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British citizen tourists should obtain an ETA before travelling. Current UK guidance describes a free ETA valid for 30 days. Check the official notice and your approval before departure.
Check that this guide fits your passport
The linked FCDO entry advice is written for people travelling on a full British citizen passport from the UK. If you hold another British nationality category, an emergency travel document or a different passport, confirm your route with the Sri Lankan High Commission. A UK residence permit alone is not the same as British citizenship.
Put the right documents together
The FCDO specifies at least six months of passport validity from arrival in Sri Lanka. Start with your expiry date, then compare the passport details against your travel booking. If a renewal is needed, resolve it before relying on an application made with the old document.
Keep your permission, travel arrangements and first accommodation address together. Our entry requirements guide covers the arrival document check, including the official return-ticket and funds requirements.
Apply and read the outcome
Use eta.gov.lk. Work through our application walkthrough beside the official form. Have the actual passport in front of you rather than copying details from a previous holiday.
Before closing the application, save its reference. A submission acknowledgement and an approval are different documents. If the outcome is unclear, follow the official status-check route. Do not assume that a third party can guarantee a decision.
Check the journey home as well
The FCDO says British citizens returning to the UK must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Dual nationals should check the linked UK advice before deciding which documents to carry for each part of the journey.
Read the conditions for every connection on your ticket with your airline. A connection and an overnight stop outside the airport can involve different checks. Keep enough time between an inland stay and the international flight; a shorter final transfer makes the last day easier.
Turn the paperwork into a trip
For a first visit, compare our one-week culture route with the two-week island itinerary. Choose the trip length using days on the ground, after allowing for flight dates. Start with the first-day arrival plan before adding excursions.
FCDO Sri Lanka entry requirements and Sri Lanka ETA notices. Advice is general; Sri Lankan authorities decide admission.