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WHY THIS MATTERS

Many travellers who had planned trips based on the 1 October 2024 launch of the free tourist visa system will now face disruptions. They may need to adjust their travel plans or apply for regular visas.

Sri Lanka has reinstated its ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) online visa application system for both tourists and business travellers. ÌýThis major update means travellers can apply for either tourist or business visas from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for in-person embassy/consulate visits or obtaining on-arrival visas. ÌýThis comes as a significant boost for business travellers or tourists planning a trip to the island nation, whether it’s for business meetings, conferences, short training programmes, or exploring Sri Lanka’s beaches, wildlife, and cultural heritage.

ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø INSIGHTS

The ETA online visa system � now operational again � offers a convenient, fast, and efficient way to enter Sri Lanka whether for leisure or business travel.

Concerned parties affected by the recent and unexpected changes to the free tourist visa system and the ETA should reach out to their usual global-mobility professional or immigration counsel or a member of the global immigration team with ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in Sri Lanka (see the Contacts section).

ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø in Sri Lanka will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they become available.

Footnotes:

1 ÌýSee remarks by the new Foreign Minister and Cabinet spokesperson, Vijitha Herath, (in Sinhala) on the YouTube channel at (2024.10.01): .

For a related secondary source press report, see N. Fernando, “Govt. seeks AG advice on implementing visa free scheme for 38 countriesâ€� in Daily Mirror (online) (3 October 2024) by clicking .Ìý Please note that by clicking on this link, you are leaving the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø website for an external site (non-governmental, non-ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø), that ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is not affiliated with nor does ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø endorse its content.Ìý The use of the external site and its content may be subject to the terms of use and/or privacy policies of its owner or operator.

For an additional related secondary source press report, see: “Sri Lanka: no free visas, ETA still necessary and chargeable,â€� Visasnews.com (1 October 2024) by clicking .Ìý Please note that by clicking on this link, you are leaving the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø website for an external site (non-governmental, non-ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø), that ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is not affiliated with nor does ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø endorse its content.Ìý The use of the external site and its content may be subject to the terms of use and/or privacy policies of its owner or operator.

2Ìý See: Embassy of Sri Lanka in Italy notice (in English), “â€� (27 September 2024).

Also see: President Media Division, Press Release (available in English and Sinhala), “� (26 September 2024) at: ..

For additional information on ETA, see the website of the Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization SystemÌý at: .

3Ìý See footnote 1.

4Ìý See footnote 2. Ìý

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Disclaimer

* Please note the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the ÀÖÓ㣨Leyu£©ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø International member firm in Sri Lanka.

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