Sri Lanka ETA Online Application from Dubai: Step-by-Step

Gathering your documents and information before opening the ETA portal makes the application go smoothly. The form does not save partial progress in all browsers, so completing it in one sitting — which takes 10 to 15 minutes — is advisable.

• Your passport: must be valid for at least 6 months from your planned entry date into Sri Lanka, with at least one blank page
• A scanned or photographed copy of your passport biographical page (the photo page): JPG or PDF format, clear and legible, under 1MB file size
• Your travel dates: planned entry date and intended length of stay in Sri Lanka (up to 30 days)
• Your port of entry: for most Dubai residents this is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Colombo
• Hotel booking or accommodation address in Sri Lanka — you will be asked for this on the form
• A working email address: this is where your ETA approval will be delivered — check it regularly
• A credit or debit card: Visa, MasterCard, or American Express to pay the USD 50 government fee

Open your web browser and go to eta.gov.lk. This is the official portal of the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration. The site is available in English and Sinhala. On the homepage, you will see options for different visa types — Tourist, Business, and Transit.

Select "Tourist Visa" if you are visiting Sri Lanka for a holiday, to see friends or family, or for any non-commercial purpose. Select "Business Visa" only if you are travelling specifically for business meetings, conferences, or commercial activities. Select "Transit Visa" if you are connecting through Colombo without leaving the airport — though most nationalities transiting CMB airside do not require any ETA.

Click the "Apply for ETA" button under your selected category. This takes you to the application form.

This is the most important section of the form and the source of most errors. Enter your passport details exactly as they appear in your passport — character by character. Any discrepancy between your ETA and your passport can cause problems at check-in or at immigration in Colombo.

1. 1Passport Number: Enter exactly as printed on your passport — including any leading letters. Common nationalities in Dubai: Indian passports often begin with A, B, or T followed by 7 digits; Pakistani passports begin with a letter followed by 8 digits.
2. 2Surname / Family Name: Enter as shown on your passport, in capital letters. If your passport shows both a surname field and a given name field, match both exactly.
3. 3Given Names / First Names: All given names as they appear, including middle names if shown in your passport.
4. 4Date of Birth: Day, month, year — use your passport as the reference, not any other document.
5. 5Nationality: Select your passport-issuing country from the dropdown.
6. 6Gender: As shown in your passport.
7. 7Passport Expiry Date: The exact date printed on your passport. If your passport expires within 6 months of your planned Sri Lanka entry date, renew it before applying.
8. 8Place of Issue: The city or country printed in your passport under "Place of Issue" or "Issued At".

After your personal details, the form asks about your travel plans. You do not need to have booked flights yet to complete an ETA, but you should have a realistic entry date in mind as the ETA validity is calculated from this.

1. 1Planned Date of Arrival in Sri Lanka: Enter the date you expect to arrive. This starts your 30-day stay clock and the 180-day validity window of the ETA.
2. 2Duration of Stay: Enter the number of days you plan to stay, up to 30 days. If you plan to stay longer, enter 30 days (you can extend in-country at the Department of Immigration).
3. 3Port of Entry: Select "Bandaranaike International Airport" (CMB) for flights from Dubai. If you are arriving by sea on a cruise, select the relevant port.
4. 4Accommodation Details: Enter your hotel name and address, or the name and address of any person you are staying with in Sri Lanka. This does not need to be a confirmed booking at the time of application — an intended hotel is acceptable.
5. 5Contact Address in Sri Lanka: The same hotel or host address as above.
6. 6Contact Phone in Sri Lanka: Optional, but provide a hotel number or your host's number if available.

The ETA application requires you to upload a scan or clear photograph of your passport biographical page — the page with your photo, personal details, passport number, and expiry date. This is used by Sri Lanka immigration to verify your identity and cross-check the information you entered.

• Format: JPG (JPEG) or PDF
• File size: Under 1MB — if your scan is larger, compress it using an online tool before uploading
• Quality: The page must be fully legible — all text, your photo, the passport number, and expiry date must be clearly readable
• Lighting: If photographing with your phone, ensure the page is well-lit and not obscured by shadows or reflections on the laminate
• Crop: The full biographical page should be visible — do not crop out the passport number or expiry date

Upload the file using the "Choose File" or "Browse" button on the form. Once uploaded, the portal will show a preview or confirm the file has been received. If the upload fails, check the file size and format before trying again.

After completing the form, you proceed to the payment page. The Sri Lanka ETA government fee is USD 50 per person for a Tourist ETA. The portal charges in USD — your bank will convert at the prevailing exchange rate, which is typically around AED 184 at February 2026 rates.

Enter your card details on the secure payment page. After successful payment, you will receive an email confirmation with your application reference number. Keep this reference number — you will need it if you need to follow up on your application status.

Most Sri Lanka ETA approvals for Dubai-based applicants arrive within 24 hours of submission. The approval is sent to the email address you provided during the application. Check your inbox — and your spam or junk folder — for an email from the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.

The approval email contains your ETA reference number, the authorized entry dates, the permitted duration of stay, and any conditions of your authorization. Read it carefully to confirm your name and passport number are correct in the issued ETA.

• Save a digital copy of the ETA approval email on your phone — you may be asked to show it at airline check-in
• Print one physical copy to carry in your travel documents — useful as a backup if your phone battery dies
• Your ETA is linked electronically to your passport number — Sri Lanka immigration can verify it in their system without a physical copy
• Check that your name and passport number in the approval email exactly match your passport — if there is an error, contact the Department of Immigration immediately
• Note the ETA validity period (180 days from issue) and your authorized stay (30 days per entry)

Sri Lanka ETA rejections are uncommon for most nationalities based in Dubai, but they do occur. Understanding the most common causes helps you avoid them — and knowing what to do if you are rejected ensures you are not left stranded.

• Incorrect passport data: a mis-entered passport number, wrong expiry date, or misspelled name are the most common causes — reapplication with corrected details usually resolves this
• Passport validity: applying with a passport that has less than 6 months remaining validity — renew your passport first
• Nationality not ETA-eligible: some nationalities must apply through the Sri Lanka Embassy in Abu Dhabi rather than online
• Previous visa violations: a history of overstaying or immigration violations in Sri Lanka or other countries may cause rejection
• Unclear passport upload: if your passport scan was illegible, the application cannot be assessed — reapply with a clearer scan
• Security checks: a small number of applications are flagged for additional security screening, which can take up to 7 business days

If your ETA application is rejected, you will receive an email explaining the reason. For most common causes — data errors, passport clarity issues — a corrected reapplication is the solution. If your rejection is based on nationality ineligibility, OraVisa can advise on the Sri Lanka Embassy visa route from Abu Dhabi.

Sri Lanka allows eligible nationalities to obtain a visa on arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport at the same USD 50 fee. Despite this option existing, the online ETA is significantly preferable for Dubai residents. Here is why.