Entry & Exit Formalities
Immigration at Bandaranaike International Airport is straightforward.
Customs Regulations
Sri Lanka has the usual list of prohibited imports, including drugs, weapons, fresh fruit and anything remotely pornographic.
Items allowed:
0.25L of perfume
1.5L of alcohol.
There are duty-free shops in the arrivals area before you reach baggage claim at the airport. Besides booze they include appliances like blenders and refrigerators.
Visas
Thirty-day visitor visas cost US$30, apply in advance online (www.eta.gov.lk).
Visa Fees
The visa fees are as follows:
Transit visas good for 48 hours are free
Standard 30-day tourist visas cost US$35
Obtaining a Visa
Before visiting Sri Lanka, do the following to get a 30-day visa:
Visit the Sri Lanka ETA website several days before arriving.
Follow the online application process and pay with a credit or debit card.
Once approved, print out the visa confirmation.
You can still obtain visas at Sri Lankan embassies abroad and there is a counter at Bandaranaike International Airport for people who arrive without a visa, although you’ll have to wait with the other visa-less masses and pay a small penalty.
Visa Extensions
You can renew a 30-day tourist visa twice, for 30 days each time. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Extensions are not hard to get but require jumping through some bureaucratic hoops and downloading some forms.
Passports
You must have your passport with you at all times in Sri Lanka. Before leaving home, check that it will be valid for at least six months after you plan to return home.