Sri Lanka welcomes tourists from all over the world and constantly updates regulations For traveling to Sri Lanka in order to ensure the safety & convenience of all tourists and its citizens.
Update as at 15th May 2023
Currently the below regulations have been relaxed and it is not compulsory to produce PCR results or spend time in quarantine. However, use of masks in crowded, enclosed spaces is encouraged for your safety.
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Previous Regulations for Traveling to Sri Lanka as at 15th March 2022:
- Before you begin preparations to visit Sri Lanka you need to note the following.
- Fully Vaccinated travellers are exempted from pre-departure COVID-19 PCR/ Rapid Antigen tests from 1st March 2022.
- No minimum number of days is required for a stay.
- No restrictive quarantine required.
- “Fully Vaccinated” travelers can stay at any type of accommodation and no on-arrival PCR test required.
- “Not-Fully Vaccinated’’ travelers stay in a ‘Flexible bio-bubble’ with all facilities of the hotels made available and ability to visit approved tourist sites.
- “Not-Vaccinated’’ travelers can still have a great time under the protection of the Tourism Bio Bubble for a duration of 7 nights/8 days.
- Children below 12 years are exempted from on-arrival and exit PCR / Rapid Antigen tests.
- Ensure you have the mandatory COVID 19 Insurance of 12 USD with one month cover of 75,000 USD required for all travellers (whether fully vaccinated or not vaccinated).
- Visitors can apply for online visa via the Sri Lanka Tourism website.
- Please submit the mandatory Health Declaration Form.
Ensure you are aware of the documents that need to be submitted and carried with you to ensure a hassle free visit.
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This post serves as an update to our previous post in April 2021: Is it Safe to Visit Sri Lanka Under COVID Restrictions?
This new health protocol for arrivals to Sri Lanka applies to international tourists visiting Sri Lanka under a tourist visa and is optional for dual citizens, valid resident visa holders, Sri Lankan citizens who opt to come under the tourism route. There is no prior approval required from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Civil Aviation Authority. There is no minimum duration of stay in Sri Lanka. This protocol is valid for travellers not arriving from or with no travel history (including transit) to any travel restricted country in the past 14 days.
Tourists who arrive from India have a separate health protocol.
Prior to boarding to Sri Lanka, travellers are required to:
- Have a valid tourist visa. All visas must be applied online via the Electronic Travel Authorisation System (ETA) of Sri Lanka.
- Before applying for a visa, ensure you have the following:
- A pre-confirmed booking at a Level 1 ‘Safe & Secure Certified’ hotel for up to 15 days depending on the duration of your stay and vaccination status. Hotel bookings could be made directly with the hotel or through ‘Safe & Secure’ certified travel Agent. Visitors are allowed to move within L1 hotels and use all facilities of the hotel upon a negative PCR on arrival.
- Pay for the PCR tests (USD 40 per PCR test) depending on the status of your vaccination
- Have a negative PCR test done within 72 hours prior to boarding (Excluding Children below 2 years)
- Check the requirements of your airlines. Airport transfers to be arranged by either the respective Certified Safe & Secure L1 hotel or Certified Safe & Secure travel agent such as Malkey Rent-A-Car.
- All travelers should undergo On Arrival (Day One) COVID-19 PCR tests
At the airport in Sri Lanka, travellers are required to produce:
- A Negative COVID-19 PCR report (English) taken within 72 hours prior to embarkation (All travellers excluding children below 2 years)
- An Original vaccination certificate/card (The certificate must be in English or with a certified translation to English)
- A Completed “Health Declaration Form” must be presented upon arrival. (This does not apply to children below 2 years.) The form can be downloaded or obtained upon arrival.
Tourists can visit approved tourist sites under the safety of a bio-bubble.
