What materials are needed to apply for a personal tourist visa to Sri Lanka?

Chinese citizens who apply for a personal tourist visa in Sri Lanka must apply for a visa or electronic travel authorization (ETA) in advance. Some applicants enjoy visa-free treatment.

The application materials for a Sri Lanka personal tourist visa with an ordinary Chinese passport include:

(1) A visa application form filled in English, the original passport, and a 2-inch color ID photo.

(2) Please prepare corresponding documents according to the purpose of your visit to Sri Lanka. When applying for an entry visa for long-term work (more than one month), you must also provide: a fax of the approval document from the Sri Lankan Immigration Bureau, a copy of the work agreement, a copy of the relevant skill certificate, an invitation letter from a Sri Lankan company, and a letter of recommendation/introduction letter from a domestic company. To apply for a long-term family visit visa, you need to provide the approval document from the Sri Lanka Immigration Bureau.

(3) The Sri Lankan Embassy in China accepts visa applications by post.

The process and precautions for handling ETA for short-term tourism, short-term business or transit in Sri Lanka:

(1) Starting from January 1, 2012, Sri Lanka will cancel the visa on arrival and require Foreign citizens who enter or transit Sri Lanka and whose stay period does not exceed 6 months must apply for an ETA online before entering the country. Those who obtain an ETA will be issued a visa with a stay period of up to 30 days at the port of entry. If you need to extend your stay, please apply to the Immigration Bureau after entering Sri Lanka.

(2) ETA application procedure: Log in to the ETA system, fill out the application, pay the fee with a credit card (USD 30 for two entries valid for six months for tourism and business) and submit. The applicant will receive a refund within 24 hours. to the approval notice or transfer notice. Applicants who receive an approval notice should print the notice and keep it with them as their visa. Those who receive the transfer notice should contact the nearest Sri Lankan embassy.

(3) Notes:

No need to provide passport copies and photos; only VISA cards, MASTER cards, and AMERICAN EXPRESS cards are accepted for payment; round-trip air tickets and sufficient funds are required when entering the country. Living expenses in Sri Lanka, passport validity is not less than 6 months.

(4) Special circumstances: If the visitor has not obtained an ETA in advance, he or she can apply at the ETA counter of Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport and Hambantota International Airport, the capital of Sri Lanka. The fee is US$35 for tourism and business. The transit stay is US$25 for 7 days, and the stay for no more than 2 days is free. Payment can be made by credit card or major currencies such as RMB, Hong Kong dollars, US dollars, euros, and Japanese yen. Passengers who are notified of approval can enter the country, and passengers who are notified of transfer will be repatriated on the original plane.

(5) Crew and crew members are exempt from ETA.