In a major push to boost tourism and support economic recovery, Sri Lanka will now offer free tourist visas to nationals of 40 countries, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced on July 25, 2025.
This follows recent Cabinet approval to significantly expand the existing list of visa-exempt nations. The free visa regime, introduced in March 2023, originally applied to visitors from India, China, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.
The expanded list now includes: the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Israel, Iran, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkiye, and Nepal.
Despite an expected $66 million loss in visa revenue annually, Herath said the move will deliver greater long-term benefits through a rise in tourist arrivals and spending. “We’ve stabilised the economy, and this policy is part of our strategy to ensure steady growth in arrivals,” he noted.
The announcement reinforces Sri Lanka’s commitment to making travel easier and more accessible as part of its broader tourism revival plan.
