Sri Lanka: The ETA Is Now Free for French Travelers — How to Apply in 2026

Since May 25, 2026, Sri Lanka's tourist ETA is free for French travelers, whether you hold an ordinary, service or diplomatic passport. It covers a 30-day stay with double entry. It remains mandatory before departure, though, and there is only one place to apply: the official website eta.gov.lk.

What changed on May 25, 2026

The Sri Lankan government scrapped the tourist ETA fee for 40 nationalities, including France — and also the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The measure, pitched as a way to revive tourism, took effect on May 25, 2026. It is confirmed by the fees page of the official ETA website, by the Sri Lanka travel advice page of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and by an official statement from the Sri Lankan embassy in Stockholm.

Before that date, the ETA cost 50 US dollars online (60 dollars on arrival). That fee still applies to nationalities outside the list, and it is the figure many websites still display. Hence the confusion: if you read "$50" somewhere, the information is simply outdated for French travelers.

One thing to know if you paid for your ETA just before the change: fees paid before May 25, 2026 are not refundable, as stated on the official website.

The official process, step by step

Everything happens on eta.gov.lk/slvisa, the portal of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Check that the address ends in .gov.lk. Good news: the interface is available in several languages, including French, which makes the form easier to fill in. Every traveler needs their own ETA, children included.

Here is how it works in practice:

• Fill in the form: passport details, travel dates, address of your first accommodation in Sri Lanka.
• Go through the "payment" step: with a French passport, the amount displayed is $0. You never enter any card details.
• Receive the acknowledgement immediately, then the approval by email. In some cases you get a "referral notice" instead: an extra check, not a refusal.
• Track the status of your application on the website, or via the call center available 24/7 at +94 71 99 67 888.

Once approved, the ETA lets you enter Sri Lanka within 3 months of issuance. So there is no point applying six months ahead: it would expire before your flight.

How long does it take?

No official processing time is published. In practice, most applications are approved within 24 to 72 hours. That is an observed timeframe, not a guarantee. Submit your application at least 3 days before departure, ideally a week, to absorb a possible extra check without stress.

30 days, double entry: what the free ETA covers

The tourist ETA allows a 30-day stay with double entry. One nuance is often poorly explained: the second entry must happen within the 30-day window that starts on your first arrival. You can leave the country — a hop to the Maldives, say — and come back, as long as you stay within those 30 days. Double entry does not extend the stay.

Want to stay longer? A paid extension is possible beyond the 30 days. Two options: online via the eServices portal presented on the Sri Lankan immigration website, or in person at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla, on the outskirts of Colombo. The fee scale depends on your nationality and is displayed on the portal when you apply.

The documents requested on arrival

According to the French foreign ministry's travel advice, immigration officers at the airport may ask for:

• a passport valid for 6 months beyond your date of entry into Sri Lanka;
• your approved ETA, digital or printed (a printout spares you battery or network issues);
• a return ticket or onward ticket to another country;
• proof of sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.

In practice, the passport and the ETA are often enough. But a missing return ticket can get you denied boarding back in Paris, London or New York: airlines check before letting you on the plane.

Scams: the fake websites charging for a free application

This is the real trap of 2026. Dozens of official-looking websites charge 50 to 80 euros (roughly 55 to 90 US dollars) in "service fees" to fill in, on your behalf, a form that is now free and takes about ten minutes. When the site honestly presents itself as an agency, it is legal. But it is pointless.

The rule relayed by the Sri Lankan authorities fits in one line: the only official website ends in .gov.lk. A domain that contains "gov" but ends in .org, .com or .net is not official.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan published a list of misleading domains, including:

• eta.org.lk
• srilankavisa.org.lk
• e-visa.lk
• srilankavisa.lk
• go-sri-lanka.com
• srilanka-visaonline.com
• srilankaetavisa.com

In doubt? Type the address by hand rather than clicking an ad: these mirror sites often buy the top sponsored spots on the "sri lanka visa" search. And if a website asks for your card details for a French tourist ETA, close the tab.

The essentials before you go

• Free since May 25, 2026 for French passports (ordinary, service, diplomatic) — and 39 other nationalities.
• Mandatory before departure: no stress-free boarding without an approved ETA.
• One website only: eta.gov.lk, available in French, no middleman.
• 30 days, double entry: the second entry must fall within the 30-day window; paid extension possible online or in Colombo.
• Passport valid 6 months beyond entry, return ticket and proof of funds to have on hand.
• Observed processing time: 24 to 72 hours; apply at least 3 days before your flight, ideally a week.

One last useful reflex: keep a copy of the approval email offline, on your phone and on paper. Ten minutes of paperwork, zero euros spent, and you are all set for a month of beaches, tea plantations and ancient cities.