001
8 Sept 202354K
Paying for a tourist visa
Paying for a tourist visa, the cost of issuing it on arrival, and restrictions on Russian cards.
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Visas
Visas, ETA and extensions: how to stay on the island legally.
002
8 Sept 202354K
Is a return ticket required on entry
Whether a return ticket is required when entering the country.
Open source003
17 Apr 202435K
Tourist visa
How to obtain an electronic visa and the specifics of the application process.
Open source004
10 Feb 2023136K
Visas
Applying for an ETA at $50, getting a visa on arrival for $60, the differences between 30-day and 180-day visas, and the limits of visa on arrival.
Open source005
23 Aug 2023168K
Getting a tourist visa online
Getting a tourist visa online, its cost, and its validity period.
Open source006
23 Aug 2023168K
Extending a visa for 60 and 90 days
Extending a visa for 60 and 90 days, its cost, and the application process.
Open source007
24 May 2026
Free Visas for 40 Countries Including Russia and Belarus
Sri Lanka has introduced free visas for citizens of 40 countries including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan; an electronic ETA before arrival remains mandatory.
Open source008
22 Apr 2026
50 foreigners detained in Negombo for overstaying visas
Sri Lanka's immigration department arrested 50 foreigners (47 Chinese, two Malaysians and one Indian) for remaining in the country illegally after their business visas expired.
Open source009
31 Mar 2026
Sri Lanka introduces free visas for citizens of 39 countries
Sri Lanka is launching a six-month free tourist visa programme for 39 countries to boost inbound tourism.
Open source010
27 Mar 2026
Legal Breakfast on Digital Nomad and investor visas tomorrow
Reminder about tomorrow's Legal Breakfast in Galle with Digital Nomad and investor visa holders; free entry with registration.
Open source011
24 Mar 2026
Legal Breakfast in Galle: how to get a Digital Nomad and investor visa
On March 28 in Galle, a free registered meetup will bring together holders of new Digital Nomad and investor (100k+) visas to answer questions.
Open source012
19 Mar 2026
Account of a visa interrogation at Sri Lanka immigration
The author humorously describes waiting for an interrogation at the Sri Lanka Immigration Investigation Unit after being placed on the Watch List.
Open source013
11 Mar 2026
ETA processing issues for Sri Lanka resolved
Mass glitches in processing Sri Lanka's electronic ETA visa have been resolved, but processing times remain longer than usual.
Open source014
10 Mar 2026
Sri Lanka extends visas for stranded foreign tourists
Sri Lanka's government approved a free 14-day visa extension for foreign tourists whose flights were cancelled from February 28 due to the Middle East crisis.
Open source015
2 Mar 2026
Russians in Sri Lanka to Receive 14-Day Free Visa Extension
The Russian Embassy informs that Russian citizens stranded in Sri Lanka due to Middle East flight cancellations can receive a free 14-day visa extension.
Open source016
28 Feb 2026
Sri Lanka Offers 7-Day Free Visa Extension to Stranded Passengers
Sri Lanka's immigration department will grant a free 7-day visa extension to passengers unable to depart due to Middle East flight cancellations.
Open source017
27 Feb 2026
Sri Lanka Launches Digital Nomad Visa
Sri Lanka officially launched the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) programme at Bandaranaike Airport, targeting remote workers from abroad.
Open source018
20 Feb 2026
Sri Lanka E-Visa System Outage Notification
A notification about an outage in Sri Lanka's electronic visa issuance system.
Open source019
12 Feb 2026
Passport and Visa Issuance Suspended Due to System Failure
Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration has temporarily suspended passport and visa issuance due to a technical malfunction.
Open source020
27 Jan 2026
Online Application Added a Free Month to the Visa
A reader shared a successful experience: an online application for an additional visa month was approved for free without a visit to the immigration centre.
Open source021
26 Jan 2026
Sri Lanka Issues First Digital Nomad Visas
Sri Lanka's first digital nomad visas have been re-issued under a revised procedure in close collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Department of Immigration.
Open source022
23 Jan 2026
Migration Rules for Russians in Sri Lanka Tightened
Without official announcements, visa extension periods for Russians have been reduced: first extension is now 1 month instead of 2, and second is 2 months instead of 3; meanwhile police have intensified document checks of tourists on motorcycles.
Open source023
22 Jan 2026
Sri Lanka Prepares a Digital Nomad Visa
According to insider information, the Sri Lankan government plans to introduce a digital nomad visa that could become the most affordable in the Southeast Asian region.
Open source024
2 Jan 2026
India Waives Visa Fee for Russians Starting January 1
From January 1, India waived the fee for a 30-day e-tourist visa for Russian citizens, though the visa itself still requires an application and approval.
Open source025
24 Dec 2025
US TikTok Family Slams Sri Lanka's Visa System
An American blogger family encountered long queues and a complete lack of instructions when trying to extend their visa at the Battaramulla immigration office.
Open source026
8 Dec 2025
Sri Lanka Discusses Visa-Free Entry for 40 Countries
Against the backdrop of the cyclone's aftermath, Sri Lankan authorities resumed discussions on visa-free entry for citizens of 40 countries, with the scheme potentially launching in January.
Open source027
29 Nov 2025
Visa Concessions for Foreigners Stranded by Bad Weather
Sri Lanka's Immigration Department waived overstay fines for foreigners stranded due to cancelled flights or weather, and introduced a seven-day grace period for visa extensions.
Open source028
19 Nov 2025
Sri Lanka Investor Resident Visa: Conditions Published
The Department of Immigration has published the procedure for obtaining an investor resident visa: minimum investment of $100,000, with eligible types including shares, business operations, deposits, real estate, and government bonds.
Open source029
13 Nov 2025
Thailand Tightens Control on Visa Runs
Thailand is cracking down on visa runs — immigration services in Phuket warn that entry can be denied even after a first brief border hop.
Open source030
30 Oct 2025
Mandatory ETA visas cancelled until further notice
The Department of Immigration officially announced the cancellation of the mandatory ETA for short-term tourists and business visitors until further notice.
Open source031
14 Oct 2025
Immigration Department insists ETA required from tomorrow
The Department of Immigration and Emigration announced that mandatory ETA will be required starting the next day.
Open source032
13 Oct 2025
Mandatory ETA for Sri Lanka entry postponed
Sri Lankan authorities postponed the mandatory ETA originally planned for 15 October until formal parliamentary approval; existing entry rules remain in place for Russian tourists.
Open source033
6 May 2025
Rights groups call UK visa restrictions discriminatory
Rights groups say UK restrictions on work and student visas for citizens of Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka constitute discrimination.
Open source034
7 Apr 2025
Sri Lanka's strict visa policy compared to Thailand
A brief comment on Sri Lanka's strict visa policy in contrast to the more lenient approach seen in Thailand.
Open source035
28 Feb 2025
Looking for a costume assistant with a work visa for film shoot
A costume assistant is needed for a film shoot in late March — applicants must already have a work visa or be willing to fly in and obtain a business visa.
Open source036
27 Dec 2024
How to extend a tourist visa in Sri Lanka: prices and terms
A brief guide to tourist visa extension: $60 for 2 months, $150 or $200 for 3 months each — up to 9 months total on the island.
Open source037
26 Dec 2024
Work visas for foreigners in Sri Lanka are effectively not being issued
Work visas are currently not being issued or renewed for foreigners, forcing business owners to switch to local staff with noticeably lower efficiency.
Open source038
1 Dec 2024
Residency visas for Russians in Sri Lanka are closed
Due to a series of events and informal government decisions, residency visas have effectively stopped being issued to Russians, though intermediary offers remain.
Open source039
21 Nov 2024
Clarification: a former resident can fly in as a tourist after visa expiry
The Russian Embassy clarified that the deportation case from post 3692 was caused by an employer complaint, not by the mere fact of entering on a tourist visa after residency expired.
Open source040
13 Nov 2024
Deportation without a return ticket: personal experience at the border
The author recounts being turned away at the Sri Lanka border due to a cancelled residence visa and lack of a return ticket, and being sent back to Bangkok.
Open source041
5 Nov 2024
Russian family deported for visa violations
A Russian couple who stayed in Sri Lanka for a year without renewing their visa was detained and deported to Tyumen via Mattala airport.
Open source042
27 Oct 2024
Sri Lanka Authorities Check Foreigners' Legal Status
Sri Lanka has launched mass checks of foreigners' legal status; a Russian family was detained in Kandy after nearly a year of illegal residency.
Open source043
6 Oct 2024
Visa extension guide, part 3: lunch at The Stache in Colombo
Part three of the guide: a taxi for 1,185 rupees to The Stache — a cozy Colombo restaurant with the best coffee selection and the Siam Ceylon dish.
Open source044
5 Oct 2024
Visa extension guide, part 2: Colombo Immigration Department
The author takes a taxi for 1,234 rupees to the Immigration Department, takes photos, and discovers that forms must be filled out on the 4th floor.
Open source045
4 Oct 2024
Guide to extending a tourist visa in Sri Lanka: October 2024
A detailed account of extending a 30-day tourist visa by 2 months at the Immigration Department: route from Ahangama, photos, form filling, 8–12 hours.
Open source046
30 Sept 2024
Visa extension rules 2+3+3: again 9 months on the island
Under the reinstated 2+3+3 rules, a tourist visa can again be extended up to 9 months by paying a $10 difference for an already extended visa.
Open source047
26 Sept 2024
Sri Lanka reverts to previous visa issuance system
Sri Lanka returns to its previous visa issuance system at midnight — most likely referring to the ETA system.
Open source048
27 Aug 2024
E-Visa Restoration Will Take Several Months
Sri Lanka has not yet restored the previous e-visa system; until October's visa-free period, tourists will likely need to get visas on arrival.
Open source049
21 Aug 2024
Free Visas for Citizens of 35 Countries from October
Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved a list of 35 countries whose tourists will receive free visas for six months from October 1, 2024; Russia is included.
Open source050
5 Aug 2024
Visa Fiasco Cost Sri Lanka $1.4 Billion
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem stated that problems with the new e-visa system cost the country approximately $1.4 billion in tourist revenue.
Open source051
2 Aug 2024
Daily Mirror Article Link on the Visa Deal
A link to a Daily Mirror article about the Supreme Court suspending the controversial visa deal is shared.
Open source052
2 Aug 2024
Supreme Court Overturns Indian Visa Processing Deal
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court upheld petitions against the new visa system and ordered a return to Sri Lanka Telecom processing; for now everything remains unchanged.
Open source053
2 Aug 2024
Visa Situation in Sri Lanka Flares Up Again
Uncertainty around visa issues has flared up again — readers are advised to stay tuned for updates.
Open source054
25 Jun 2024
180-Day Visa Extended Free for 60 Days via Email
Islanders received a free 60-day extension of their 180-day visa via email through Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration, though such luck remains unpredictable.
Open source055
4 Jun 2024
Personal Experience Extending a Free Visa in Sri Lanka
An islander shared how they extended a free tourist visa for one month for around 15,000 rupees by visiting the immigration office in Colombo in person.
Open source056
3 Jun 2024
Sri Lanka Extends Free Visas for Russian Citizens
Sri Lanka authorities extended the visa fee waiver program for citizens of Russia, China, India and other countries 'until further notice' for tourism purposes only.
Open source057
7 May 2024
Clarification on 30-Day Visas: Extension Without a Visa Run Still Unclear
Sri Lanka Newswire published a clarification on 30-day visas, but the question of extending them without a visa run still lacks a clear answer.
Open source058
7 May 2024
Government Keeps $50 Visa and Free-Visa Country List Unchanged
The government decided to keep the 30-day $50 visa and free visas for citizens of India, China, Russia and several other countries, transferring control to the immigration department.
Open source059
6 May 2024
Expensive Visas May Cut Tourist Arrivals by 50 Percent in May
Sri Lanka's Tourist Agents Federation warns of a 50% drop in tourist arrivals in May due to the highest visa cost in Asia at $93.50.
Open source060
3 May 2024
Lawyer Sandaru: Government Handed Visa Issuance to Indian Company
Prominent lawyer Sandaru Kumarasinghe criticised the government for outsourcing visa issuance to a private Indian company, calling it unacceptable.
Open source061
2 May 2024
Problems Issuing Free 30-Day Visas at the Airport
Harin Fernando attributed failures in issuing free 30-day visas to a software glitch in the Bandaranaike airport system.
Open source062
1 May 2024
Tourism Minister Promises Visa System Fix by May 7
Tourism Minister Harin Fernando promised to fix technical problems with the new visa platform by May 7, after its launch by IVS-GBS and VFS Global.
Open source063
27 Apr 2024
30-Day Tourist Visas Are Coming Back
The 'Sri Lanka News' channel reported on the return of 30-day tourist visas and shared news about its new publishing format.
Open source064
25 Apr 2024
Visa Live Stream Will Not Be Recorded — Attended Only
The recording of the visa live stream with Vladimir will not be published — the information is only for those who listened live.
Open source065
24 Apr 2024
Visa Live Stream with Beloziorov Starts in 15 Minutes
A reminder that the live stream with Vladimir Beloziorov on visa questions starts at 10:00 Sri Lanka time.
Open source066
22 Apr 2024
Live Q&A on Visas with Vladimir Beloziorov
The channel announces a live Q&A with visa expert Vladimir Beloziorov on April 24 at 10:00 — subscribers can submit questions in advance.
Open source067
21 Apr 2024
How to Get a Two-Year Tourist Visa: A Real Example
A detailed account of obtaining a two-year Sri Lanka tourist visa: cost $338, required documents, two-day approval, and 180-day stay conditions.
Open source068
17 Apr 2024
Live Stream with Visa Expert Vladimir
The channel announces a possible live stream with Vladimir Beloziorov — the leading Russian-language Sri Lanka visa expert and founder of hikka.ru.
Open source069
9 Apr 2024
Clarifications on Sri Lanka Residency Visas
The 'Sri Lanka News' channel published clarifications on residency visas for foreigners.
Open source070
2 Apr 2024
Tourism Minister Considers Extending Free Entry
Sri Lanka's tourism minister proposed considering an extension of the free-entry experiment for tourists.
Open source071
18 Feb 2024
Russians can continue their holiday in Sri Lanka
A brief announcement that tourists from Russia are able to continue their holiday in Sri Lanka.
Open source072
9 Feb 2024
Tutorial on filling out the Sri Lanka visa application
The We Team has prepared a detailed tutorial on filling out the Sri Lanka visa application form for those planning a trip to the island.
Open source073
28 Nov 2023
Free visa decision for Russian citizens enters into force
The decision to issue free visas to Russian citizens has officially come into force — details via the link.
Open source074
24 Oct 2023
Cabinet approves free visas for seven countries
The Cabinet approved free visas for citizens of India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot program running until March 31.
Open source075
13 Oct 2023
Sri Lanka waives visa fees for five countries
The Cabinet approved a waiver of visa fees for tourists from China, Russia, India, Thailand, and Indonesia to boost tourist arrivals.
Open source076
6 Oct 2023
Guide to getting a UK visa from the island
The channel highlights a detailed guide by Zhenya on how to obtain a UK visa while staying in Sri Lanka.
Open source077
5 Sept 2023
Sri Lanka to introduce digital nomad visa
Sri Lanka is reportedly preparing to introduce a digital nomad visa; the channel awaits an expert comment to explain the details and implications.
Open source078
23 Jul 2023
Visa Trap for Families Travelling with Children
Nastya explains how she listed her children on her 180-day visa only to discover their visa was valid for just 30 days, resulting in a $1,300 fine.
Open source079
22 Jun 2023
New Overstay Fines for Sri Lanka Visas
Visa overstay fines have been revised: $250 for 7–14 days and $500 for more than 14 days, excluding visa fees.
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