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Updated February 2024

Home to lofty snow-clad mountains and lush green forests, pristine beaches and coastal beauties, numerous hill stations and vast plains, south-Asian giant India attracts a large number of foreign tourists throughout the year. As long as you have the necessary visa and travel documents, you can visit this culturally rich country.

Read on as Wego guides you on Indian visa requirements for Sri Lankans, how to apply for one, the documents and other requirements, along with the visa cost.

Table of Contents

Do you need a visa to visit India from Sri Lanka?

Yes, citizens from Sri Lanka travelling to India need to apply for an Indian visa. Sri Lankans can choose to apply from a vast range of Indian visas available for them, depending on the purpose of their visit to the country.

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Indian visa from Sri Lanka general requirements

The following are the documents required to be submitted for applying for the Indian visa from Sri Lanka:

duly filled in Visa Application Form (in prescribed format).
2 recent colour passport size (2×2 inch) photographs, showing a full frontal view of the face against a light background, are to be pasted firmly on the application form. Scanned photographs are not acceptable.
valid current passport (with 2 adjacent blank pages for affixing visa) and previous passports. Non- production of previous passports can result in delay/refusal of visa. The photo on the passport and form must tally with the applicant’s present appearance. The applicant may face the risk of deportation by authorities in India on arrival if the photograph does not match his/her appearance.
copy of N.I.C. card or Birth Certificate (For Sri Lankan nationals only) should be enclosed.
no objection letter from either of the parents if a minor is travelling with one parent. If the minor is travelling alone or with relatives, a consent letter signed by both the parents is required

Please note that additional documents may be required depending on the type of visa applied for.

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Indian visa from Sri Lanka types

Following are some of the available Indian visas for Sri Lankans:

Tourist visa

Sri Lanka citizens looking to visit India for tourism or other non-business-related purposes can apply for the Indian Tourist visa. The Tourist visa will only be granted to Sri Lankan citizens who do not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is tourism, recreation, sightseeing, and a casual visit to meet friends and relatives. Moreover, the Tourist visa is non-extendable and non-convertible to other types of visas and its misuse would entail deportation by Indian authorities. The duration of the visa and number of entries will be decided by High Commission. https://blog.wego.com/india-tourist-visa/ Please note that all Sri Lankan dual citizens applying for visas in Sri Lanka are required to fill FAX Reference Form along with the online Visa Application Form.

Tourist visa documents required

Please note that only clear/legible scanned/ photocopies of the following document should be submitted. Additionally, English translated version should invariably be attached for documents in Sinhala/Tamil:

NIC card/ Driving licence / Birth Certificate.
two recent (not more than 3 months old) 2×2 inch colour photographs (without spectacles) depicting a full face with both ears visible on white background. Photo on Passport and VAF must match the applicant’s present appearance.
previous visit details at Serial Number F of sample Visa Application Form :
- Applicant to fill in the correct visa details of the last visit to India.
- Applicant mention the last availed (actual Traveled) visa number starting with alphabet along with the date of issue. (eg: VLI123456 dated 25 June 2017).
the Passport should have a minimum validity of 9 months on the date of application with at least two blank pages. Tampered/ damaged passports are not accepted. All previous passports (If the previous passport is lost please ensure endorsement to that effect in the current passport or provide the police-compliant report).
three months Bank statement has a healthy average daily balance, clearly reflecting the name, and address of the account holder with the account opening date.
business Registration Certificate, if attached bank statement belongs to a business entity.
the applicant’s address (present/permanent) should match the documents attached before. (in the case of a bank passbook, the account should be at least 1 year old ).
in exceptional cases, the government Utility Bill and GS certificate are accepted address proof. No other document would be accepted. GS certificate should be accompanied by a certificate from the employer. In the case of students, a copy of the identity card from the educational institution is to be attached.
for applicants below the age of 18, the application should be accompanied by:
- no objection certificate (NOC) signed by both parents allowing their children to travel and also specifying details including with whom their children are travelling.
- in case children are travelling without accompanied by their parents, a self-explanatory letter must be attached specifying:
  - purpose of visit and
  - guardian during the visit
- photocopy of the passport of both parents should be attached.
applicants with dual nationality must produce both passports (along with photocopies) at the time of application.

For more information please refer to the IVS Lanka page.

Business visa

Sri Lankan citizens looking to visit India for short visits to India for attending business meetings, negotiations, training, and participate in exhibitions can apply for the Indian Business visa. Additionally, the Business visa is also granted to senior executives of firms, experts, consultants, specialists, tour conductors and travel agents who often visit India for business or professional reasons. Please note that staying and seeking employment in India on a Business visa is illegal.

Business visa documents required

appropriate endorsement of occupation/profession that justifies applying for a Business visa.
invitation letter from the company in India indicating exact purpose and duration of stay in India and letter from applicant’s company (employer) in Sri Lanka sponsoring the business visit to India indicating position and nature of applicant’s work in the organisation.
letter of Incorporation/Commercial Licence/Certificate of Registration of Indian Company.
registration Certificate/ Business Registration Certification/undertakings issued by the Sri Lankan authorities indicate, the position held by the applicant in the company or Authority sponsoring his visit to India.
duly completed Visa Application Form
two recent (not more than 3 months old) 2×2 inch colour photographs (without spectacles) depicting a full face with both ears visible on white background. Photo on Passport and VAF must match the applicant’s present appearance.
previous visit details at Serial Number F of sample Visa Application Form :
- Applicant to fill in the correct visa details of the last visit to India.
- Applicant mention the last availed (actual Traveled) visa number starting with alphabet along with the date of issue.
previous passports (If the previous passport is lost please ensure endorsement to that effect in the current passport or provide the police-compliant report).
photocopy of N.I.C/Driving License/Birth Certificate.
address Proof (NIC/Driving License/Bank Statement/Rent Agreement/Telephone Bill/G S Certificate).
three months bank statements of Sri Lankan Employer sponsoring applicant’s visit. in exceptional cases, the applicant’s own bank statement has a healthy daily balance.
an undertaking from Sri Lankan Employer or Indian Host Company on incurring expenses related to applicant’s travel, stay and other expenditure.
all foreign nationals applying for visas in Sri Lanka are required to fill FAX Reference Form.
three (3) months’ bank statements of the firm.

For more information please refer to the IVS Lanka page.

Student visa

Bonafide students from Sri Lanka who wish to pursue regular studies at recognized institutions in India can apply for an Indian Student visa. Student visas are generally given to students looking to pursue higher studies in India.

Student visa documents required

duly completed Visa Application Form.
two recent (not more than 3 months old) 2×2 inch colour photographs (without spectacles) depicting a full face with both ears visible on white background. Photo on Passport and VAF must match the applicant’s present appearance.
previous visit details at Serial Number F of sample Visa Application Form :
- applicant to fill in the correct visa details of the last visit to India.
- applicant mention the last availed (actual Traveled) visa number starting with alphabet along with the date of issue. (for instance, VLI123456 dated 25 June 2017).
previous passports (If a previous passport is lost please provide the police-complaint report).
photocopies of passport.
travel & tour Itinerary.
photocopy on National Identity Card (N.I.C)/Driving License or Birth Certificate.
address Proof (NIC/Driving License/Bank Statement/Rent Agreement/Telephone Bill/G S Certificate)
bonafide certificate from institution where provisional admission has been made.
notarized declaration about the local guardian, if minor applicants want to pursue their studies in India, without parents.

For more information please refer to the IVS Lanka page.

Employment visa

An Employment Visa is issued to foreign nationals intending to work in India, including Sri Lankan citizens. This visa is granted to skilled professionals for senior roles or specialized positions within Indian companies or organizations. Routine or clerical jobs are excluded. The visa should be obtained from the individual’s home country or the country they’ve lived in for over two years.

Eligibility for an Employment Visa includes:

individuals for project execution or contract fulfillment
engineers or technicians for equipment installation and commissioning
foreign experts offering training
consultants providing specialized services
artists engaged for performances
coaches
highly skilled self-employed professionals
sportsmen with contracts from Indian clubs or organizations

The Indian employer is responsible for the foreign national’s conduct during their stay and departure. The company must show efforts to hire Indian candidates before considering foreign nationals.

Essential documents for an Employment Visa application:

duly completed Visa Application Form.
valid travel document
re-entry permit (if required by home country regulations)
proof of employment, contract, or engagement by an Indian company/organization
supporting documentation of educational qualifications and professional expertise

Initially valid for a year, the visa can be extended up to five years. Foreign nationals must register with the local authorities within two weeks of arrival.

Transit visa

Transit visa is granted for the sole purpose of enabling a foreigner to travel through India to reach their ultimate destination. However, for stay in India beyond three (3) days an appropriate visa must be obtained. Applicant must submit detailed travel plans along with his/her form and produce confirmed tickets.

Please note that no transit visa is required for a person passing through in direct transit by air, where then is no through flight, provided he/she does not leave the specified precincts of the Airport. For more information please refer to the IVS Lanka page.

E-Visa

Sri Lankan citizens are eligible for Indian e-visa. They can apply for their visas online through the India e-visa application portal.

Currently, there are five sub-categories of the India e-Visa available:

e-tourist visa
e-business visa
e-conference visa
e-medical visa
e-medical attendant visa

Visitors can select a sub-type of e-visa based on the purpose of their visit. It’s essential to note that electronic visas cannot be extended, and upon arrival in India, they remain valid for the indicated duration. If the e-visa expires, the visitor must apply for a new visa.

For more in-depth information about Indian e-visa, we recommend perusing our dedicated article on the topic.

India e-Visa 2023: How to Apply for the Electronic Entry Permit to India?

Indian visa from Sri Lanka application process

Please note that visa applications for the categories like Tourist, Business, Student, Employment, Medical & Medical Attendant, Journalist, Transit and Entry visas should be submitted directly at the IVS Global India Visa Application Centre (IVAC) Follow the steps given below to apply for the Indian visa in Sri Lanka:

fill up and complete the India online Visa Application form.
book an online appointment to visit IVS Centers in order to submit your Visa Application Forms / Visa Submission Inquiries. You can find out the online appointment time slots here.
submit the hard copy of the Visa Application Form at the India Visa Service Centre (VSC) at Colombo/ Kandy/ Jaffna along with supporting documents photographs and the fees.

For more details visit the IVS Lanka webpage.

Indian visa from Sri Lanka application center

The Indian visa application for categories like Tourist, Business, Student, Employment, Medical & Medical Attendant, Journalist, Transit and Entry visas from Sri Lanka will be processed at the India Visa Service Centre (VSC) in Colombo/ Kandy/ Jaffna:

COLOMBO

No 129, Philip Gunawardena Road, Thunmulla Junction, Colombo – 04. For more details, you can send them an email at [email protected]

KANDY

No 675, William Gopallawa Mawatha, Kandy. For more details, you can send them an email at [email protected]

JAFFNA

No 145, Temple Road, Jaffna For more details, you can send them an email at [email protected]

Find out the online appointment time slots for visa submission and visa processing.

Indian visa from Sri Lanka fees

The Indian visa fees from Sri Lanka are as follows:

Tourist visa (Single/Double) for 30 days – SLR 5550 – INR 1224.98
Tourist visa (Single) for 90 days – SLR 5550 – INR 1224.98
Tourist visa (Double) for 90 days – SLR 9250 – INR 2060.20
Tourist visa (Single/Double/Triple) for upto 1 year (Multiple) – INR 2060.20 (SLR 9250)
Business visa (Multiple Entry) for 30 days – INR 2060.20 (SLR 9250)
Business visa (Single Entry) for 90 days – INR 2060.20 (SLR 9250)
Business visa (Double/Triple/Multiple Entry) for 90 days – INR 3296.31 (SLR 14800)
Business visa (Double/Triple/Multiple Entry) for 120 days – INR 6592.63 (SLR 29600)
Business visa (Double/Triple/Multiple Entry) for 1 year – INR 6592.63 (SLR 29600)
Business visa (Double/Triple/Multiple Entry) for 5 years – INR 9888.94 (SLR 44400)
Transit visa (Single/Double) for upto 15 days – INR 824.08 (SLR 3700)
Student visa (for institutions covered by the bilateral agreement) for 1 year – INR 3543.54 (SLR 15910)
Student visa (for institutions covered by the bilateral agreement) for more than 1 year – INR 6675.04 (SLR 29970)
Student visa (for institutions NOT covered by the bilateral agreement) – INR 6675.04 (SLR 29970)