Online visa fee to come down from 2012

Hemanthi GURUGE

The online visa fee for entry into Sri Lanka has been revised to US $ 10 for SAARC countries and US$ 20 for other countries with effect from 2012.

Visas will be provided free for children under 12 years.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr Nalaka Godahewa told Daily News Business that the revision of the visa fee to enter into Sri Lanka will have a major positive impact on tourism and will help to increase tourist arrivals.

Therefore, the Immigration and Emigration Department has reduced the proposed fee from US $ 50 to US $ 10 for visitors from SAARC nations and to US $ 20 to all other visitors.

The new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was introduced recently, to grant prior approval for visa online for foreign nationals instead of the 'on arrival visa' system. The online visa application process is very simple and it should be obtained from home before leaving the country.

Residents of some countries are not granted visas on arrival to Sri Lanka and this will enable to woo them to Sri Lanka as well.

Anybody can log in to www.eta.gov.lk and obtain a visa for themselves or a third party, he said.