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SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean known for its lush landscapes, beautiful beaches, ancient temples and tea plantations.
Capital
Colombo
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Language
Sinhala
Tamil
Time-Zone
GST +1hr 30
Flight Time
4-5hrs
Did you know… Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of tea, with its Ceylon tea highly prized internationally.
THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Let the journey begin.
Asia is the largest and most populous continent, covering about 30% of the Earth’s land area and home to more than 4.7 billion people, roughly 60% of the global population. It is traditionally divided into several regions, including East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Western Asia (also known as the Middle East), each with distinct cultures, languages, and historical influences.
Known for its vast diversity, Asia is home to major world economies like China, India, and Japan, as well as iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and the Arabian Desert, while also being a centre of innovation, rich traditions, and some of the oldest continuous civilisations on Earth.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two monsoons: the southwest monsoon brings rain from May to September to the southwest and central regions, while the northeast monsoon affects the northeast from October to January. The best time to visit the southwest coast is from December to March, and the east coast is ideal from May to September.
The currency used in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), which was introduced in 1985 to replace the Ceylon Rupee. The change was part of a monetary reform to stabilise the economy and manage inflation.
Parents should ensure that their child’s documents are eligible to travel to Sri Lanka and match the criteria below.
If your child has multiple passports and plans to travel with one, whilst their UAE residency visa is linked to another, please make sure they carry both passports during their trip!
Please check all sample documents below, and relevant official checklists to ensure specific criteria are met.
Passport Validity (Minimum):
6 months after entry into Sri Lanka
UAE Residency Validity (Minimum):
90 days after expected return to UAE
School/College NOC Required:
Yes
Parent/Guardian NOC Required:
Yes
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
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Visa Type: Double Entry
Visa Fee (Under 12): No Fee
Visa Fee (SAARC): USD 20
Visa Fee (All Others): USD 50
Validity: 30 days
Every child will be required to obtain an ETA in order to enter Sri Lanka.
As part of the visa-free regime, if your child is a citizen of one of the below seven countries, they will be required to apply for an ETA but will be exempt from payment.
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Russia
- Thailand
Visit the Sri Lankan immigration website to complete the required ETA application form.
An ETA is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
We therefore recommend submitting the application to the Sri Lankan Embassy approximately 4-8 weeks prior to travel.
Parent/Guardian to provide:
- Child’s passport (This must be the passport they will travel on)
- Photograph of child (<3 months old)/selfie
- Contact information (home address, telephone, email)
- Access to emails
- A credit/debit card to complete payment
Parent/Guardian to request from school:
- School no objection certificate – the NOC should include the child’s full name as per their passport, along with the details of the accompanying teacher(s).
Parent/Guardian to request from trip provider:
- Invitation letter
- Flight confirmation
- Proof of accommodation
On average, parents/guardians will receive the ETA via email within 3 days.
Yes, while an ETA functions as a digital visa, we recommend that since your child is a minor travelling without you, they should carry both a copy of the ETA/approval notice and a parent/guardian NOC (sample below).
In the event your child’s ETA is rejected and you receive a referral notice, you will be required to contact the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi to learn of the reason for refusal and steps on how to reapply. The Embassy contact details are listed below for your quick reference.
- Sri Lankan Embassy, UAE Website
- +971 2 631 6444
- +971 2 634 6481
- +971 4 355 2417
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- Villa 18/A, Sector E 18/3, Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE