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Sri Lanka · ETA · 7 min read

Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens (2026): free, but still mandatory

US citizens need a Sri Lanka Tourist ETA before arrival. Since 25 May 2026 the government fee is $0 — here is how it works, what it covers and how to extend to 90 days.

MRBy Muddassar Raza, Tripsol / MERN SolutionsLast updated Published 22 Oct 2026

Key facts

  • US citizens must get a Tourist ETA before flying to Sri Lanka.
  • Since 25 May 2026 the official ETA fee is $0 for US citizens (one of 40 countries).
  • The ETA allows 30 days with double entry; extensions to 90 days cost $100 (US rate).
  • Apply with Tripsol: we prepare, check and file your ETA and email you the approval.

The short answer

If you hold a US passport and are visiting Sri Lanka as a tourist, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) approved before you travel. Since 25 May 2026 the government fee for that ETA is $0 for US citizens, who are among 40 nationalities on Sri Lanka’s free-ETA list. The ETA is still mandatory — free does not mean optional. Airlines can refuse boarding without one.

What the Tourist ETA gives you

  • Stay: 30 days from arrival.
  • Entries: double entry — useful if you hop to the Maldives or southern India and come back.
  • Extension: you can extend to a total of 90 days. The official extension fee for US citizens is $100 (Department of Immigration & Emigration fee table, checked 21 Oct 2026).
  • Purpose: tourism, visiting friends and relatives, short medical treatment. Business trips use a different ETA category.

How the fee changed (a quick timeline)

  1. April 2024 — the e-visa system was outsourced, adding higher fees and service charges.
  2. August 2024 — a Supreme Court interim order suspended that scheme; the original government ETA system returned in September 2024.
  3. July 2025 — the Cabinet announced free ETAs for 40 countries; the rollout was delayed by legal steps.
  4. 25 May 2026 — the free 30-day double-entry Tourist ETA took effect for the 40 countries, including the US. Fees paid before that date are not refunded.

Before 25 May 2026 the standard online ETA fee for US citizens was $50. If a website still quotes that as the “government fee”, its information is out of date.

Documents to have ready

  • Passport valid at least 6 months from your arrival date.
  • A return or onward ticket.
  • Your first address in Sri Lanka (hotel booking is fine).
  • Evidence you can support yourself for the stay (a bank card is usually enough).

How to get your ETA with Tripsol

  1. Tap Apply now and enter your travel dates and first address.
  2. Add your passport details — we check name order, passport number and dates against your passport scan.
  3. We file the Tourist ETA for you and email a confirmation with the estimated processing time — typically about 24 hours (a 2024 ministerial statement).
  4. You receive the approval by email. Travel with the same passport used for the application.

Why apply with Tripsol?

A specialist checks every detail before filing, handles families and the 90-day extension, tracks the application and supports you if anything goes wrong. You see one all-in total before you pay.

Practical tips for Sri Lanka

  • Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Cards work in cities; carry cash for tuk-tuks and rural areas.
  • Getting around: the Kandy–Ella train is spectacular; reserve observation-car seats early in peak season.
  • Season: the southwest coast is best December–April, the east coast May–September.
  • Children under 12 have been exempt from ETA fees since 2024 — they still need their own ETA.

Important — private service

Tripsol is a private visa-assistance service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government or embassy. Prices are all-in totals that include government fees where applicable and our service fee. Approval decisions are made solely by the relevant authorities.

Sri Lanka entry rulesMaldives entry rulesIndia entry rules