A practical sequence for choosing the official route, checking a draft and following an ETA response.
Before starting a form, identify the passport and the purpose of the visit. Sri Lanka's ETA covers short tourism, business and transit visits, but those purposes do not all use the same submission route.
Choose the route before the form
Read the notices on the official ETA portal. The tourist fee waiver does not remove the ETA requirement. Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Afghanistan, Taiwan, Kosovo and Syria have sponsor notices; follow the relevant notice rather than an ordinary online application.
The official short-visit page directs business applications to a Sri Lankan mission or the Department's Head Office. Media, political and NGO activities need separate authority guidance. Tourist permission does not authorize employment.
Prepare and check the draft
Keep the passport beside you. Compare the name, number, nationality, birth date and expiry date with every field. Use the document you intend to travel with. A residence permit or a territory label should not be substituted for the passport nationality.
Prepare the accommodation and intended arrival information. The official FAQ says an ETA may be obtained before booking a ticket, while the entry conditions require a return ticket for air travelers and sufficient funds. A booking used to plan a draft is not proof of permission to enter.
For a group, check every traveler individually: one exempt adult does not establish a waiver for another passport, and children still require the appropriate authorization record. See the family guide.
Compare the charges
Use the current fee page. Government charges vary by nationality, age and purpose. This site's US$69.99 per-applicant assistance fee is separate and optional. Read the refund terms before selecting the service.
Keep the acknowledgment and follow its instructions
An acknowledgment is not an approval. The official sample describes a response within 48 hours, but referrals and extra checks can take longer. Use the reference number to check status. If a submitted detail is wrong, follow the current cancellation/correction instructions; do not assume an existing ETA can simply be edited.
Before departure, read the issued notice for the passport, purpose, entry conditions and use-by date. Keep a copy available with the travel document. Authorities decide admission; buying assistance does not change that decision.
Sources and review
Sources checked on 21 October 2026. Planning suggestions are editorial proposals, not reports of personal visits or verified customer cases.