Are you planning your next vacation in Sri Lanka? It's a dream destination, a popular tourist destination thanks to the country's natural beauty and the friendliness of its people. The first step in preparing your trip is to ensure that you have all the necessary formalities to enter the country and spend a pleasant, legal stay. And when we talk about essential documents, we're referring in particular to the ETA. How do I apply?
ETA in a nutshell
The ETA is a personal, nominative travel authorization that is required for entry into Sri Lanka. Let's be clear: the ETA is not a visa, but an electronic authorization valid for 30 days from the day you land in Sri Lanka.
In simple terms, this is another variety of the American ESTA or the Australian eVisitor, and is intended for nationals of countries benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program. Based on the same principle as other electronic travel authorizations, the ETA allows you to stay in Sri Lanka for less than 1 month for tourism or vacations.
For other reasons, you need to apply for a visa at the Sri Lankan embassy in your city.
How do I apply for ETA?
With a view to developing tourism activities and facilitating travel from one country to another, the visa waiver program has been set up in several countries, including European ones.
The same applies to the ETA, an authorization that replaces the traditional visa under certain conditions. It's quick and easy to apply for online. So you can save time and money at the same time.
All you have to do is fill in an existing form on the ETA Sri Lanka website before you leave for Sri Lanka. However, be careful when applying for your ETA, as there are many intermediary sites out there that will hijack your wallet.
Two types of ETA
For your information, there are currently two types of ETA. The first is the Tourist ETA, which is of course the classic electronic travel authorization. It is valid for 30 days from the day you set foot on Sri Lankan territory.
This ETA is unique in that it allows double entry, enabling you to spend a few days in the Maldives or India and then return to Sri Lanka. However, the total duration of your stay must never exceed the specified 30 days.
Then there's the transit ETA, which allows a single entry for 2 days only.