the boost in arrivals and spending will make up for it. The decision to extend visa-free access to 40 countries comes after a trial in which it offered 30-day tourist visas to citizens of India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Russia. 

What travellers should know

Before you book your tickets to Sri Lanka, take note: eligible visitors still need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure. Thankfully, this is free. You'll receive a visa-on-arrival that's valid for up to 30 days upon entry. 

Here are the countries with visa-free access to Sri Lanka:

• Australia

• Austria

• Bahrain

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Canada

• China

• Czechia

• Denmark

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• India

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Israel

• Italy

• Japan

• Kazakhstan

• Kuwait

• Malaysia

• Nepal

• 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

• The United States

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