Sri Lanka ETA for New Zealand Citizens

Before applying for the ETA, we recommend reading through the visa requirements for New Zealanders. These detail the conditions they must meet to travel abroad. The most important requirements they must meet for the Sri Lankan Electronic Travel Authorization are the following:

• Possessing a New Zealand Passport valid for 6 months on their arrival date in Sri Lanka
• Registering with a frequently used email address where they will receive their approved ETA
• Using a debit or credit card to pay the processing fee

New Zealander travelers with a passport set to expire in less than 6 months on the date they reach Sri Lanka must send it for renewal at their earliest convenience and before initiating their application. We also recommend they check their bank cards have been previously activated for online payments, and they register with an email address they frequently use since all communications will be exclusively online.

Once New Zealanders confirm they meet the requirements, they can proceed to the Sri Lanka ETA form. The form is a quick and simple online questionnaire that can usually be completed in 30 minutes. They will have to provide personal information as well as passport details. Some of the basic questions include the following:

• Full name
• Citizenship
• Gender
• Place of birth
• Date of birth
• Personal address
• Email id
• Phone number
• Passport issue date
• Passport issuing country
• Passport expiry date
• Reason for visit

Any visiting party traveling to Sri Lanka from New Zealand with minors must note the ETA conditions for underage citizens. If any minor is under 16 years on the date they reach Sri Lanka and shares the same passport as one of their parents or legal guardians, they can submit a joint application. On the other hand, if they are over 16 years or have their own individual passport, they will need to apply for a separate Sri Lankan ETA.

New Zealander passport holders conclude the ETA request by paying the processing fee. As mentioned above, we recommend they confirm their bank card has been previously activated for online payments and with sufficient funds.

The Sri Lankan government evaluates all the forms received, and within 3 days, all applicants receive their approved ETA in a confirmation email. We recommend New Zealand applicants to print out a copy as soon as they receive it and keep it next to their travel documents. We also recommend they complete their ETA request 20 business days or more before their arrival to account for possible busy touristic periods.

New Zealand nationals with the approved ETAs are authorized to travel to the country. They must note that the ETA grants them entry through any international airports and seaports, offering them sufficient flexibility to meet their travel requirements. They should also plan their arrival and departure tickets to comply with the allowed number of days per visit (30) and arrive and leave within the approved 6 months of the ETA’s validity.

Upon reaching border controls, they must submit the following documentation and information for inspection:

• New Zealand passport (must be the same one used during the application process)
• A printed copy of their Sri Lanka ETA
• Proof of onward travel (return of outgoing ticket)
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover their visit

If during their visit, any New Zealander national needs to prolong their stay, they can request for an ETA extension at the Immigration Office in Colombo.