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Sri Lanka Visa Requirements for Maldives Citizens

eTA · 90 days

Maldives passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Sri Lanka for stays of up to 90 days.

Sri Lanka's ETA fee page says that under reciprocal and bilateral agreements Singapore and Seychelles (30 days) and the Maldives (90 days) are also eligible to obtain a tourist visa (ETA) free of charge.

“As per the reciprocal and Bilateral agreements following countries are also eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free of charge Singapore and Seychelles - 30 days Maldives – 90 days”

Source: Sri Lanka ETA — Fees (Department of Immigration and Emigration): the 40-country free tourist-ETA list, the Singapore/Seychelles/Maldives reciprocal list, and charges for all other countries · checked 13 Oct 2026

Apply online for eTA to Sri Lanka

Check another trip

How to get your eTA for Sri Lanka in three steps

  1. Complete the application online with your Maldives passport details.
  2. Pay the fee — — by card.
  3. Check your inbox — the approval is linked to your passport.
Apply online

Flag of Sri LankaSri Lanka visa options for Maldives citizens

Tourist Visa (ETA) with Double Entry for 30 days

eTA
Max stay
30 days
Entries
Double
Extension
Possible

Fee and processing time not published — confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.

Official application site →

Business Visa (ETA) with Multiple Entry for 30 days

eTA
Max stay
30 days
Entries
Multiple

Fee and processing time not published — confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.

Official application site →

Transit Visa (ETA) with Single Entry for 2 days

eTA
Fee
Free
Max stay
2 days
Entries
Single

The ETA portal lists a transit visa with single entry for 2 days, free of charge.

Official application site →

What the Sri Lanka visa rules mean for Maldives travellers

Maldives citizens do not need a full visa for Sri Lanka, but they must obtain an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) online before they fly — valid for stays of up to 90 days. An eTA is linked to your passport number and is usually approved within minutes to a few days; airlines check it at check-in, so apply before you book non-refundable travel.

The main option is the Tourist Visa (ETA) with Double Entry for 30 days. Sri Lanka also offers Business Visa (ETA) with Multiple Entry for 30 days and Transit Visa (ETA) with Single Entry for 2 days — see the visa options above.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, Sri Lanka applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

  • Passport validity: The ETA portal says ETA holders need a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
  • Vaccinations: Yellow fever: WHO's Annex 1 lists Sri Lanka as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who have transited mo…
  • Travel insurance: No official source we could read makes travel insurance a condition of entry. The UK government says emergency medical treatment outside main cities is not readily available, treatment in private hospitals can be expens…
  • Return or onward ticket: The ETA portal says all ETA holders should have a confirmed return ticket at the port of entry.

Sri Lanka entry rules compared

Sri Lanka does not grant visa-free entry to any passport. Maldives citizens are treated the same way as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Brunei. Overall the Maldives passport ranks #102 in the world with 54 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Asia? With a Maldives passport you can also visit 14 countries in the region without a visa, including Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

In the other direction, Sri Lanka citizens need visa on arrival to visit Maldives.

Flag of Sri LankaEntry requirements for Sri Lanka

Passport validity

6 months

The ETA portal says ETA holders need a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.

Online Visa Application✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Travel insurance

No official requirement

No official source we could read makes travel insurance a condition of entry. The UK government says emergency medical treatment outside main cities is not readily available, treatment in private hospitals can be expensive, and options for repatriation in an emergency are limited and very expensive, and advises adequate travel health insurance.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Sri Lanka travel advice (health)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

7 days

A visitor who leaves within 7 days after the original visa expires pays only the applicable visa fee, at the port of departure, and no penalty. An overstay of more than 7 and up to 14 days costs a penalty of 250 US dollars, and one of more than 14 days a penalty of 500 US dollars, in each case on top of the applicable visa fee.

Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka — Visa fees and overstay penalties✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do Maldivian citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Maldives passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Sri Lanka for stays of up to 90 days. Sri Lanka's ETA fee page says that under reciprocal and bilateral agreements Singapore and Seychelles (30 days) and the Maldives (90 days) are also eligible to obtain a tourist visa (ETA) free of charge.

How long can Maldives citizens stay in Sri Lanka?

Up to 90 days. Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation and an entry ban.

How much does a Sri Lanka visa cost for Maldives citizens?

Tourist Visa (ETA) with Double Entry for 30 days: —. Other options are listed in the visa types section on this page.

How do Maldives citizens apply for a Sri Lanka eTA?

Apply online before you travel on the official portal (www.eta.gov.lk). Approval is linked to your passport, so travel with the same passport you applied with.

How long must my passport be valid to enter Sri Lanka?

The ETA portal says ETA holders need a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

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See also: Sri Lanka requirements for other passports

All passports for Sri Lanka →

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