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Great news for Indians planning to visit Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka will grant visa-free entry to citizens of 35 countries, including India, the UK and the US, from October 1, 2024. According to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, this visa-free entry will be available for six months, as reported by PTI.
The decision comes after the Supreme Court's interim order on August 2, suspending e-visa services provided by IVS-GBS and VFS Global. Earlier, Indians could apply for an e-Visa or use visa on arrival, as the free visa extension expired on May 31, 2024. With the suspension of the e-Visa service, Indians can now use the visa-on-arrival option till October 1.
Currently the visa fee for Indians is $50 or approximately Rs 4,197.
Who will benefit?
Citizens of several countries, including India, Britain, China, the US and Germany, will be able to travel to Sri Lanka without a visa. The full list of visa-free countries includes the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, France, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and New Zealand.
What is visa-free travel?
Visa-free travel allows you to enter a country without obtaining a visa beforehand. This simplifies travel by avoiding complicated visa procedures and saving on visa fees. Generally, you only need a passport to go through customs in visa-free countries. However, some countries may require additional documents, such as proof of onward travel or payment of airport tax.
Sri Lanka's efforts to attract Indian travellers
Indians are the largest group of tourists visiting Sri Lanka, accounting for 20% of total arrivals in 2023. The new visa-free policy is expected to further increase this number. In October 2023, Sri Lanka waived visa fees for tourists from India and six other countries, a policy extended until May 31, 2024. Minister Harin Fernando is actively promoting Sri Lanka through road shows in India to attract more visitors.
In 2024, Sri Lanka welcomed 246,922 Indian tourists, including 123,992 visitors from the U.K. The introduction of visa-free travel is a key step in reviving Sri Lanka's tourism sector, which has been struggling since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. According to the central bank, the country earned $1.5 billion from tourism in the first half of 2024, up from $875 million during the same period in 2023.
List of Visa-free countries for Indian citizens
- Sri Lanka: 30 days
- Angola: 30 days
- Barbados: 90 days
- Bhutan: 14 days
- Dominica: 180 days
- El Salvador: 90 days
- Fiji: 120 days
- Gambia: 90 days
- Grenada: 90 days
- Haiti: 90 days
- Iran: 15 days
- Jamaica: 90 days
- Kazakhstan: 14 days
- Kiribati: 90 days
- Macau: 30 days
- Malaysia: 30 days
- Mauritius: 90 days
- Micronesia: 30 days
- Nepal: 90 days
- Palestinian Territories: 30 days
- Rwanda: 30 days
- Saint Kitts and Nevis: 90 days
- Senegal: 90 days
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 90 days
- Thailand: 30 days
- Trinidad and Tobago: 90 days
- Vanuatu: 30 days
Entry requirements for visa-exempt countries
- Valid Passport
- Maximum period of stay
- Proof of return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Proof of residence
- Travel/Medical Insurance
- criminal record check
- Customs duties and declarations