Sri Lanka ETA Fee 2026: Current Cost, Processing Time & Agent Guide

This guide is part of the complete Sri Lanka ETA resource hub for Indian travel agents. For the full application walkthrough, see the step-by-step Sri Lanka ETA guide.

Sri Lanka’s ETA fee structure has shifted multiple times in recent years — and quoting your client an outdated fee leads to billing disputes and lost trust. This article covers the current Sri Lanka ETA fee for Indian nationals, what double vs single entry means, how processing time has changed, and how to account for the fee in your travel packages correctly.

Disclaimer: ETA fees are set by the Sri Lanka government and can change without prior notice. Always verify the current fee on eta.gov.lk before submitting an application or quoting a client.

Current Sri Lanka ETA Fee for Indians (2026)

Visa Type	Fee (Approx.)
Short Visit — Tourist (Single Entry)	Verify at eta.gov.lk
Short Visit — Tourist (Double Entry)	Verify at eta.gov.lk
Short Visit — Business	Higher fee; verify at eta.gov.lk
Transit	Verify at eta.gov.lk

Why we say “verify”: Sri Lanka suspended the ETA system temporarily during 2022–2023 during the economic crisis, reinstated it, offered free visas for India and several other countries as a tourism promotion in 2023, then returned to paid ETAs. This history of changes means past information circulating in WhatsApp travel agent groups is often outdated. The only reliable source is eta.gov.lk itself.

Single Entry vs Double Entry: What Indian Clients Need

The standard tourist ETA for Indians is a double entry visa — meaning your client can leave Sri Lanka and re-enter once within the 30-day validity period.

Who needs double entry?

Clients doing a Sri Lanka + Maldives combination tour (fly to Maldives mid-trip, return to Sri Lanka for onward flight)
Clients flying in and out via different routes with a brief exit
Clients attending a wedding in Sri Lanka who may cross to India and return

Who only needs single entry?

The majority of leisure travellers — one arrival, one departure
Honeymooners, family tours, heritage tours, wildlife safaris

For most Indian clients, the standard tourist ETA (which is double entry by default at the same price) covers all scenarios.

Sri Lanka ETA Processing Time

Processing Type	Timeframe
Standard	24–72 hours (business hours)
Peak season (Dec–Jan, April)	Up to 5 business days
Weekend applications	May process on next business day

Important rule of thumb for travel agents: Submit ETA applications at least 7 days before departure. This gives:

72 hours for standard processing
48 hours to identify and correct any rejection
48-hour buffer before the client’s travel day

Submitting 24–48 hours before departure is how travel agents lose clients’ trust. An ETA rejection with no time to fix it is a flight missed and a holiday ruined.

The History of Sri Lanka ETA Fee Changes (2022–2026)

Pre-2022 (Normal period): Tourist ETA: USD 20 (single/double entry). Business ETA: USD 35.

2022 (Economic crisis year): ETA system intermittently suspended; visa on arrival reinstated temporarily.

2023 (Recovery and promotion): Free ETA announced for Indian nationals — many travel agents assumed ETA was still free into 2024.

2024–2025: Free ETA promotion ended; paid ETA reinstated with revised fee structure.

2026: ETA system operating normally. Paid applications via eta.gov.lk. Check current fee on the portal.

The lesson: Never quote an ETA fee from memory or from a group message. Always check the portal before quoting.

How to Include ETA Fee in Your Client’s Package Quote

Option 1: Bundle Into Package Price

Include the ETA cost as a line item in your package. Mark up by INR 200–500 per person as a service/processing fee — this is standard practice.

Option 2: Charge Separately

List the ETA as a separate service with a transparent processing fee. Some clients prefer seeing exactly what they’re paying for each component.

Recommendation: Bundle for leisure packages. Charge separately for corporate clients who need itemised invoices.

Currency and Payment for ETA

The ETA fee is charged in USD and converted at the prevailing rate when paying by Indian card.

For Indian cards:

Visa/Mastercard international credit cards: Usually work reliably
Debit cards with international transaction enabled: Usually work
Rupee-denominated domestic cards: May fail or be declined
UPI / net banking: Not accepted on eta.gov.lk

If the payment fails: The application is saved (your reference number is retained). Return to the portal and retry payment with the same reference number — do not start a new application.

ETA Fee for Group Bookings

For a group of 10 Indian travellers: 10 separate ETA applications, 10 separate fee payments. This is exactly where using Vismora for batch management makes a measurable difference — instead of 10 separate portal sessions, you manage all 10 in one place with one consolidated status view.

Apply group Sri Lanka ETAs through Vismora →

Related Sri Lanka ETA Guides

FAQ

What is the current Sri Lanka ETA fee for Indians?

The fee changes periodically. Check the current fee directly at eta.gov.lk before applying. This is the only reliable source — WhatsApp forwards and travel blogs often cite outdated figures.

Was Sri Lanka ETA free for Indians recently?

Yes — Sri Lanka offered free ETAs for Indian nationals during 2023 as a tourism recovery measure. That promotion has since ended. The current ETA requires payment; verify the amount at eta.gov.lk.

Can I get a refund if my Sri Lanka ETA is rejected after payment?

Refund policies for rejected ETAs vary and have historically been difficult to obtain. The best way to avoid this issue is to submit a correct application the first time — verify all details before payment.

How long is the Sri Lanka ETA valid after approval?

The ETA is valid for 30 days from your actual entry into Sri Lanka, within the window you specified. Arrive significantly outside your stated dates and you may face issues.

Does Sri Lanka charge an entry tax separately from the ETA fee?

As of available information, there is no separate entry tax charged at the airport beyond the ETA fee paid online. Verify with eta.gov.lk and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau before travel.

Conclusion

The Sri Lanka ETA fee is a small cost relative to the total package value — but quoting it incorrectly is a credibility issue. Build a simple habit: check eta.gov.lk for the current fee at the start of each month, update your package templates accordingly, and apply all ETAs at least a week before departure.

Start managing Sri Lanka ETAs on Vismora →

Sri Lanka ETA Fee 2026: Cost, Processing Time & What’s Changed