South Africa passport → Sri Lanka

Do South African citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Visa on arrival30 days

South African passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. You do not need to apply before you fly.

Apply on the official site: eta.gov.lk

What this means for your trip

Keep the visa fee ready, ideally in US dollars or the local currency, plus passport photos.
Expect to show a return ticket, hotel booking and proof of funds at the counter.
Some countries also offer the same visa online, which can save queueing on arrival.

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Sri Lanka at a glance

Capital: Colombo
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
Calling code: +94
Region: Southern Asia

Read the Sri Lanka travel guide →

This beach is located on southern part of Sri lanka.hikkaduwa is a well-known area of travels.with cool breeze and nice view,this is the heaven of the world!

LK7.0°N · 81.0°EPhoto: Dinusha Chathuranga · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tea hills, leopards and the Ramayana trailSigiriya Rock Fortress · Temple of the Tooth · Ella and the Kandy-Ella train

Sri Lanka for other passports

South AfricaVisa on arrival30 days
IndiaVisa on arrival30 days
United StatesVisa on arrival30 days
United KingdomeTA30 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa on arrival30 days
ChinaVisa on arrival30 days
SingaporeVisa-free30 days
PakistanVisa on arrival30 days
BangladeshVisa on arrival30 days
NepalVisa on arrival30 days
NigeriaVisa required
PhilippinesVisa on arrival30 days
CanadaVisa on arrival30 days

Nearby in Southern Asia for South African passport holders

MaldivesVisa on arrival30 days
NepalVisa on arrival90 days
AfghanistaneVisa
BhutaneVisa
IndiaeVisa30 days
IraneVisa
PakistaneVisa30 days
BangladeshVisa required

Common questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?

South African passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. You do not need to apply before you fly.

How long can South African citizens stay in Sri Lanka?

Up to 30 days under the current visa on arrival rule. Longer stays need a different visa.

How many countries can South African citizens visit without a visa?

93 destinations allow entry without a visa arranged in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA). The South Africa passport ranks #47 of 94 (passports with equal scores share a rank).

Source: Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Updated weekly. Rules can change, so give the official site a quick look before you fly.