Mandatory 14 days Quararintine when Entering Sri Lanka

The procedure for entry into Sri Lanka has been reviewed and new guidelines have been applied with effect from 12 May 2021.

Accordingly, all persons arriving in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankans, Dual Citizens, Tourists, Foreign national arriving in Sri Lanka for work including members of diplomatic Missions) irrespective of their vaccination status (whether they have received the recommended doses of a Covid vaccine or not), should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/Quarantine Centre/Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel for 14 days.

Children below 2 years of age are exempt from Day 1 and exit PCR testing.

All travellers of 12 years and above should undergo Day 1 PCR testing and all travellers above 2 years of age should undergo Day 11 and Day 14 PCR testing.

Sri Lankans returning to home country and ex-Sri Lankans traveling for family visits etc
The following categories of persons will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority:

1. Sri Lankans (including Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air)
2. Dual Citizens who travel on Sri Lankan Passports
3. Foreign spouses of Sri Lankans
4. Unmarried children of Sri Lankans, who hold foreign nationality

Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports (who do not hold Dual Citizenship) as well as Dual citizens travelling on foreign pasports travelling to Sri Lanka for family visits/family emergencies etc should continue to obtain prior approval of the Foreign Ministry. Such persons should obtain Foreign Ministry/Civil Aviation Authority approval by sending a request to the Covid Team at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to email address entry.permission@mfa.gov.lk with copy to kanchana.bandara@mfa.gov.lk giving the following details:

1. Name of the passenger
2. Nationality and the passport number
3. The country of departure
4. Intended date of entry into Sri Lanka and the flight number, if available
5. Purpose of the visit

They should have prior visas to enter Sri Lanka as On-Arrival visas are not issued at present. As visas for Sri Lanka are issued only by the Department of Immigration and Emigration at present, any person of this category who need a visa for Sri Lanka should arrange a representative to visit the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka at Battaramulla with the relevant documents (copy of the passport of the traveller and the approval received by email from the Foreign Ministry for traveling to Sri Lanka) to obtain a visa/Landing Endorsement by paying the relevant fee.

Ex-Sri Lankans and foreign nationals visiting Sri Lanka for tourism
Ex-Sri Lankans holding foreign passports and foreign nationals who wish to travel to Sri Lanka for the purpose of tourism should follow the Tourist Travel Bio Bubble procedure of the Sri Lanka Toursim Promotion Bureau. The procedure, including how to obtain the approval for travelling and visa procedure is available on the website at the link https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain.

- Sri Lankan High Commission