SRI Lanka’s online visa application system for visitors (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 3) will go into operation from beginning of next year.
According to Immigration and Emigration Department controller general, Chulananda Perera, the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system will enable travellers to obtain online visa approval within 24 hours of submitting an application for short-term stays.
The system will run parallel to the previous visa on arrival (VOA) scheme, contrary to earlier reports that the VOA would be scrapped (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 30).
A US$50 visa-processing fee will be levied on all travellers for short stays of up to 30 days, while those seeking a VOA must pay US$75. The fees vary for extended stays.
Shiromal Cooray, managing director of Jetwing Travels, said: “We have expressed our concern in the past that this could be an added burden to travellers. For example, for a family of five, it would an additional US$250.”
In addition, all passengers transiting through Sri Lanka will need to pay a US$25 processing fee for a visa, compared to the earlier arrangement where neither visas nor fees were required.
