Americans can now travel to Sri Lanka without needing a visa

Starting Tuesday, tourists from America and other nations will no longer have to apply for a visa to enter Sri Lanka, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ali Sabry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced on X that "Today, the Cabinet approved the President's plan to grant visa-free entry to 38 nationalities immediately, following Singapore's efficient 'one-chop' method. This measure aims to reduce delays at visa processing counters."

In August, the South Asian nation revealed plans to permit visa-free entry for 35 countries beginning in October, initially on a six-month trial basis, before this unexpected update to the policy was made public.

Previously, travelers needed to apply for a Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization via the Sri Lanka tourism portal. This visa was initially valid for 30 days from the date of arrival but could be extended for up to six months.

This new policy is now in effect, allowing visa-free entry for travelers from 38 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. However, citizens from nine countries—Afghanistan, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria—remain ineligible for visa-on-arrival in Sri Lanka, even with this update.

As of the time this was published, the Sri Lankan government has not yet updated its website to reflect the new visa-free entry policy. Following this change, only 13 countries now require American citizens to obtain a tourist visa to visit.