The government of Sri Lanka has announced that it has reopened its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in 10 months following an entry ban to contain the spread of COVID-19. On January 19th, 2021, the chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Kimarli Fernando, announced that Sri Lankan borders would reopen
Visa Requirements for Sri Lankan Citizens
Visa requirements for nationals of Sri Lanka are entry restrictions that the authorities of other countries around the world have placed on Sri Lankan passport holders. These requirements differ depending on the destination country, the purpose of the travel and how long the visitor is planning to stay.
According to the Henley Passport Index, the Sri Lankan passport is currently the 99th most powerful in the world, ranked in terms of travel freedom. Passport holders from Sri Lanka can visit currently visit over 30 countries around the world without a visa or with a visa on arrival option.
The majority of the visa-exempt countries allow nationals of Sri Lanka to gain entry to their borders for short periods of stay, which can vary from 1 to 6 months, depending on the destination. Visa-free travel is usually permitted for purposes of tourism, business, or transit.
Some of the visa-free countries for citizens of Sri Lanka require travelers to pre-register an electronic travel authorization before departure, in order to pre-identify any so that any potential security or health risks.
If travelers from Sri Lanka are planning a trip to these same visa-exempt countries for longer periods of stay, or for other purposes such as to study or work, they will need a visa.
Likewise, Sri Lankan citizens wish to visit any non-visa-exempt country, they are required to obtain the relevant travel authorization, which can vary between an embassy visa, a visa on arrival, or an electronic visa through a simple online form.