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Tourists from all countries of the world are allowed to enter and travel to Sri Lanka without restrictions. All Covid19-related provisions and restrictions were lifted in December 2022.

To enter Sri Lanka you need:

1. Your passport
   Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the day you enter Sri Lanka.
2. The entry form
   To enter Sri Lanka, an entry form must be completed for every traveler, including children. The forms are available at the immigration counter at the airport in Colombo. You can also complete the form online at the earliest three days before your arrival in Sri Lanka (your data is then automatically saved by the local authorities).
3. A visa
   Visas for a tourist stay of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka can be applied for at the earliest 3 months (90 days) before entry – online on the website of the Sri Lankan Immigration Department. The fee for the visa is 50 USD per person aged 12 and over. A separate visa must be applied for for children, but this is free of charge.

As a rule, you will receive a permit, the so-called Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), within 48 hours. You will receive the actual visa at the immigration counter and it will be noted in your passport.

If you are traveling as a group, it is advisable to apply for a visa for each traveler individually (Apply for an individual), as there are often problems when applying for group visas.
You will be asked for an address in Sri Lanka on the entry and visa form. If you are making a round trip, it is easiest if you give the name and the place from which you are starting the round trip.

As an alternative to applying for a visa online, you can also obtain a visa on arrival in Colombo at the airport (visa-on-arrival). For people aged 12 and over it costs 60 USD. However, the waiting time at the counter is often very long, so it is advisable to apply online if possible.

Please make sure that you apply for your visa on the official website of the Sri Lankan Immigration Department! There are various service agencies on the Internet that pretend to be official and charge excessive fees for visas!

Due to a high level of national debt, Sri Lanka experienced a serious economic crisis in 2022. This was reflected in particular by high inflation and bottlenecks in the supply of electricity, imported goods, fuel and medical products. With international help, the situation has now been eased and the situation in Sri Lanka has normalized.

Tourists were virtually unaffected by the effects of the economic crisis and were able to travel to Sri Lanka at any time without restrictions. Tourists are always warmly welcomed, and their trip supports the economy in Sri Lanka and therefore also the locals!

Sri Lanka is generally a safe country in which tourists feel very comfortable. As is usual internationally, most of the larger hotels have entrance controls and checks are also carried out at more frequented sights. You should therefore expect the contents of your bags and rucksacks to be checked occasionally during a trip.

There are currently no travel warnings for Sri Lanka.

Further information on the safety and risk classification of Sri Lanka can be found here:
Federal Foreign Office

Below you will find the most important customs regulations for tourists in Sri Lanka.

In general, only goods for private use – i.e. small quantities – may be imported.

Foreign currency & local currency
The import of foreign currency into Sri Lanka is generally permitted without restriction, but imports of the equivalent of USD 15,000 or more are subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is permitted up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 (above this amount only under certain conditions).

The local currency (Sri Lanka Rupee, LKR) may be imported and exported up to an amount of 20,000 LKR.

Alcohol
2 liters of wine and 1.5 liters of spirits may be imported duty-free by persons over the age of 18.

Miscellaneous
All items for personal use can be imported duty-free. This includes clothing, cosmetics, medicines, perfumes in small quantities and travel souvenirs up to a value of USD 250. Electronic devices such as computers, cell phones and cameras may be imported duty-free as long as they are re-exported on departure.

Drones must be registered and may not be imported without permission(drone registration Sri Lanka). The registration of a drone costs 50 USD, the processing of the registration can take up to 10 days.

Import/export bans
The import of pornographic material is prohibited.

The import of objects that offend religious feelings is prohibited.

The import of cigarettes and other tobacco products is prohibited.

The import and export of drugs is punishable by death!

The import of weapons, ammunition, explosives and the like is prohibited.

The export of antiques (objects older than 50 years), shells, corals and the export of plants and animals is prohibited.

You can always find up-to-date and additional information on customs and foreign exchange regulations for tourists in Sri Lanka on the website of the Sri Lankan customs authority.

In principle, no vaccinations are required for entry into Sri Lanka. It is advisable to consult your family doctor in good time before traveling and to have any vaccinations boosted or to follow the individual vaccination recommendations of your family doctor.

Contact details German Embassy in Sri Lanka

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
40, Alfred House Avenue, Colombo 3
Phone: +94 11 258 04 31
For emergencies: +94 77 734 42 83
E-mail contact to the embassy via this form
Website: https://colombo.diplo.de/
Ambassador: Holger Seubert

Contact details of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Niklasstrasse 19
14163 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 80909749
Website: https://www.srilanka-botschaft.de/
Ambassador: H.E. Mrs. Manori Unambuwe