Sri Lankan visa for British citizens
A visa is REQUIRED for British passport holders visiting Sri Lanka for tourism and business purposes. See detailed requirements below:
Visa requirements:
| Visa type | Purposes | Visa requirements | Allowed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | For British citizens to enter Sri Lanka for a short-term tourism purpose. | Visa required | N/A |
| Evisa | Sri Lanka e-visa for British citizens | Eligible | |
| Visa on arrival | Sri Lanka visa on arrival for British citizens | Eligible | |
Sri Lanka tourist visa requirements:
- Holding British passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Sri Lanka.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Sri Lanka.
If you are looking for Sri Lanka visa information, such as available types of visas, or how to apply from United Kingdom, we recommend you visit or contact the embassy or consulate of Sri Lanka nearest your place of residence.
- London: The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, United Kingdom (Working hours: Open now. Close in 38 minutes)
Sri Lanka visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Sri Lanka diplomatic mission offices to United Kingdom for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from United Kingdom traveling to Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (United Kingdom) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 261,801 | N/A |
| 2009 | 249,092 | -4.85% |
| 2010 | 241,467 | -3.06% |
| 2011 | 246,550 | 2.11% |
| 2012 | 261,801 | 6.19% |
| 2013 | 246,550 | -5.83% |
| 2014 | 251,634 | 2.06% |
| 2015 | 266,884 | 6.06% |
| 2016 | 188,159 | -29.50% |
| 2017 | 201,879 | 7.29% |
| 2018 | 254,176 | 25.91% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Sri Lanka & United Kingdom comparison
Sri Lanka's area is approximately 62,710 km2 (24,212 sq mi), while the area of United Kingdom is approximately 241,930 km2 (93,409 sq mi). This means United Kingdom is 3.86 times bigger than Sri Lanka.
As of October 2025, Sri Lanka's population is ~21.9 million people - 47,822,063 fewer people than the population of United Kingdom.
We have highlighted Sri Lanka & United Kingdom’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Sri Lanka | United Kingdom | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 21,862,927 | 69,684,990 | 47.8 million fewer people live in Sri Lanka than United Kingdom |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 67 | 222 | Sri Lanka has 155 fewer diplomatic representations abroad compared with United Kingdom. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 16 | 139 | Sri Lanka passport holders visit 123 fewer countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 61 | 348 | Sri Lankan hosts 287 fewer foreign missions than United Kingdom. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from United Kingdom travel to Sri Lanka in one year?
The number of visitors from United Kingdom visiting Sri Lanka in 2018 was approximately 254,176.
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- Angola
- Anguilla
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- Australia
- Austria
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- Cameroon
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- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
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- Lesotho
- Liberia
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- Marshall Islands
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- Namibia
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- Reunion
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- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
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- Senegal
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- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
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- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
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- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
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Today’s Forecast
| 12.3°C | ||
| Humidity | 77% | |
| Wind | 4.02 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 13:50 PM | |
Useful Information
- Colombo to London: 9668.34 km (6007.62 mi)
- Travel time: 20 hours 8 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025