Sri Lanka has scrapped tourist visa fees for citizens of 40 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, under a new scheme that came into effect on 25 May 2026 (per local reports and Arabian Business).
What changed
UAE passport holders applying for a Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for tourism no longer pay a processing fee. The free ETA is valid for 30 days from the date of first arrival and permits double entry within that window, allowing travellers to leave and return without applying again (per local reports, Wego).
Alongside the UAE, the scheme covers all six GCC states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the Emirates - plus India, Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Australia, Germany, France, South Korea, Turkey and Russia, among others (per Arabian Business, Travel and Tour World).
How to apply
The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka requires all eligible travellers to obtain the ETA online before departure through the official portal at eta.gov.lk. The fee waiver does not remove the legal requirement to hold an authorisation before boarding (per Euronews Travel and the Sri Lanka embassy in Abu Dhabi).
Sri Lankan authorities have warned travellers to verify they are on a.gov.lk domain before submitting personal details, citing unofficial websites that continue to charge processing fees for what is now a free service (per Travel and Tour World).
Conditions and limits
Travellers wishing to stay beyond 30 days can apply for an extension through Sri Lankan immigration, although standard extension fees still apply. Fees paid by eligible nationals before 25 May 2026 are non-refundable under the new scheme (per local reports).
Maldivian citizens are covered under a separate bilateral reciprocal arrangement that grants a 90-day free tourist visa through the same ETA system (per Euronews Travel).
Why now
Colombo is positioning the move as part of a broader push to rebuild tourist arrivals after years of economic and political turbulence. Sri Lanka's tourism authorities are targeting higher visitor numbers from South Asia and the Gulf, with the GCC seen as one of the fastest-growing outbound markets (per Arabian Business and Travel and Tour World).
UAE traveller impact
For UAE residents - including the large South Asian expatriate community that regularly visits Sri Lanka for family travel and beach holidays - the change removes the per-passenger ETA fee that previously applied. Direct flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Colombo continue to be served by carriers including Emirates, Etihad and SriLankan Airlines.
