Sri Lanka is one of the richest free markets and also has one of the highest purchasing power parity. Being close to India, several Indian entrepreneurs look at Sri Lanka as a business opportunity. A Sri Lanka business visa for Indian citizens has been a courtesy rendering to the development of the Indian as well as Sri Lankan commerce.
There are several procedures that are to be followed when carrying out business in a foreign country. A business visa to Sri Lanka is issued to the ones who are looking forward to doing business in the country. There are several benefits to this permit. The holder is allowed to attend business meetings and conferences, exhibitions, negotiating deals and others. The validity of the permit can differ as per the process that is followed. If you obtain the visa prior to arrival, you either get a single entry visa for 30 days, or a multiple entry permit which is valid for 3 months allowing a stay for about 30 days. If you get a business visa to Sri Lanka upon arrival, you will receive it as a single entry 30-day permit. Also, keep in mind that having a visa does not guarantee you entry. If the Immigration or Border Control find an issue with your visa or yourself, you are most likely to be deported.
There are multiple processes to get a business visa to Sri Lanka from India. However, you first need to match the eligibility criteria to be able to issue the permit. You can get a visa prior to arrival or upon arrival. The processes are as follows:
When you are filling out the application forms, it is extremely crucial that you take certain precautions. The information in the application form must match the details in the passport and other travel documents. The form must be filled with correct information and try to avoid any errors. If there are any kinds of issues found in the application or if there is any information that is false or unverifiable, there are chances that the application may get rejected. Such a visa rejection can affect your future applications to Sri Lanka or to any other country. In such cases, you can just acquire professional assistance from a visa agency.
There are certain parameters that are to be fulfilled in order to be able to apply for a business visa to Sri Lanka. Some of the most important eligibility criteria are listed as follows:
The list of document requirements to get a business visa to Sri Lanka is not that long given the comparatively not so complicated procedure. The mandatory Sri Lanka business visa requirements are listed as follows:
The way of payment of the fees for a Sri Lanka business visa for Indian citizens will differ depending on the procedure that is being followed. Obtaining ETA prior to arrival will mostly require you to pay through an electronic payment gateway. For an on arrival ETA, the fee can be paid using a debit or credit card or in cash but only in US $. The fee can even differ as per the number of entries permitted or any changes in the exchange rates.
Entry | Stay Duration | Validity | Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Multiple entry Normal | 30 days | 6 months | 2220.0 |
The processing time required to get a business visa to Sri Lanka prior to arrival is about 3 days. It can still vary based on certain factors such as the process that is being followed, availability of staff and the workload at the Mission and others.
When the application has been submitted, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Some of the pointers are as follows:
The status of a Sri Lanka visa for Indian can be checked online by logging on to the official website for any type of visa. It can also be checked by calling the 24/7 available call centre on - 0094 71 99 67 888.
After the completion of processes, you will receive an acknowledgement receipt. This is your business visa to Sri Lanka. When you have this, there are a few things that you need to note, they are listed as follows:
The Sri Lankan Immigration has made the process to get a business visa to Sri Lanka online with minimum documents requirements, therefore, getting a Sri Lanka business visa from India is not exactly difficult. The processes are quite simple. If you still want to minimise any kind of complications, you can always acquire assistance and apply through a visa agency.
No, you are not allowed to work with a business visa in Sri Lanka. You are allowed to take part in volunteer work but you still aren’t allowed to take up paid or permanent employment. You will have to issue a work visa differently to work in Sri Lanka.
There is a requirement for interviews for getting a visa for European countries, however, that is not the case for Sri Lanka. You do not have to attend an interview while applying for a business visa to Sri Lanka.
A return ticket is one of the mandatory documents required at the time of getting a business visa to Sri Lanka. If you fly to Sri Lanka without a return ticket, your ETA application will not be accepted and you will be asked to return or deported from the country. Therefore, no, you cannot fly to Sri Lanka without a return ticket.
The amount that is required in your savings bank account is not specified clearly by the Sri Lanka Overseas Mission. There may be requirements as per the type of your visa and whether the visa is a long term or a short term visa. The requirements may change based on several factors. For a business visa, make sure that your enterprise has enough funds to be able to support your business trip to Sri Lanka.