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Every traveller needs a Sri Lankan Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before landing, and a UAE residence permit does not change that. What changed is the price. From , 40 nationalities get the 30-day tourist ETA free. Other passports pay AED 130, or AED 75 for SAARC countries, through the embassy route.
What the Sri Lankan authorities say
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi puts it plainly: nationals of 40 designated countries "are eligible to obtain tourist visa (ETA) free of charge for a period of 30 days." The free ETA allows double entry. If you come back inside the same window, you only get the days that were left from the first 30.
The notice on the Sri Lankan ETA site lists the countries. For UAE residents the ones that matter most are India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the UK and the USA, and the UAE passport itself. The Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya are not on that list. Maldives, Seychelles and Singapore are processed free as well.
Your passport decides, not your residence. A Filipino nurse and an Indian engineer who live in the same Sharjah building can be in different fee groups.
What it costs
| Passport group | Fee | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| 40 free-list nationalities | Free | 30 days, double entry |
| Other nationals (embassy fee) | AED 130 | Set on the ETA |
| SAARC country nationals (embassy fee) | AED 75 | Set on the ETA |
| Children under 12 | No fee, visa still needed | Same as parent |
Source: Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, tourist visa page, and the Sri Lanka ETA site, checked . The embassy page shows the AED fee next to the free scheme, so confirm the live amount for your passport before paying. Fees paid before are not refunded.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai agencies publish about AED 199 to AED 600 for a Sri Lanka tourist ETA or visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). That is a service price. If your passport is on the free list, the government charges nothing, so ask what the agency fee covers before you pay.
Who has extra steps
Citizens of Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Afghanistan must apply through a Sri Lankan sponsor at the Department of Immigration and Emigration head office in Battaramulla. Syrians and holders of Taiwan or Kosovo documents have their own alerts on the same site. If you are a Nigerian or Ghanaian resident in Dubai, tell us early. The sponsor step takes time we cannot shorten.
For stays beyond 30 days, you apply for an extension and pay the applicable visa fee. The notice does not list an amount, so the ETA site is where to read it.
Documents
- Passport valid for at least 6 months, with a clear data page.
- A recent passport photo, if you apply on paper.
- Completed Form B for the embassy route.
- Travel dates and where you will stay in Sri Lanka.
- UAE residence details, useful for return travel.
The UK government adds one useful point for transit: no visa is needed when you change planes within 24 hours by air. Check your airline for the connection rules.
How long it takes
Online ETAs are sent by e-mail. Agency pages in Dubai show anything from 1 to 5 days. The embassy asks for paper files at least one month before travel, so use the online route if your dates are close.
Why ETAs go wrong
- A passport that runs out within 6 months of landing.
- A name or passport number typed wrongly, which the airline then rejects.
- Using a look-alike site that charges a fee. Free is free for 40 nationalities.
- Travelling without the approval notice. The embassy advises against it.
- Staying past 30 days without an extension.
How it works with us
Send your passport copy and dates on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser looks up which group your nationality is in and tells you if the ETA is free. You get one total price before you pay. Our team files the ETA, reads the approval line by line and sends it back to you. If your passport needs the sponsor route or the embassy, we say so before you pay anything. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Sri Lankan immigration decides every ETA.
If an ETA is refused, any government fee paid is not returned by the authorities. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, comes back in that case.
Official sources
- Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, tourist visa: free ETA rule, AED fees, paper application.
- Sri Lanka ETA site: free-list countries, sponsor alerts, extension rule.
- UK government travel advice, Sri Lanka entry requirements: passport validity and transit rule.
Sri Lankan passport holders heading the other way should read Dubai visa for Sri Lankans. For more trips from the UAE see visas from Dubai, the Thailand visa for UAE residents and the Singapore visa for UAE residents.
