Sri Lanka Visa Application Guide. Does Turkey Require Visa From Its Citizens?
Sri Lanka Visa Application Guide. Does Turkey Require Visa From Its Citizens?
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island country located in the Indian Ocean and was known as Ceylon before 1972. According to Sri Lanka's visa policy, foreign nationals who do not have a visa exemption must obtain a visa before entering Sri Lankan territory.
You can apply for a Sri Lanka visa online through the e-visa portal or at the airports with the visa on arrival application. While an approval document is obtained for e-visa applications, for visas on arrival, a stamp and label is placed on the passport by the customs police during entry.
We have listed what you need to know about Sri Lanka visa application under the following headings.
Do Turkish Citizens Traveling to Sri Lanka Need a Visa?
Regardless of your passport type (including ordinary, special and service passports), you will need a visa to travel to Sri Lanka. Before you go to Sri Lanka, you should apply for the type of visa that suits your travel plans.
Sri Lanka Visa Types
Sri Lanka visa types and subcategories are given below.
- Transit Sri Lanka visa
- Short term Sri Lanka visa
- Sri Lanka tourist visa
- Sri Lanka work visa
- Sri Lanka treatment visa
- Entry visa and long-term Sri Lanka visa
- Sri Lanka work visa
- Sri Lanka volunteer work visa
- Sri Lanka student visa
- Sri Lanka Immigrant Visas
- Sri Lanka family reunification visa
- Sri Lanka investor visa
To travel to Sri Lanka, you need to choose the Sri Lanka visa type that suits your travel plan and purpose.
Eligibility Criteria for Sri Lanka Visa
For a Sri Lanka visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria.
- The Sri Lankan Immigration Department must be satisfied that you are eligible to enter Sri Lanka.
- The Sri Lankan Immigration Service must confirm your purpose of entry into Sri Lanka.
- You must have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself in Sri Lanka and cover the costs of your return.
- You will need to prove that you will return after your trip to Sri Lanka is over.
Where to Apply for a Sri Lanka Visa?
For Sri Lanka visa, you need to apply according to visa type.
You can obtain a short-term and transit Sri Lanka visa online or at the gate at Bandaranaike International Airport.
You must apply for a long-term Sri Lanka visa at the Sri Lanka Immigration Department in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Since a long-term Sri Lanka visa application can only be made at the Sri Lanka Immigration Department, you must first obtain an entry visa. You can obtain an entry visa from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Ankara .
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara is the only foreign mission serving in Turkey under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka .
What are the documents required for a Sri Lanka visa?
The documents required for a Sri Lanka visa may vary depending on the type of visa applied for.
The standard documents requested for short-term ETA applications are listed below.
- Passport
- ETA Application Form
- Credit card
You can access the detailed list of documents and explanations according to the purpose of travel on the Documents Required for Sri Lanka Visa page.
How Much Is the Sri Lanka Visa Fee?
The application fee for a short-term Sri Lanka visa is 50 USD if paid through the Immigration Department's website, and the travel document fee is 60 USD if paid at Bandaranaike International Airport upon entry to Sri Lanka.
These fees do not include travel health insurance and consultancy fees. For long-term Sri Lanka visa costs and fee breakdowns, you can review the Sri Lanka visa fee page.
Application Process for Sri Lanka Visa
The Sri Lanka visa application process varies depending on the type of visa you will apply for.
You must apply for a short-term and transit Sri Lanka visa online at http://www.eta.gov.lk. After filling in the Sri Lanka visa application form online, you must pay the visa fee using a debit or credit card. You can also apply for a short-term Sri Lanka visa at the application point at the airport when entering from Bandaranaike International Airport.
For a long-term Sri Lanka visa, you must first obtain an entry visa from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Ankara, and then apply for a visa at the Sri Lankan Immigration Department.
Sri Lanka Visa Application Processing Time
Visa applications made through the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara and http://www.eta.gov.lk are finalized within an average of 2 to 4 working days.
Sri Lanka Visa Tracking and Inquiry Process
For short-term and transit Sri Lanka visa applications, you can follow the status of your visa with the reference number at http://www.eta.gov.lk. You can also contact 0094 71 99 67 888 for ETA applications.
You can inquire about your entry visa applications by contacting the Consular Section of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara by e-mail or telephone.
What are the Reasons for Sri Lanka Visa Rejection?
Sri Lanka visa refusal is likely to be denied if there has been a visa violation in Sri Lanka before. Apart from this factor, the probability of a Sri Lanka visa application being rejected is low.
What are the Sanctions for Sri Lanka Visa Violation?
Sri Lanka visa violation is the situation of continuing to stay in Sri Lanka despite the visa stay and validity period having expired.
If you leave the country of your own volition after violating your visa within the borders of Sri Lanka, you may not always be subject to sanctions. However, if you are detected to have violated your Sri Lankan visa while you are within the borders of the country, you will be subject to sanctions such as fines or deportation in proportion to the duration of your violation.
Sri Lanka Visa Policy and Visa Exemption
Sri Lanka does not grant direct visa exemptions to foreign nationals; however, all foreign nationals, except for citizens of a few exceptional countries, are granted the right to apply for a short-term Sri Lanka visa or ETA online or at the border upon entry to Sri Lanka, without having to go to a foreign mission.
Citizens of any country, except ETA-exempt countries and countries whose citizens are required to obtain a visa in advance, can obtain an ETA upon arrival in Sri Lanka or online; however, visitors are advised to obtain an ETA online to avoid long delays at the port of entry. ETA holders can then obtain a visa upon arrival in Sri Lanka by presenting their ETA and passport to a Sri Lankan immigration officer. A Sri Lankan visa on arrival is valid for 30 days but can be extended. Citizens of the Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore are exempt from the ETA.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Apply for a Sri Lanka Visa?
You must apply for your Sri Lanka visa at least 1-2 weeks before your planned travel date.
Is There an Interview for Sri Lanka Visa Application?
No, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara does not hold interviews for visa applications as a rule.
How Long Does a Sri Lankan Visa Take to Issue?
Sri Lanka visas are issued for 30 days for short-term visas, 7 days for transit visas and generally 2 years for long-term visas.
Can Sri Lanka Visa Validity Be Extended?
Yes, you can extend your Sri Lanka visa.
Depending on the visa type, your Sri Lanka visa extension process will differ.
Which countries' citizens are not eligible for ETA applications?
There is no ETA (online application) application for citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria and Uganda. Citizens of these countries must apply for a visa from the Sri Lankan foreign mission.
Can I Enter Other Countries With a Sri Lankan Visa?
No, it is not possible to travel to any country other than Sri Lanka with a Sri Lanka visa.
Are There Direct Flights From Türkiye to Sri Lanka?
There are direct flights from Türkiye to Sri Lanka with connecting flights from Airarabia, Jazeera Airways and Qatar Airways. All Istanbul Istanbul Colombo flights can be accessed via skyscanner.
Turkish Airlines and Pagasus Airlines will not have flights to Sri Lanka as of 2024.
Is It Difficult to Get a Sri Lankan Visa?
It is not difficult to get a Sri Lanka visa if you prepare the necessary documents properly and apply. It is important in the visa application process to prove that you will cover the expenses of your trip to Sri Lanka and that you will return to your country when your visa expires.
Where to Get Consultancy Service for Sri Lanka Visa?
For Sri Lanka visa, you can receive consultancy services from accredited visa agencies registered with TÜRSAB.
You can get visa consultancy for all types of Sri Lankan visas, including transit, short-term and long-term. Do not trust people and websites that try to make appointments on behalf of authorized visa centers or sell health insurance.