I have been reading up on this subject due to future trip to Sri Lanka. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is applicable from 1st Jan 2012. It's not a visa, but an authorisation to travel. You can only apply online and the cost is 50 US dollars. More info is here: http://www.eta.gov.lk/

Cheers

£32 fee, visa applied for on line with 2 visits within 30 days allowed.

Thanks for your replies have just heard from travel agents about the ETA

HELP! I submitted application about 10 days ago and havent heard. I have checked progress and it says 'being processed' however I have not paid any money is that correct. I have e-mailed but no reply and tried to phone but no answer any suggestions? Thanks in advance always found help on this site so fingers crossed!

Hi, I am lead to believe that there are currently 'bugs' in the system and it is still running in trial mode. Applications aren't being processed yet. Payment stage cannot be progressed to because of this and certainly UK applicants cannot go further than the page that asks for your address details. This is because it asks for a Zip Code (American) and not a post code and won't let you type a UK post code in. We are talking about a Sri Lankan ETA and not an Indian Visa?

The latest news is also that the cost of the ETA has been reduced to $20 dollars.

Thank you Jannerlilley for your reply I tried again to submit an application (ETA) and had the same problem. So thank goodness I tried in plenty of time. IF I dont hear soon I will have to get in touch with my travel agent who suggested I try again so they were unaware to the problem.

I am assuming your travel is after 1st January 2012 as the ETA is not required before this date. News is that the application will be processed very quickly once you are able to apply. If all else fails, you can still obtain a visa on arrival but at an escalated price. Originally it was $50 online and $75 on arrival. It is now $20 online but no confirmation yet of new price on arrival. There must obviously be lots of people encountering the same problems, so surely the system will be up and running in good time for the 1st Jan 2012 deadline??

Thank you again our travel date is not till 1st Feb so we should have plenty of time I was just trying to be organised! I rung the travel agents and they didnt know of a problem so I thought it was me. Good old holiday truths was my next resort so thanks again. I must admit I will not be happy now till it is done.

The problems with the online system should be sorted before your travel date. I would hang fire until at least Jan 2012 when everything should be up and running. If I hear anything further, I will update you on here. Like you, I like to be organised so understand your concern.

Thank you very much for your help

At last visa application accepted free of charge!

Have just been reading the latest news. If holiday booked prior to 31/12/11, visa's (ETA) are currently free upto 31/3/12, presumably because visa situation still not sorted.

We are travelling to Sri Lanka in late Feb / early March and have been assured that VoA is available until 31/3/2012.

As a "belt n braces" precaution we also entered the details on the ETA website. This was interesting as United Kingdom does not appear as a country (nor does England) and the nearest (for residential address purposes) is BRITISH CITIZEN which is used for nationality.

Regardless, I submitted my application and had a web based response with a reference number.

About 10 minutes later my wife's application was submitted. She again received the web-based response, and additionally received an e-mail confirmation of submission. Approx 48 hours later she received an e-mail for ETA Approval.

I received neither e-mail confirmation nor e-mail approval.

I checked my application on the ETA website and the status "Approved in Principle" was displayed.

Of course, it is possible that I mis-typed my e-mail address, but currently my follow up e-mail query to the contact address, provided on my web based response, is unanswered.

Neither my wife, nor I were asked for any form of payment.

Peter

Hi Peter Can you please tell me how you checked your application I have an acknowledgement number but cant seem
to find what stage it is at. I have tried e mailing eta and immigration but no reply as yet. I applied on 21st Dec 2011
so well in time for free eta.
Thanks Carol

Hi Carol,

Yes they are a pain..............

If you go to https://eta.gov.lk/etaslvisa/pages/checkStatus.jsp?locale=en_US (click the link or copy to your browser)

Things to note:
1. Have your passport number to hand
2. The site doesn't seem to like Firefox very much - use internet explorer if possible
3. If you hit a problem, close your browser completely and try again.

Firstly try entering your acknowledgement number as a confirmation number. If that DOESN'T work, close your browser completely and try again.

This time, check the box for "confirmation code not known" and then enter the details in the two lower boxes.

Janet's application went fine and she received all confirmations (on the site it displays "approved in principle") by e-mail.

Like you, I received nothing, but was able to access the details using the second method above.

I printed the confirmation screen and will take that with me.

You are fine for VoA until the end of March, apparently.

Good luck

Peter

Hi Peter

Thank you so much evidently my application was in principle approved, so hopefully that will suffice if I take all documentation I have with me.

Thank you again Carol