Maldivians traveling to Sri Lanka will once again be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure starting this Sunday, May 25.
Despite the reintroduction of the ETA system, Maldivian travelers will continue to receive a 90-day tourist visa free of charge, with no additional visa fee imposed.
In a notice issued by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Maldives, authorities stated that all tourists traveling to Sri Lanka must submit an ETA application prior to arrival beginning May 25.
Sri Lanka had temporarily suspended the ETA requirement in October last year. However, the system is now being reinstated, making pre-arrival authorization mandatory once again for all foreign tourists.
Travelers must apply for the ETA at least 24 hours before departure through Sri Lanka’s official ETA portal: eta.gov.lk
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s parliament approved amendments to the country’s immigration regulations on May 7, allowing citizens of 40 countries to receive free tourist visas for one year as part of efforts to boost the tourism sector. The proposal had previously received cabinet approval in March.
Although eligible travelers will receive visas free of charge, they must still complete all required immigration procedures, including obtaining an ETA before entering the country. The waiver only applies to the visa fee itself.
Previously, the free visa scheme was limited to citizens of seven countries — China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand. Under the newly approved changes, the program has now been expanded to cover 40 countries, including the Maldives.
