Sri Lanka drops mandatory pre-departure ETA for tourists

Sri Lanka has announced that the recently introduced rule mandating an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for all short-stay visitors from 15 October 2025 has been revoked until further notice, according to the Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka. The reversal means that visa and ETA services will continue to operate under the same procedures that were in place before the 15 October deadline.

The move is expected to ease travel for visitors, especially from key markets such as India, which remains Sri Lanka’s largest inbound tourism source. While the government evaluates its policy, travellers are advised to monitor official channels for updates and proceed with the existing visa application process.

Source: Travelandleisureasia