COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Sri Lanka (22 July Update)

*Can a resident enter the country? *

• Yes

• (Resident) Sri Lankan passport holders subjected to hotel quarantine (Sri Lankan citizen/dual citizen travelling on Sri Lankan passports/seafarer) who have booked a Quarantine Hotel require no approval to enter Sri Lanka.

• The following categories of Sri Lankan travellers are required to have approval to enter Sri Lanka from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email at [email protected]:

• (Resident) Sri Lankan passport holder subjected to Government Sponsored quarantine (Sri Lankan citizen/dual citizen/seafarer) who has not booked a Quarantine Hotel and intends to stay in Government Sponsored Quarantine Centres;

• (Resident) Foreign passport holder (dual citizen/spouse of Sri Lanka citizen who is a foreigner/unmarried foreign child of Sri Lankan parent(s)/foreign national with valid resident visa) not entering Sri Lanka as a tourist.

• (Tourist) Foreign passport holder (dual citizen/foreigner with valid resident visa) wishing to enter Sri Lanka as a tourist, shall require approval to enter Sri Lanka only from the Sri Lanka Tourism via (https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/).

• For foreign passport holders who are residents of Sri Lanka, entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix C.

• Citizens, dual citizens, and residents (including foreign residents) are allowed to enter the country subject to meeting entry requirements. The entry requirements are very complicated and further information can be found on this website.

• For residents of Sri Lanka who are Sri Lankan passport holders, entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix B.

• Tourists who are either Sri Lankan passport holders or foreign passport holders, entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix D.

• Staff of diplomatic missions and UN organizations who are Sri Lankan nationals may enter subject to multiple entry requirements found in Appendix I.

• For any travellers below 18 years of age and caretakers of children or special needs passengers (regardless of passport category), the entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix E.

*Can a foreigner enter the country? *

• Yes with exceptions

• Travellers with a travel history (including transit) in the past 14 days to India, South America, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe are prohibited from travel to Sri Lanka until 31 July. This restriction does not apply to travellers who have transited the aforementioned countries without leaving the airport transit area.

• The following categories of travellers can enter Sri Lanka from the restricted countries mentioned above:

  a) Sri Lankan Citizens (and their Foreign National Spouses).

  b) Dual Citizens (and their Foreign National Spouses).

  c) Valid Resident Visa Holders

  d) Foreign national staff members of the diplomatic missions of UN organizations / UN Specialized agencies / International Organizations with permanent offices in Sri Lanka who are holding Diplomatic/UN/Official passports and their accompanying spouse, parents, and children from India, South American countries and South African countries.

  e) Foreign Nationals arriving for important projects/meetings/discussions as invited by the Sri Lankan Government / Private Organizations.

• Permitted travellers from restricted countries must provide following documents:

• Sri Lankan Citizens (and their Foreign National Spouses)/ Dual Citizens (and their Foreign National Spouses) should submit the copies of their passports.

• Resident Visa Holder should submit a copy of the passport and copy of the valid resident visa.

• Foreign National staff members of diplomatic missions or UN organizations / UN Specialized agencies / International Organizations with permanent offices in Sri Lanka should submit a copy of the passport and copy of the Official Identity Card.

• Inviting Sri Lankan counterpart should submit the details including the reason for inviting with a copy of passport if Foreign Nationals arriving for important projects/meetings/discussions.

• The authorities have lifted the recent entry ban for travellers from several Gulf countries (Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait) on the following conditions:

• All arriving passengers must have a negative PCR Test obtained within 72 hours prior to departure. Airline to ensure this before boarding passengers.

• Antigen tests cannot be accepted as a pre-departure test for boarding.

• PCR test must be presented from a Government approved hospital/laboratory in the respective Country with a QR Code/Barcode.

• Airlines must satisfy themselves of the authenticity of the test reports presented by the passengers.

• Passengers are permitted to arrive only for Hotel Quarantine or through the Sri Lanka Tourism BioBubble Route.

• The entry requirements are very complex and further information can be found on this website.

• (Business) Foreign passport holder (any foreign passport holder) wishing to enter Sri Lanka for purposes of business (projects/meetings/discussions etc.) by invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka or any private organisation shall require approval to enter Sri Lanka from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email: ([email protected]) with specific details in a letter of invitation from the Sri Lanka host/counterpart.

• Tourists who are either Sri Lankan passport holders or foreign passport holders, entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix D.

• Staff of diplomatic missions & UN organizations who are foreign nationals in Sri Lanka may enter subject to meeting multiple entry requirements found in Appendix H.

• For commercially important persons and business travellers, the entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix G.

• For airline crew based in Sri Lanka and foreign airline crew on a layover in Sri Lanka, the entry requirements differ depending on their vaccination status. For details regarding procedures for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers, see Appendix F.

*Is transit allowed through the country? *

• Yes with exceptions

• Transit via Sri Lanka is permitted, provided the travellers have a confirmed onward connection to the next destination and the maximum transit time does not exceed 12 hours.

*Is a test required on arrival? *

• Yes

• Regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status or category of traveller, all travellers twelve years and above will undergo COVID-19 PCR testing on arrival, and all travellers two years and above should undergo PCR testing on day 14.

• Children below two years are exempted from day one (on arrival) and the exit COVID-19 PCR testing.

*Test certificate accepted? *

• Yes

• Test certificates issued outside of Sri Lanka by an approved laboratory are accepted. The test certificate must be in English and must be printed.

• Antigen tests cannot be accepted as a pre-departure test for boarding.

*Test certificate required? *

• Yes

• All travellers of two years and above arriving in Sri Lanka should mandatorily carry a negative COVID-19 PCR test report in the English language issued within 72 hours prior to embarkation.

*Is quarantine required on arrival? *

• Yes

• All travellers arriving from overseas, including Sri Lankans (and Sri Lankan seafarers or sea marshalls arriving to go home), dual citizens, tourists, foreign nationals (including valid resident visa holders), will be mandatorily quarantined at a quarantine hotel or Quarantine Centre, Approved residence or a Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel until completion of fourteen (14) days.

• All COVID-19 unvaccinated residents and dual citizens will be required to quarantine themselves in a quarantine hotel or center for 14 days upon arrival to the country. Travellers will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test on Day 14. Travellers who test negative can leave the quarantine center after 14 days. Travellers who test positive will be required to transfer to a COVID-19 hospital.

• All COVID-19 vaccinated residents and dual citizens (arriving from foreign countries except for restricted countries) will be required to undergo a PCR test on Day 1 upon arrival to the country; travellers who test negative are not required to enter quarantine upon arrival. They will not need to conduct a PCR test on Day 7.

• All COVID-19 unvaccinated travellers will be released from the quarantine hotel/Quarantine Centre/Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel after completion of fourteen days of quarantine with negative COVID-19 test results done on day one (on arrival) and day 11 and day 14.

• All Sri Lankan citizens (and their foreign national spouses) and dual citizens (and their foreign national spouse) who have been granted approval to arrive from travel restricted countries have to undergo mandatory Institutional Quarantine (irrespective of their vaccination status) at a Quarantine Hotel/Quarantine Centre (Center: only if facilities are available to separate from travellers arriving from other countries) and will be released only after obtaining a negative COVID-19 PCR report on Day 14 of arrival in Sri Lanka. They shall NOT be quarantined at a Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel.

• All foreign nationals who have been granted approval to arrive from travel restricted countries have to undergo mandatory Institutional Quarantine (irrespective of their vaccination status) at a Quarantine Hotel and will be released only after obtaining a negative COVID-19 PCR report on Day 14 of arrival in Sri Lanka. They shall NOT be quarantined at a Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel, Quarantine Center or at a Residence.

• Unvaccinated travellers between the ages of 2 and 18 years who entered quarantine with their fully vaccinated parents are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test on Day 7.

• The complete details of the measures can be found here.

• Based on the above restrictions travellers will be required to spend between one day to 14 days at a quarantine center.

Is a vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not mandatory for entry into the country. However, travellers who are not vaccinated have additional entry requirements.

• Travellers who are fully vaccinated 14 days before departing for Sri Lanka should carry the original vaccination certificate. Documents must be in English or a certified copy in English for any information on the original which is not indicated in English and must have the name of the vaccine and dates of vaccination.

*Insurance required? *

• Yes

• An insurance policy with a minimum coverage of $50,000 USD is required. COVID-19 insurance coverage is mandatory for a minimum of 5 million Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) or the equivalent in USD.

*Entry form required? *

• Yes

• All travellers must apply for a visa online using the Immigration ETA portal. ETA application requirements may vary in accordance with the origin of travel and the nationality of the traveller.

• All travellers should submit the completed Health Declaration Form to the staff of the Airport Health Office at Health Counters at the arriving airport.

• The health declaration form in Russian and English can be downloaded using this link.

Recommended Border Apps

• No

• There are no mandatory border apps. Travellers can download the MyHealth Sri Lanka apps, from here for iOS users and from here for Android users.

Airline Restrictions

• Moderate

• Effective 1 July until 31 July 2021, authorities have temporarily suspended air travel to eight countries (Angola, Boston, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Switzerland, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

• Commercial international passenger flights are allowed to operate with limited passengers.

• Before boarding any outbound flight, travellers may be asked for a PCR test certificate by the airlines.

• ETAs will not be issued on arrival. All airlines are strictly advised to follow the guidelines issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka for landing permission and must check the ETA before boarding passengers to Sri Lanka.

Border Restrictions

• Minimal

• Borders have reopened.

• Travellers arriving in Sri Lanka through the Tourism Travel Bio Bubble, are advised to check the health protocols set by the Sri Lankan government at this link.

• Travellers must apply for a visa online using the Immigration ETA portal.

• Cruise ship passengers will not be allowed to disembark, including for temporary shore visits.

• All incoming travellers must carry the paid receipt for two PCR tests, COVID-19 insurance coverage, pre-confirmed hotel booking, completed Health Declaration Form (HDF), and a negative PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours of the time of boarding.

Curfew

• Minimal.

• No curfew is in effect.

Social restrictions

• Significant

• Day rooms, homestays, and musical shows are not permitted.

• Sri Lankan police have announced that any person violating the COVID-19 regulations, including not wearing masks or not maintaining social distance, may be fined or imprisoned.

• The guidelines for different sectors can be found here.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate.

• Provincial travel restrictions are in effect until 1 August 2021.

• Public transportation is allowed to operate at a reduced capacity. In Western provinces, public transportation is allowed with limited capacity.

*Non-essential shops open? *

• Yes

• Supermarkets, shopping malls, bakeries, open markets, liquor shops, and other services will remain open with limited capacity and strict safety protocols.

*Accommodations open? *

• Yes

• Hotels and guest houses are allowed to open with strict safety protocols.

*Restaurants open? *

• Yes.

• Restaurants are allowed to open with limited capacity and strict safety protocols.

*Bars and cafes open? *

• No

• Bars are not allowed to open.

• Casinos and nightclubs are closed.

*Beaches and tourism sites open? *

• Yes

• Beaches are open with strict guidelines.

• Beach parties are not allowed.

*Museums and heritage sites open? *

• Yes

• Museums, zoological gardens and national parks are open with social distancing measures.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes

• Personal care services such as barbers and beauty salons are allowed to open with strict guidelines including a limited number of customers.

*Places of worship open? *

• Yes

• Places of worship are allowed to open with capacity limits.

*Events allowed? *

• Yes.

• Funerals can be conducted with a maximum of 50 people in attendance.

• Wedding events are allowed with the seating capacity.

*Masks required in public? *

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory in public places.

Other

• Gyms, indoor sporting centres, and swimming pools are allowed to open.

• Cinemas and theatres are open with limited capacity.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing, maintain a 6-foot distance other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.