In this guide3 sections
Sri Lanka is the cheapest international trip an Indian passport can plan, because the entry authorisation costs nothing — provided you get it from the right place.
What the Department publishes#
The Department of Immigration and Emigration's notice to short-term visitors reads: "With effect from 25.05.2026, nationals of the following 40 countries are eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free-of-charge for a period of 30 days."
India appears on that list, alongside the UK, the US, the UAE, Australia, Japan, China and 33 others. The waiver is specific to the tourist category; business ETAs and other visa classes keep their fees.
Where the money goes if you are careless#
A free document with a well-known name is exactly what the agent market monetises. Searches for "Sri Lanka ETA" surface commercial pages that reproduce the official form, charge a few thousand rupees as a "processing fee", and in the worst cases collect passport scans and card details for a submission that may never be made.
There is no legitimate reason for an Indian tourist to pay anyone for this ETA. The test is the domain: eta.gov.lk and nothing else. The wider pattern of how this market works is documented in how visa agent fraud works in India.
Free is not unconditional#
The ETA authorises travel; it does not guarantee entry. Sri Lankan immigration still checks passport validity, an onward or return ticket, and where you are staying. Arriving without those is the ordinary way a free authorisation stops being useful at the counter.
The document set, the 30-day extension route and what changes for a longer stay are in Sri Lanka visa for Indians. How this sits against the rest of the map for an Indian passport is in visa-free countries for Indians, and the wider cost comparison in visa fees for Indians in 2026.
VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with the Sri Lankan government. Apply only at eta.gov.lk; details checked 22 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Sri Lanka visa cost for Indians in 2026?
- Nothing, for tourism. The Department of Immigration and Emigration states that with effect from 25 May 2026, nationals of 40 listed countries — India among them — obtain the tourist ETA free of charge for 30 days. Business ETAs and other categories keep their own fees.
- Which site issues the Sri Lanka ETA?
- Only the government portal eta.gov.lk. Commercial sites that mirror the form add a "processing fee" to a document the state issues at no cost, and some collect passport data with no authority to do so.
- Does the free ETA cover business travel or longer stays?
- No. The waiver applies to the tourist category for 30 days. Business ETAs are unaffected, and a stay beyond 30 days needs an extension applied for inside Sri Lanka.