Sri Lanka Travel requirements, advice , Coronavirus status and Visa Policy

2023-06-23 16:19:05

Sri Lanka is located in Southern Asia. It is a developing country. Current Travel Advice to visitors travelling to Sri Lanka is Exercise Increased Caution. Check Sri Lanka Travel Advisory, visa Requirements below.



Travel advice and advisories

Published 26.04.2022
1. Passengers must have:
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure; or
- COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 7 days and at most 6 months before departure, and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received a vaccine dose at least 14 days after the positive test and at least 14 days before departure; or
- a printed negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point; or
- a printed negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.
The test certificate must be in English.
- This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 12 years;
- passengers between 12 and 18 years with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received one vaccine dose at least 2 weeks before departure.
2. Passengers are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival.
- This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 12 years;
- passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure;
- passengers with COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 7 days and at most 6 months before departure, and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received a vaccine dose at least 14 days after the positive test and at least 14 days before departure;
- passengers between 12 and 18 years with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received one vaccine dose at least 2 weeks before departure.
3. Passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure traveling as tourists can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on arrival.
4. Passengers must have COVID-19 insurance obtained at https://portal.pionline.lk/covidinsurance/ or upon arrival.
5. Passengers could be subject to quarantine for 7 days. Details can be found at https://www.epid.gov.lk/web/
- This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 12 years;
- passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure;
- passengers with COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at least 7 days and at most 6 months before departure, and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received a vaccine dose at least 14 days after the positive test and at least 14 days before departure;
- passengers between 12 and 18 years with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they received one vaccine dose at least 2 weeks before departure.
6. Airline crew of a foreign airline must have a printed negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. The test result must be in English.
7. Airline crew could be subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival.
8. Airline crew staying overnight must stay at a designated hotel.
- This does not apply to airline crew with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before arrival.



Travel Advisory By USA

Fri, 23 Jun 2023

Reissued with updates to health information. 

Exercise increased caution in Sri Lanka due to fuel and medicine shortages, civil unrest, and terrorism.

Sri Lanka is experiencing shortages of imported goods, including fuel, food, and medicine due to the ongoing economic situation in the country. This has led to long lines at gas stations, but a fuel rationing system has helped to alleviate the situation. Public transportation has at times been limited or curtailed. Disrupted supply chains have caused food and medicine shortages, especially in remote areas, but most hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and private hospitals have supplies. Limited duration power outages occur frequently, but most tourist facilities have backup generators. Protests over the economic situation could erupt at any time. In some instances, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. Travelers should monitor local media for updates on the ongoing situation.  

Terrorist attacks have occurred in Sri Lanka, with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, hospitals, and other public areas.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in remote areas. 

 Read the country information page. 

 If you decide to travel to Sri Lanka: 

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues. 
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities. 
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information. 
  • Avoid demonstrations and crowds. 
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. 
  • Review the Crime and Safety Report for Sri Lanka. 
  • U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. 
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.  


Visa Policy for Visitors travelling to Sri Lanka

Visa required

  • Afghanistan
  • Cameroon
  • China
  • Congo [DRC]
  • Congo [Republic]
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Egypt
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Pakistan
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Uganda
  • Uzbekistan (30 days)

eVisa / Visa on arrival

  • Albania (30 days)
  • Algeria
  • Andorra (30 days)
  • Argentina (30 days)
  • Armenia (30 days)
  • Australia (30 days)
  • Austria (30 days)
  • Azerbaijan (30 days)
  • Bahamas (30 days)
  • Bahrain (30 days)
  • Bangladesh (30 days)
  • Belarus (30 days)
  • Belgium (30 days)
  • Belize (30 days)
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia (30 days)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (30 days)
  • Botswana (30 days)
  • Brazil (30 days)
  • Brunei (30 days)
  • Bulgaria (30 days)
  • Cambodia (30 days)
  • Canada (30 days)
  • Cape Verde
  • Chile (30 days)
  • Colombia (30 days)
  • Comoros (30 days)
  • Costa Rica (30 days)
  • Cuba (30 days)
  • Cyprus (30 days)
  • Denmark (30 days)
  • Djibouti (30 days)
  • Dominican Republic (30 days)
  • Ecuador (30 days)
  • El Salvador (30 days)
  • Estonia (30 days)
  • Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) (30 days)
  • Ethiopia (30 days)
  • Fiji
  • Finland (30 days)
  • Georgia (30 days)
  • Greece (30 days)
  • Guatemala (30 days)
  • Guyana (30 days)
  • Haiti (30 days)
  • Honduras (30 days)
  • Hungary (30 days)
  • Iceland (30 days)
  • India (30 days)
  • Iraq (30 days)
  • Ireland (30 days)
  • Israel (30 days)
  • Italy (30 days)
  • Jamaica (30 days)
  • Japan (30 days)
  • Jordan (30 days)
  • Kazakhstan (30 days)
  • Kuwait (30 days)
  • Kyrgyzstan (30 days)
  • Laos
  • Latvia (30 days)
  • Lesotho (30 days)
  • Lithuania (30 days)
  • Luxembourg (30 days)
  • Macau (30 days)
  • Macedonia [FYROM] (30 days)
  • Madagascar (30 days)
  • Malaysia (30 days)
  • Malta (30 days)
  • Mauritius (30 days)
  • Mexico (30 days)
  • Moldova (30 days)
  • Monaco (30 days)
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco (30 days)
  • Namibia (30 days)
  • Nepal (30 days)
  • Netherlands (30 days)
  • New Zealand (30 days)
  • Nicaragua (30 days)
  • Norway (30 days)
  • Oman (30 days)
  • Panama (30 days)
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay (30 days)
  • Peru (30 days)
  • Philippines (30 days)
  • Portugal (30 days)
  • Qatar (30 days)
  • Romania (30 days)
  • Russia (30 days)
  • San Marino (30 days)
  • Saudi Arabia (30 days)
  • Senegal
  • Serbia (30 days)
  • Slovakia (30 days)
  • Slovenia (30 days)
  • Somalia (30 days)
  • South Africa (30 days)
  • South Korea (30 days)
  • Spain (30 days)
  • Suriname (30 days)
  • Sweden (30 days)
  • Switzerland (30 days)
  • Tajikistan (30 days)
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tunisia (30 days)
  • Turkey (30 days)
  • Turkmenistan (30 days)
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates (30 days)
  • United Kingdom (30 days)
  • Uruguay (30 days)
  • Vatican City (30 days)
  • Venezuela (30 days)
  • Vietnam (30 days)
  • Yemen (30 days)

eVisa

  • Angola (30 days)
  • Burundi (30 days)
  • Gambia
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar [Burma] (30 days)
  • Niger (30 days)
  • Zambia (30 days)
  • Zimbabwe (30 days)

Electronic Travel Authorization

  • Barbados (30 days)
  • Burkina Faso (30 days)
  • Central African Republic (30 days)
  • Chad (30 days)
  • Dominica (30 days)
  • Equatorial Guinea (30 days)
  • Eritrea (30 days)
  • Grenada (30 days)
  • Hong Kong (30 days)
  • Libya (30 days)
  • Liechtenstein (30 days)
  • Malawi (30 days)
  • Mozambique (30 days)
  • Rwanda (30 days)
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis (30 days)
  • Saint Lucia (30 days)
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (30 days)
  • São Tomé and Príncipe (30 days)
  • Tanzania (30 days)
  • Togo (30 days)
  • Trinidad and Tobago (30 days)

Visa on arrival

  • Benin (30 days)
  • Kiribati
  • Marshall Islands
  • Micronesia
  • Nauru
  • Palau
  • Samoa
  • Solomon Islands
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu

eTA

  • Croatia

eVisa / Free visa on arrival

  • Czech Republic (30 days)

ETA

  • France (30 days)
  • Germany (30 days)
  • Poland (30 days)

Free Visa on arrival

  • Indonesia (30 days)

Electronic Visa / Visa on arrival

  • Lebanon (30 days per trip)

Visa not required

  • Maldives (30 days)
  • Seychelles (90 days)

Free Visa on Arrival

  • Singapore

Electronic travel authorization

  • Thailand (30 days)

Visa Requirements for Sri Lanka Citizens

References