How long can you stay in Sri Lanka with a British passport?

With a British passport, the permitted stay in Sri Lanka is up to 30 days under the “electronic authorisation (eta)” regime. Checked on 11 October 2026.

Is there another way to enter Sri Lanka?

Yes: visa on arrival. The main answer gives the step to take before departure; this second route is the fallback option.

Where does this information come from, and is it up to date?

It is the majority vote of four open datasets (Wikipedia, visualpharm, xpressmike, VisaMundial), re-synchronised every month; last checked on 11 October 2026. Entry rules change without notice: confirm with the consulate before you travel.

Do you need a visa for Sri Lanka with a British passport?

Electronic authorisation (eTA)

With a British passport, Sri Lanka requires an electronic travel authorisation, obtained online before departure, for a stay of up to 30 days.

Alternative route: visa on arrival.

Rule checked on 11 October 2026

Data last updated on 11/10/2026

Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), visualpharm (MIT), xpressmike (CC BY-SA 4.0), VisaMundial (CC BY 4.0). Each rule is decided by majority vote across these sources; disagreements are arbitrated against official government sources.

This is for guidance only: entry rules change without notice. Confirm it before you travel with the consulate or embassy of your destination, and with the relevant authorities (your airline, border police).

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Climate & seasons

When to go to Sri Lanka?

Monthly averages over the past 5 years (Open-Meteo).

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Our take
Weather
High	22°	23°	25°	26°	25°	24°	24°	25°	24°	24°	23°	23°
Rain (mm)	288	107	100	207	250	93	133	148	122	332	580	253

Frequently asked questions

How long can you stay in Sri Lanka with a British passport?: With a British passport, the permitted stay in Sri Lanka is up to 30 days under the “electronic authorisation (eta)” regime. Checked on 11 October 2026.
What do you need to do before travelling to Sri Lanka?: With a British passport, Sri Lanka requires an electronic travel authorisation, obtained online before departure.
Is there another way to enter Sri Lanka?: Yes: visa on arrival. The main answer gives the step to take before departure; this second route is the fallback option.
Where does this information come from, and is it up to date?: It is the majority vote of four open datasets (Wikipedia, visualpharm, xpressmike, VisaMundial), re-synchronised every month; last checked on 11 October 2026. Entry rules change without notice: confirm with the consulate before you travel.

The same destination with another passport

Plan your trip to Sri Lanka

Budget, itineraries, seasons and places to see: our full destination guide.

Sri Lanka by train: from the tea plantations to the south coast

All destinations for a British passport