We inform you that from 10/01/2019, it is not possible to issue visas at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow for tourists whose passport is valid for less than 6 months, but more than three (from the date of the end of the tour).

Obtaining visas upon arrival or issuing an electronic permit ETA is possible only for those tourists whose passport is valid for more than 6 months from the date of the end of the tour!

For the period from 08/01/2019 to 01/31/2020, the Government of Sri Lanka cancels visa fees for citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine both when applying for an ETA and when obtaining a visa upon arrival.

Important! If time permits, we strongly recommend issuing an ETA. All tourists arriving without a pre-issued electronic visa to Sri Lanka (ETA) must go through the on-site clearance process. Colombo Airport lacks space for additional accommodation for visa officers. Sometimes there are huge queues!

Starting from 01.01.2012, Foreign citizens Those wishing to visit Sri Lanka for a short visit must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization - (ETA) prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka. ETA is issued through the on-line system. Passport copies, documents, or photographs are not required. It is also not required to enter ETA into the passport.

• To obtain an electronic entry permit, use the website eta.gov.lk
• The cost of issuing an ETA for double tourist visa for a period of 30 days is 35 dollars. For children under 12 years old - free. Payment is made only by credit cards. Accepted for payment MasterCard, VISA, American Express.
• The visa fee is not charged for tourists who will be in the country for less than 48 hours.

Objectives of the visit for a short-term visit to Sri Lanka:

• Rest
• Short business trips
• Transit

ETA validity period:

The ETA is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival and can be extended up to six months by the Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration.

A citizen who has received an ETA is entitled to enter Sri Lanka within three months from the date the ETA was issued.

Tourists who arrive in Sri Lanka without a pre-issued ETA receive a visa at the airport. Cost - $ 40 per person, for children under 12 years old - free.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries can enter the country for up to 30 days with a visa upon arrival at the port of entry, subject to the following conditions:

• The purpose of the visit is tourism
• Return ticket availability
• Sufficient amount of funds for the period of the intended stay in Sri Lanka ($ 30 per day of stay)
• Hotel voucher
• International passport valid for more than 6 months from the intended end date of the trip to Sri Lanka, according to the Immigration and Emigration Act.

• • Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria
  • Hungary, UK, Vietnam
  • Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong
  • Denmark
  • Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Spain
  • Canada, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait
  • Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
  • Macedonia, Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova
  • Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, Norway
  • Oman, UAE
  • Pakistan, Poland, Portugal
  • Romania, Russia
  • Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, USA
  • Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine, Uzbekistan
  • Finland, France, Philippines
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Sweden, Switzerland
  • Estonia
  • South Africa, South Korea
  • Japan

Embassy of the Republic of Sri Lanka in Moscow

Embassy and consulate address: Moscow, st. Shchepkina, 24, bldg. 1

Phone / fax: +7 499 688-16-20, +7 499 688-16-51, +7 499 688-14-63

Service hours: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday - Friday (lunch break 13:00 - 14:00)

Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka

Embassy Address: Embassy of the Russian Federation, 62 Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo-7, Sri-Lanka

Phones: +94 11 2573-555, +94 11 2574-959

Fax: +94 11 2574-957

Dear tourists, we inform you that:

The tour operator is not responsible for the actions of institutions authorized for issuing visas (refusal / delay in issuing a visa, delay in issuing tourist passports after reviewing documents, changing the rules for issuing entry visas, including an increase in the period for considering documents, and others).

In addition to having a visa, which is not always a guarantee of crossing the border, it is required to go through the procedures necessary for crossing the border.

Refusal to cross the border may be due to the presence of debt; restriction of travel for certain categories of citizens; non-compliance of documents with the rules for crossing the border, including violation of the requirements of the country of temporary residence for the validity period of the passport, lack of documents for the departure of a minor citizen, etc.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS to visit Sri Lanka require visa permit ETA, which is issued in advance online on the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization System) website.

Important! Also, an ETA visa permit in accordance with the immigration rules of Sri Lanka can be issued upon arrival at the ETA counter at Colombo airport.

These rules are also available in the TIMATIC system, which is a guide on visa issues for airlines when boarding a passenger on a flight:

Sri Lanka (LK)

Visa required, except for Holders of passports issued by
Russian Fed. can obtain a visa on arrival for a max. stay of
30 days, provided holding an Electronic Travel Authorization
(ETA).

NOTE 51704: Tourist ETA is available on arrival or prior
arrival at www.eta.gov.lk.

However, despite this, a number of airlines flying to Sri Lanka believe that visa processing at Colombo airport is not possible. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have with you the printouts from the ETA website and the TIMATIC system (see link above), or apply for a visa permit in advance, through the Electronic Travel Authorization System portal.

Visa processing upon arrival

To apply for a visa upon arrival, you must fill out a migration card, then go to the "Visa on arrival" counter located in the arrival hall before passport control and pay the visa fee. After that, with a receipt for payment of the fee, a migration card and an international passport, you must go to the passport control zone, where the tourist will be stamped with a visa.
In the case of a transit trip, when the period of stay in Sri Lanka does not exceed 48 hours, the visa fee will not be charged. Officer migration service it will be necessary to present tickets confirming the further flight.

When applying for a tourist visa, it is also necessary to have return tickets or confirmation of hotel reservation.

Registration of an electronic visa permit

A visa permit is issued in advance, before traveling to Sri Lanka, online on the ETA website.
The electronic application is filled in only in English. All questions marked with asterisks must be answered. The application contains the name and surname of the tourist, the purpose of the visit to Sri Lanka, date of birth, passport number, travel dates, name and address of the hotel or host. The application is automatically sent to the Sri Lanka Immigration Service. Online, you can track the status of the application by specifying its number, which is assigned after filling it out. If the number of the questionnaire is lost, you can enter the passport number and citizenship of the applicant.

Visa processing time

The waiting time for a response is from 1 hour to 24 hours.

Visa fee and visa validity periods

Payment of the online visa fee is made during the electronic visa application process and is $ 30 for a double-entry tourist visa or multiple-entry business visa (period of stay - 30 days). We accept MasterCard, VISA, American Express cards.

If the visa authorization is paid at the airport, the fee is $ 35. Accepted for payment are dollars, euros, Japanese yen, Singapore and Hong Kong dollars, and a number of other currencies.

If you plan to transit through Sri Lanka to a third country, during which the period of stay in the country does not exceed 48 hours, a transit visa is issued, and visa fees are not charged.

Crossing the border

When crossing the border, you must present following documents:

• a passport valid for at least six months from the end of the trip;
• a migration card completed in English, which is issued either on the plane or immediately before passport control at Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo;
• printout of electronic visa confirmation (ETA);
• return ticket with a fixed departure date;
• confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds for the trip (in practice, it is checked selectively).

Extension of stay

The ETA visa can be extended while being located directly in Sri Lanka. Tourist visas valid for 30 days can be renewed twice: for 2 months, and then for another three months. In total, the validity of a visa cannot exceed six months. It is possible to extend the visa for 3-5 months at once only for valid reasons, for example, a serious illness of a tourist, as a result of which he cannot be transported to his homeland until the end of treatment.

The following documents must be provided:
- passport, which expires no earlier than two months after the expected date of departure from the country;
- completed visa extension form;
- one color photograph 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a light background (glued to the questionnaire);
- a return ticket or a ticket to a third country (in most cases it is not asked, but if necessary, it must be presented. Employees of the Immigration Department cannot verify the authenticity of the ticket).

Copies of your passport and other documents are not required!

Visa extension documents can be submitted directly at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo (41, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10) or at the Immigration Service Center in Colombo (Unit 01, 3rd Floor, Liberty Arcade Building, No. 282, RA De Mel Mawatha ( Duplication Road), Colombo 3). A fee is charged for extending a visa - it depends on the type of visa, the extension period and the nationality of the tourist (on average, for citizens of the Russian Federation it is $ 25), it is paid at the box office of the Immigration Department or the Service Center.

Renewal is issued on the day of application.

Visa processing at the consulate

If you are planning a long visit (over 30 days), a business trip or another trip, the purpose of which is not tourism, or the validity of the passport is less than 3 months from the end of the trip, the visa must be issued in advance at the consular department of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow.

Documents required for obtaining a visa:

• a passport valid for at least three months from the end of the trip;
• 2 identical color photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm on a light background without corners, ovals and frames;
• round trip tickets with a fixed date;
• visa application form completed in English and signed personally by the applicant;
• invitation (original or fax) from the receiving party, which contains the dates and purposes of the trip, place of residence in Sri Lanka, personal data of the invitee, obligations of the receiving party to assume financial responsibility for the applicant's stay in the country;
• the original letter from the sending party (enterprise or travel agency), which indicates the dates and purposes of the trip, as well as the applicant's personal data.

Visa processing time

The visa is usually issued on the day of application.

The procedure for issuing visas at the embassy

Documents for a visa to the consular department of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow can be submitted in person or through an authorized representative. Acceptance of documents and issuance of documents is carried out from Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00 (lunch break from 13.00 to 14.00).

Consular fee

If a visa is issued at an embassy, ​​a consular fee is charged, which ranges from $ 31 to $ 64, depending on the type of visa and its validity period. The fee is paid in dollars directly at the consular department when submitting documents.

In 2020, Russians need to visit the Republic of Sri Lanka for tourism purposes e-visaETA, which can be obtained in several ways:

• Online via the Internet;
• Upon arrival at the international airport of the capital;
• In the representative office of Sri Lanka, located in Moscow;
• Through travel agencies when buying a voucher.

The same visa is required for non-tourism travel, for example, for a short business trip or short treatment or study on the island.

The most popular ETA visa entitles you to a 30-day visit to the island with the possibility of extension without leaving the country.

Getting a visa at the airport

Such a visa is issued upon arrival at the Colombo airport. To do this, go to the "Visa on arrival" counter located in the arrival area, presenting your passport, migration card, return tickets, hotel reservation and paying the fee. After passing through passport control and checking documents, a visa stamp is put into the passport to enter the country.

The main disadvantage of such a visa is the risk of getting into a long queue and losing half a day of your trip.

Obtaining a visa via the Internet

The most logical way to obtain an ETA entry permit is via the Internet. This can be done independently by any tourist, for which, before a trip to the island, an electronic application is submitted on the website: www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa

When is an ETA issued?

Electronic visa ETA entitles you to double entry into the country and residence on the island for 30 days. A visa is issued if the traveler wishes to make a short trip to the island in order to:

ETA types

There are several types of e-visa:

1. For tourism. Issued for 30 days and entitles you to double entry;
2. For a business visit. Also issued for 30 days and allows you to visit the island twice;
3. For transit. Free entry is provided for the transit crossing of the country, provided that the stop lasts less than 48 hours. For longer transit stays on the island, a fee must be paid.

In the process of filling out the questionnaire, the applicant will have to choose one of the types of ETA.

Filling out an application for an ETA

The sequence of actions when filling out the application:

The status of the application can be tracked on the same website by specifying the number that was assigned in the process of filling out the application.

Video: filling out an e-visa application to Sri Lanka

Visa fees

The fee is paid during the creation process electronic application... His the amount is $ 30, regardless of the type of visa (tourist, business, transit). If payment is made at the airport, the fee is $ 35. The first two days of transit are free, for a longer stop in the country you will have to pay an additional fee. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from payment.

Entry to Sri Lanka

Upon entering the country, a foreigner presents:

After passing through passport control, the traveler's passport is stamped with the date of entry. A traveler can stay in the country for 30 days, in the future he is obliged to leave Sri Lanka or extend his stay. When leaving the island, a mark similar to the entry stamp is entered in the passport.

Transit visa

Russians visiting Sri Lanka as transit passengers can obtain an entry document at the airport after presenting a visa and tickets to the destination. A transit visa entitles you to a 7-day stopover on the island, while the first 48 hours of your stay in Sri Lanka is free.

Extension of a visa

Tourist visa can be extended without leaving the island. Only two renewals are allowed: first for 60 days, and then for another 90 days. In total, the validity period of an entry document cannot be more than 6 months. Extend immediately to the maximum possible term allowed if there are serious reasons, for example, in view of a serious illness of the traveler, when his transportation is difficult or impossible.

To extend a visa, it is necessary to prepare documentation:

• Filled in;
• A passport with a validity period exceeding the expected date of departure from the country by at least 2 months;
• One photo 3.5x4.5 cm;
• Return ticket to your home country or to a third country.

Documents are transferred to the Department of Immigration, located in the capital, or at the Immigrant Support Center. To renew, you need to pay state fee, the size of which directly depends on the type of visa, the period for which the stay is extended, and the citizenship of the traveler. For Russians who want to extend a tourist visa, the amount of the state fee will be about $ 25.

Obtaining a visa at a representative office

If a long-term vacation is planned, a long business trip exceeding 30 days is planned, or another trip for a purpose other than tourism, as well as in situations where the validity of the passport is less than 6 months, but you need to urgently visit the country, a visa is opened at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, located in Moscow.

Tourist visa

Travelers who expect to stay on the island for more than 30 days will have to visit the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission.

Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow (Shchepkina st. 24, building 1)

Obtaining a tourist visa is possible after providing a number of documents, which include:

1. Passport with a "reserve" of 6 months.
2. Return air ticket and its copy.
3. Hotel reservation or tour voucher, or invitation letter from a private (legal) person.
4. Two photos 3.5x4.5 cm.
5. Documents testifying to material well-being.

The visa is issued on the day of application after all documents are submitted and the fee is paid, the amount of which, depending on the type of entry document, varies from $ 31 to $ 64. Documents are submitted in person or through a third party with a power of attorney. Reception is carried out at the representative office located in Moscow at the address: st. Schepkina, 24 building 1, from 10.00 to 16.00 hours.

For children

Children over the age of 14 enter the country by own passports... It is allowed for a young child to be entered in the document of one of the parents. But this is possible only if the parents have an old-style passport, it is impossible to enter children into a biometric document.

When a child travels only with dad or mom, it is necessary consent to leave the Russian Federation from a parent who remained at home. This document is drawn up by a notary in the presence of parents. Consent is required from both parents if the minor leaves the Russian Federation and travels to Sri Lanka with a third person, for example, a grandmother or grandfather, or travels on his own.

Issuance of other types of visa permits

Getting a tourist visa to Sri Lanka online in advance is faster and more profitable than obtaining a visa upon arrival at the airport. Precious rest time and 5 USD on each visa are saved. With the help of this step-by-step instruction and a sample of filling out a questionnaire, you can easily and quickly apply for a visa to Sri Lanka, even without knowing English.

What is a Sri Lanka visa

This site has one important drawback - the almost complete absence of the Russian language. The Russian language is on the first pages, but the translation there is so clumsy that it is better not to read it at all. ETA visa application and payment process takes place in English.

To help you fill in everything correctly, this detailed step-by-step instruction .

ETA is an electronic document and in theory it does not need to be printed, but experience shows that almost all airlines when checking in for a flight to Sri Lanka ask for an ETA or return tickets from Sri Lanka if you plan to obtain a visa upon arrival.

Before proceeding with the instructions for completing the application, I advise you to familiarize yourself with the Rules for applying for a visa to Sri Lanka online.

From August 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020, a tourist visa to Sri Lanka for Russians, Ukrainians, citizens of the European Union and many Asian countries will be issued free of charge.

This instruction for obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka includes the following steps:

1 | Language selection on the main page of the ETA website

On the main page of the official website of ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) http://www.eta.gov.lk you will be asked to select a language. Your choice will not affect the completion of the visa application in any way. In any case, it will be in English - all fields will need to be filled in only in English.

The main page of the ETA website.

2 | Studying information on the principles of obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka (ETA)

On this page you can familiarize yourself with the types of visas and their cost, methods of obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka. Translation into Russian does not coincide with English and in some respects contradicts the original - there are obvious costs of non-professional translation.

To proceed with the application for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka, click on the "Apply" tab.

Rules for obtaining and obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka.

3 | Consent to the rules for obtaining an electronic visa to Sri Lanka (ETA)

This and all subsequent pages on the ETA website are in English. You can read the rules in Russian in the article - Rules for applying for a visa to Sri Lanka.

To proceed with the visa application process for Sri Lanka, you need to select "I Agree" at the bottom of the page.

Select the "I agree" box to proceed with the Sri Lanka e-Visa application.

4 | Choosing the type of visa and type of application

You can submit an application on the website:

• for a double tourist visa for 30 days,
• for a double business visa for 30 days,
• for a free transit visa for 2 days (up to 96 hours).

A visa can be issued for each traveler individually or for a group:

• "Apply for an Individual"- fill out a questionnaire for each traveler separately and pay for each application separately.
• If you are traveling to Sri Lanka with your family or company (of 2 or more people), then it is more convenient to submit a group application "Apply for a Group"- you can fill in some of the information at once for all and pay for all in one payment.

Remember that for children with their own passport, you need to issue the same ETA application as for an adult.

Select the type of visa and the type of visa application.

5 | Instructions and a sample of filling out each block of information in the application for a visa to Sri Lanka:

There are four pieces of information that need to be filled in on the visa application:

• travel information - information about the trip;
• contact details - contact information;
• applicant information - information about the applicant (filled in individually for each traveler);
• declaration - answer yes or no questions about the traveler's visa status.

Fields marked with an asterisk are required. Next, we will analyze in detail how to correctly fill in each block of information.

5.1. | Travel information - travel information

1. Intended Arrival Date- estimated date of arrival in Sri Lanka (select using the opening calendar).
2. Purpose of visit- the purpose of the visit (selected from the list). If you are going on vacation, then select, as in the example below, Sightseeing or Holidaying.
3. Port of departure- port of departure (this field is optional). If you are flying with a transfer, then indicate the city of departure. For example, if the flight is Moscow - Dubai - Colombo, the port of departure is Moscow.
4. Airline / Vessel- airline or ship name (you can leave it blank).
5. Flight / Vessel Number- flight or ship number (you can leave it blank).

Sample of filling in Travel information - travel information.

5.2. | Contact details - contact details

1. Adress line 1- field for postal address (house number, street name, apartment number);
2. City- Current city;
3. State- state or region;
4. Zip / Postal Code- postal code (it is not necessary to fill in);
5. Country- country (selected from the list);
6. TelePhone Number- contact phone number in international format with country and city codes;
7. Mobile Number- mobile phone number (optional);
8. Fax Number- fax number (optional);
9. Email Address- indicate the e-mail to which you want to receive a visa to Sri Lanka;
10. Address in Sri Lanka- address in Sri Lanka (It is optional to fill in the form for the group. In the individual form, this field is required, so indicate the name of the hotel where you think you will stay).

Sample of filling in Contact details - contact information.

5.3. | Applicant information - information about the traveler

All data must match the traveler's passport.

1. Surname / Family name- surname;
2. Other / Given names- name;
3. Title- select from the list: MR - a man, MRS - a married woman or a widow, MISS - an unmarried woman, MS - a woman who does not want to use MISS or MRS, DR - a doctor who wants to mark her status.
4. Date of Birth- the date of birth is selected on the calendar that opens (start the selection with the year, then the month, the last to choose the day);
5. Gender
6. Nationality- citizenship;
7. Country of Birth- place of birth (country);
8. Country of Address- Country of Residence;
9. Occupation- occupation (optional);
10. Passport number- passport number (no sign No. for Russians, for example 5199999999);
11. Passport Issued Date- date of issue of the passport (select in the calendar);
12. Passport Expiry Date- expiration date of the passport (select in the calendar).

Sample filling Applicant information - information about the applicant.

5.4. | Add a child who is included in the parent's passport

If the child is included in the parents' passport, then it must be added to the adult's application. To do this, check the Enable box in the Child information in parent "s passport line (indicated by the arrow in the picture below). Then enter the child's details:

1. Surname / Family name- surname;
2. Other / Given names- name;
3. Date of Birth- the date of birth is selected in the calendar that opens (start the selection with the year, then the month, the last to choose the day);
4. Gender- gender (select from the list male - male or female - female);
5. Relationship- relationship. Select child.

If you need to add another child, click the "Add child" button.

Adding a child who is included in the parent's passport.

5.5 | Declaration - visa status of the traveler

Answer Yes or No to three questions about the traveler's visa status (if you have never received a visa to Sri Lanka, all answers are No):

1. Do you have a valid residence visa to Sri Lanka- Do you have a valid visa for Sri Lanka?
2. Are you currently in Sri Lanka with a valid ETA or obteined an extension of visa- Are you currently in Sri Lanka with a valid ETA or extended visa?
3. Do you have a multiple entry visa to Sri Lanka?- Do you have a multiple entry visa to Sri Lanka?
4. Enter the words from the picture.
5. Check the box I would like to confirm the above information is correct.

Sample filling Declaration. Answer yes or no questions about the traveler's visa status.

6 | Checking the entered data

It's time to remember about health insurance and in a couple of minutes to issue it via the Internet at.

7 | Payment for e-Visa to Sri Lanka

Choose which card you will pay for your visa: Visa or Master, or American Express, simply by clicking on the picture with the desired logo. After a few seconds, a payment window will open.

From August 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020, a tourist visa to Sri Lanka for Russians and Ukrainians is issued free of charge.

1. Card Number- Card number;
2. Expiry date- card expiration date (for example: 03 2018)
3. CVV2 / CVC2 Number- the last three digits on the back of the card (where the cardholder's signature is located);
4. Name on Card- the name of the cardholder (as written on the card);
5. e-mail- it is not necessary to fill in;
6. Mobile Number- the mobile phone number is optional;
7. Word verification- in the field below, enter numbers and letters from the line "Word verification"
8. Check the entered data and click the "Pay" button.

Payment for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka.

8 | Confirmation of successful submission of an application for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka

If the payment was successful, a message will open that the e-visa application has been sent. The same text will be received in a letter to the e-mail indicated in the application.

The picture below shows a monitor screen confirming the successful sending of an application for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka for 2 adult tourists and 1 child ($ 70 = $ 35 x 2).

Confirmation of successful submission of an application for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka

9 | Obtaining an electronic visa to Sri Lanka by e-mail

Within 24 hours after payment, a letter with a visa or a reason for refusal will be sent to the same e-mail. An unusual nuance - the visa comes in the body of the letter, and not as an attached file. You need to print the text of the letter.

A sample letter and visa can be seen in the article Rules for applying for an electronic visa to Sri Lanka.

If you have not received a letter with a visa by e-mail, then, first of all, you need to check your spam folder. If there is nothing there, then you can check the status of your application on the ETA website: https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/pages/checkStatus.jsp and print a browser window as confirmation of obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka.