Sri Lanka Waives Visa Fees for 40 More Countries to Boost Tourism

The announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, during the inauguration ceremony of the “Hotel Show Colombo 2025” held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) today.

The exhibition was declared open under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with the participation of industry leaders and tourism stakeholders.

Minister Herath stated that this decision was finalized at the latest Cabinet meeting, aiming to attract a higher number of international tourists to Sri Lanka.

 “In the past, we allowed tourists from seven countries, including the United Kingdom, to enter Sri Lanka without paying visa fees. Now, we have decided to extend this facility to 40 more countries. Once the relevant gazette is issued, a total of 47 countries will be eligible for visa-free entry,” he announced.

The Minister acknowledged that this decision will result in an annual revenue loss of approximately USD 66 million to the Treasury. However, he expressed confidence that the economic benefits gained through increased tourist arrivals will far outweigh the losses.

 “We may lose direct revenue, but we expect to generate greater income indirectly through the growth of the tourism industry. The responsibility of ensuring this now lies with those of you in the sector,” he added, addressing the tourism community.

List of Countries Eligible for Visa Fee Waiver:

1. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2. Federal Republic of Germany

3. Kingdom of the Netherlands

4. Kingdom of Belgium

5. Kingdom of Spain

6. Commonwealth of Australia

7. Republic of Poland

8. Republic of Kazakhstan

9. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10. United Arab Emirates

11. Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

12. People’s Republic of China

13. Republic of India

14. Republic of Indonesia

15. Russian Federation

16. Kingdom of Thailand

17. Federation of Malaya

18. Japan

19. Republic of France

20. United States of America

21. Canada

22. Czech Republic (Czechia)

23. Republic of Italy

24. Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)

25. Republic of Austria

26. State of Israel

27. Republic of Belarus

28. Islamic Republic of Iran

29. Kingdom of Sweden

30. Republic of Finland

31. Kingdom of Denmark

32. Republic of Korea

33. State of Qatar

34. Sultanate of Oman

35. Kingdom of Bahrain

36. New Zealand

37. State of Kuwait

38. Kingdom of Norway

39. Republic of Türkiye

40. Pakistan

The new visa policy is expected to significantly enhance Sri Lanka’s appeal as a travel destination, especially as the country works to recover from recent economic challenges and position itself as a premier hub for global tourism.