Sri Lanka Entry Requirements - Documents You Need

You should have a valid passport for at least 6 months after the day you arrive in Sri Lanka. The 6 months rule is set to ensure you travelers don’t overstay in the country. 

The Sri Lanka government came up with that rule to avoid instances where a traveler's passport expires while in the country and have to wait until an emergency visa is approved then return to their country.

When entering Sri Lanka the immigration officer will ask for your passport and check its expiry date. If the remaining time is less than 6 months, you will be denied entry.

Beyond checking the validity period, the officer also checks if the passport is original and if the picture in the passport is you.

You ought to have a valid passport when travelling to Sri Lanka.  The requirements for a Sri Lanka visa depends on your nationality.

You can apply for a Sri Lanka e-travel visa online or consulate visa. After you receive the visa through your email, you should print a copy. You will give that copy the immigration officer when entering Sri Lanka.

If you are a traveler from countries listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) with high risk of yellow fever transmission, you will need to present a yellow fever certificate when entering Sri Lanka.

The certificate should have been issued after administration at least 190 days before travelling to Sri Lanka. It is important with this certificate there are high chances you will be denied entry or have to undergo quarantine.

When you are booking a flight ticket to Sri Lanka, you have also to book a return ticket. It is a mandatory document, which you will have to show the immigration authorities in Sri Lanka.

The return ticket means a flight ticket to the country of origin. The travel dates and flight number are indicated on the ticket. For Instance, return ticket from Sri Lanka to UAE.

You have to show evidence you have enough money to cover all expenses when staying in Sri Lanka. Examples of documents you can submit as evidence you have sufficient funds include bank statements or credit card statements.

There is no actual amount specified you need to have but rather enough money to cover expenses such as accommodation, food, transportation, and other expenses.

The immigration officers are the one who will determine if you have enough funds depending on how long you will be staying in Sri Lanka and individual circumstances.

You have to present documents showing you have arranged where you will be staying in Sri Lanka .Among documents you can submit is a confirmed hotel booking document with hotel details name, address, and number of days you will be staying at the hotel and booking reference number.

You can also submit a letter of invitation if you will be staying with your friends or family living in Sri Lanka. The letter should have the full name of the host, address and contact details and how long you will be staying with them.

You should adhere to Sri Lanka currency regulation, which limits the amount of money a person travels and brings into the country. The law prohibits travelers to bring an amount exceeding USD 15,000 to Sri Lanka without declaration.

You should fill out a declaration form upon arrival in Sri Lanka if you have among exceeding USD 15,000 or its equivalent.  There is a limitation on the amount you can take out of the country at LKR 5,000.

After you have exchanged your currency, you should keep the receipts. Sometimes when you want to exchange again to foreign currency again you are prompted to produce them.  You should adhere to these regulations to avoid any issues with the customs authorities.

The Sri Lanka custom regulations require travelers to declare the items they are carrying upon entry.  This regulation is in place to curb the importation of prohibited goods.

Some of the items, which you should declare, include alcohol, tobacco, plants, animals, and cultural artifacts. You should declare personal items such as electronics and jewelry if they exceed a certain value. When you fail to declare these items, it can result in a fine or confiscation.

It is important to familiarize with Sri Lanka custom regulations to avoid bringing prohibited items. You should know luggage is checked thoroughly when entering Sri Lanka.