What is the Sri Lanka Business ETA?

The Business ETA is an official document that allows travelers to enter and travel within Sri Lanka for business purposes.

What do I need to apply for the Sri Lanka Business ETA?

We require the following to submit your application:

Passport Personal Details Scan (if applicable)

What is the cost to obtain a Sri Lanka Business ETA?

The Sri Lanka Business ETA cost depends on your nationality. Additionally, there is a service fee of USD 30.00 for standard processing. For rush processing and super rush processing the service fee is USD 60.00 and USD 75.00, respectively.

* The price can change, the correct fee present at applying

How long does it take to process a Sri Lanka Business ETA?

It depends on the processing time you choose. We offer three options:

Standard Processing Time: 24 hours
Rush Processing:4 hours
Super Rush Processing: 30 minutes

* The processing time can change, the correct time at applying

How long is a Business ETA valid for?

The Sri Lanka Business ETA is valid for 90 days after issued. This means you must enter Sri Lanka within 90 days after issued. Also, it is a Double Entry visa and allows for a maximum stay of 30 days in Total.

How long is a Business ETA valid for?

Do I need a Business ETA to enter Sri Lanka?

Citizens from most countries in the world require a visa to enter Sri Lanka. The only countries exempted from a Sri Lanka tourist visa are Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles.

Is the Sri Lanka Business ETA for a single entry or double?

Sri Lanka Business ETA is valid for Double Entry.

When will I receive my Sri Lanka ETA (Business Visa)?

It depends on the processing time you choose. We offer three options:

Standard Processing Time: 24 hours
Rush Processing:4 hours
Super Rush Processing: 30 minutes

* The processing time can change, the correct time at applying

Which nationalities does Aid-Air’s Sri Lanka service work for?

The following nationalities are eligible for a Business ETA:

Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
The central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany (German)
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Norfolk Island
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia (Russian)
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland (Swiss)
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom (UK Citizens (British)
United States (US Citizens)
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Kosovo
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Do I need to visit the consulate to get my Sri Lankan Business ETA?

No. You will get the visa in PDF format via email.

Can I apply for a Business ETA if I already have a Tourist ETA?

A passport can only have one type of associated visa (while the visa is valid). In other words, if you already have a tourist visa, you can not take out a business visa until the tourist visa expires.

What are the advantages of applying for a Business ETA?

The Business ETA can be applied for and issued online, eliminating the need to visit an embassy when trying to obtain a traditional visa.

I made a mistake with my personal information. Can I modify the form?

Please contact us ASAP and we will assist on the matter. Note that generally if you made a mistake you will have to re-apply.

If I already possess a valid ETA, can I apply for a new ETA?

No. A new ETA cannot be obtained using the same passport until it expires (180 days after issue). If you lose the passport which contains the valid ETA you will need to apply for a new one since it is linked to your passport.

How long should be the validity of my passport be when I apply for the Business ETA?

Applicants must have a passport valid for at least six months from your intended arrival date.

What type of business activities does the Business ETA allow?

Normal business activities are allowed with the Business ETA, such as:

Participation in business meeting and negotiations
Participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars

Which nationalities are eligible for a Sri Lanka Business ETA?

The following nationalities are eligible for a Business ETA:

Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
The central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany (German)
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Norfolk Island
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia (Russian)
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland (Swiss)
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom (UK Citizens (British)
United States (US Citizens)
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Kosovo
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Vaccination requirements to travel to Sri Lanka

Yellow Fever vaccine is required if traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Check WHO – Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination.

Learn more about Sri Lanka Tourism

Doing business in a foreign country entails some research as to what the people in that particular country do. You need to learn about their customs, their traditions, and some things about their business mentality. That is if you want to be successful on your trip. Plus, it is a known fact that doing some research improves your chances of success. It makes sense if you think about it. People will always appreciate it if you are making an effort to learn their habits. Sri Lanka is no different, and if you are thinking of collaborating with business people from Sri Lanka, you should have the next tips on the mind. What you need to remember is that Sri Lanka is still recovering from the civil war. It lasted until 2009, so there are still some things that need improvement. But that is a good thing for you as a business person. You can find plenty of opportunities. However, since there are several ethnicities in Sri Lanka, you should consider learning a bit about everyone. You do not need to know everything, but enough so that you can get around and make a good impression. One thing that you must know is that Sri Lanka is a religious country. Also, seniority is very important, which is why you need to act accordingly. Showing respect is paramount when dealing with delegations, and you must always be careful when having a serious conversation. What you will find odd, however, is that since Sri Lanka is religious, some of the people from the Sri Lankan delegation will ask help from their deity when making a business decision. This is an important tradition, and under no circumstances should you mock it. You might as well just hop on a plane to where you came from. When it comes to communication, this part is a bit tricky. Why? Because you may find yourself in a room filled with people that only speak Sinhalese or Tamil. Some speak English, and they will take advantage of the situation to improve it. However, the best course of action is to hire an interpreter. Even so, the people of Sri Lanka are very expressive, and you will be able to read between the lines most of the time. One aspect that can be found in many cultures is how the people of Sri Lanka value personal relationships before engaging in actual business. Most of the time, the first meeting is all about you. They will want to get to know you before going down to business. All you can do is be patient and take it. Otherwise, you may come off as offensive and nobody will want to collaborate with you. Moreover, since hierarchy is very important in Sri Lanka, getting to an upper level may take a while. In the meantime, you should create a solid relationship with someone from a lower level. Again, patience is paramount even if it is frustrating. You should never complain or try to rush things. That is not going to happen anyway. As for greetings, it can be challenging because of the difference in ethnicity. However, nobody in Sri Lanka expects you to know all the rules. As a result, a handshake will suffice. However, avoid initiating physical contact with the opposite sex. For example, some women in the business world are still trying to avoid contact with males other than the ones in their family. Leave the initiative to them, and if they extend their arm, just go with the flow. If a person in the Sri Lankan delegation has a title, you should use it. If not, you should just be polite and address the person in question using sir or madam. Also, you should never use someone’s first name unless you are told to do so. It is incredibly informal and you will be considered impolite. Just like in most countries, when your first meet the Sri Lankan delegation, there will be a business card exchange before moving on. It is not a must to translate your business card into Sinhalese or Tamil, but it will be considered a nice gesture, so you should make that effort. Also, your card should be very specific as to what your position is within the company you are working in. Lastly, when you receive a Sri Lankan’s business card, do not put it in your pocket right away. Take a look at it and try to look like you are impressed as they like that. Giving gifts on the first meeting is not a custom, but it happens at times. When that is the case, you need to have a gift on standby so that you can reciprocate the gesture. However, you need to be very careful about what you are buying for your host. You cannot offer gifts that contain pork’s skin because you may offend the Muslim Sri Lankans. You cannot give leather gifts either because Sri Lanka has Hinduism in its population. Also, flowers are meant for mourning, so they are a bad idea. The point is that you should choose a gift wisely. Generally, the people if Sri Lanka are very nice, and they will welcome you with their arms open. However, some things make them reluctant in talking to you about it. For example, it is okay to talk about the war, but not too much so that you do not open old wounds. Politics is a suitable subject of conversation but nothing that led to the war. If you are interested in a new collaboration or expanding your business, Sri Lanka may not be such a bad idea. It is a new market that needs improving, and people there are eager to make a comeback. Tourism is not as good as you would want, and the lack of infrastructure may compel you to jump through a few hoops, but they need to start somewhere. As long as you are aware of and respect their traditions and culture, you should get along with the business people of Sri Lanka just fine.