Sri Lanka visa on arrival for tourists explained.
3 Answers from travellers
Yes, most foreign tourists can get a visa on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. There is a dedicated counter right before the immigration desks that is open 24 hours a day. However, it is highly recommended to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA online before you fly. Applying online at the official government website eta.gov.lk is usually cheaper, and it saves you from waiting in long lines at the airport after a tiring flight. The online approval process is fast and normally takes less than 48 hours.
If your online ETA is delayed and still says pending when you land, do not panic. Proceed to the visa on arrival counter at the airport and explain the situation. They can often check the system and push the approval through manually without charging you again.
Be very careful when applying online. Use only the official government portal ending in gov.lk. There are many fake third party websites that look official but charge huge hidden markup fees. The standard tourist ETA fee should only be a few tens of dollars.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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