A country popular among Belarusian tourists is changing its visa issuance rules: everything will become more expensive and more complicated.
22.04.2024

Now, in order to go on vacation to Sri Lanka, Belarusians will have to deal with more paperwork. Starting from May 1, the island nation is changing its visa issuance procedure. Previously, those who were not allowed visa-free entry could obtain an online entry permit (ETA) or a visa upon arrival, but under the new rules, a visa must be obtained in advance.
The visa will be electronic (eVisa), issued by a visa center through the VFS Global service, which is familiar to many Belarusians. Are you panicking at the memories of unsuccessful attempts to make an appointment through it for a Schengen visa? It should be much easier with the Sri Lankan visa. You need to register on the visa center's website, fill out all the forms, upload a passport photo, pay the fee, receive a personal number, and wait for the application to be approved. Once the eVisa is ready, you can download the file with it.
Another not-so-pleasant update: the visa will double in price. For now, Belarusians pay $50 for admission to the Sri Lankan paradise (when applying for ETA) or $60 (for a visa on the spot). Starting from May 1, the entire procedure will cost $100. Of these, $75 will be for the eVisa itself, $18.5 will be a service fee, and $7.27 will be a payment system commission.
But on the bright side, under the new rules, the minimum period for which Belarusians will be granted a visa will be as long as six months (instead of the old 30-day single-entry visa). It will be possible to stay in the country for up to 60 days in one trip. In addition, travelers can now request tourist visas for up to 10 years separately — of course, they will cost several times more.
The visa center's website also says that the option of a visa on arrival will remain available — however, it is still unclear for whom and under what conditions.
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