Sri Lanka to offer free tourist visas for 39 countries

Colombo, March 31 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka will introduce a six-month programme granting free tourist visas to passport holders from 39 selected countries in a bid to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Approval for the initiative was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on July 21, 2025, with the government expecting the move to attract more visitors and strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a leading travel destination.

Under the Immigration and Emigration Act, draft regulations prepared by the Legal Draftsman on the issuance of free visas will be presented to Parliament for approval.

The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and received Cabinet approval.

Officials said the programme is expected to support the recovery and growth of the tourism sector by making travel to Sri Lanka more accessible and affordable for foreign visitors.

The selected countries, are as follows;

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Bahrain
4. Belarus
5. Belgium
6. Canada
7. China 
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Finland
11. France
12. Germany
13. India
14. Indonesia
15. Iran 
16. Israel
17. Italy
18. Japan
19. Kazakhstan
20. Kuwait
21. Malaysia
22. Nepal 
23. Netherlands
24. New Zealand
25. Norway
26. Oman
27. Pakistan
28. Poland
29. Qatar
30. Russia
31. Saudi Arabia
32. South Korea
33. Spain
34. Sweden
35. Switzerland
36. Thailand
37. Turkey
38. UAE
39. United Kingdom 
40. United Stat