Sri Lanka e-Visa for citizens of the United Arab Emirates: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of the United Arab Emirates apply online before departure.
Data updated on
Free: since 25 May 2026, the authorisation (ETA) costs nothing for citizens of the United Arab Emirates, for a 30-day stay. Apply only on the official portal: websites that charge for it are selling a service, not the visa. Official announcement
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Official fee
Free
Our guide to the Sri Lanka visa from the United Arab Emirates
Travellers heading from the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA / e-Visa) obtained online before departure. No consular appointment is required for a standard tourist trip.
Whether you are an Emirati national or a foreign resident of the United Arab Emirates, entering Sri Lanka for tourism or business requires an electronic authorization applied for on the official portal. The whole process is completed online, before you board in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. From the United Arab Emirates you must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA / e-Visa) before travelling to Sri Lanka. Your passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry. This applies both to Emirati citizens and to foreign residents flying out of the UAE.
How much does an e-visa for Sri Lanka cost from the United Arab Emirates?
Free
No government fee for your nationality: a website that charges for this authorisation is selling a service.
What does a visa for Sri Lanka really cost?
- Government feeFree
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
What documents are required for an e-visa for Sri Lanka?
The exact list for Sri Lanka is not published in a source we can verify. Every short-stay tourist application is nonetheless built on the same core:
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Compliant passport photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
Treat this as the common core, not the official list, confirm it with the consular authorities of Sri Lanka before you apply.
Documents and fees
Have ready a passport valid six months beyond arrival, an address of stay in Sri Lanka, and an onward or return ticket. The exact fee and validity period are not confirmed here, so check the official portal for the current amount. Payment is made online at the time of application.
How to apply for an e-visa for Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How and where to apply
Applications are filed online only, through the official srilankaevisa.lk portal, from anywhere in the UAE. You open a file, enter your passport and travel details, then pay the fee by card. The approved authorization arrives by email; print it or keep it on your phone for the airport.
Where do you apply for a visa for Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates?
An e-visa for Sri Lanka is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
You live in the United Arab Emirates on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United Arab Emirates but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for Sri Lanka take?
No verified processing time is published for this route. Apply as early as your travel dates allow, and never book non-refundable travel before the e-visa is granted.
Processing and tips
Processing time is not guaranteed in our source, so apply several days before your flight to avoid surprises. Make sure the name and passport number match your travel document exactly. Keep the approval confirmation, as it may be requested at check-in and by Sri Lankan immigration.
Before you fly, and at the border
Passport validity, border checks, minors, overstays: the rules common to every trip are gathered on our travel tips page. Formalities before you leave
Common mistakes
Do not rely on visa on arrival; the pre-arranged e-Visa avoids queues and boarding refusals. Steer clear of third-party sites that add surcharges and use only srilankaevisa.lk. Finally, never travel on a passport with less than six months of validity.
Plan your trip
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
Flights (Trip.com)
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eSIM data (Saily)
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Other visa types for Sri Lanka
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
Other references
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Official websiteVerified
Business eTA
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Price
30–55 USD
Processing time
24 hours
Official websiteVerified
Work / Residence visa
Work visa
Duration
1 year
Price
200 USD
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Family Reunification
Family reunification
Duration
1 year (renewable)
Price
0–200 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Transit visa
Transit visa
Duration
2 days
Price
Free
Processing time
24 hours
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Price
200 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
My Dream Home retirement programme
Retirement visa
Duration
Renewable
Price
200 USD
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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