(SRI LANKA) — Sri Lanka waived the tourist visa fee for Omani citizens starting May 25, 2026, opening free ETA-based tourist entry for stays of up to 30 days with a double-entry facility during that period.

The change places Oman among 40 countries listed as eligible for Sri Lanka’s free 30-day tourist ETA, according to the official Sri Lanka ETA portal. The arrangement applies to Omani nationals who hold ordinary passports.

Under the new terms, eligible visitors can enter Sri Lanka without paying the tourist visa fee tied to the ETA. The authorization allows entry for tourism and remains valid for 30 days from the first arrival.

Sri Lanka’s entry rules also allow a second arrival under the same authorization. That second trip does not restart the clock; the remaining balance of the original 30 days applies.

The measure amounts to a free tourist visa route delivered through the ETA system rather than a separate visa-on-arrival waiver. In practice, Omani citizens still need the ETA approval, but the tourist visa fee itself is waived under the scheme effective 25.05.2026.

Ordinary passport holders fall within the eligible category named for Oman. The waiver does not extend beyond that group, and the stated scope centers on Omani nationals using ordinary passports for tourist entry.

The period of stay begins on first arrival, not on the date of approval. That distinction matters for the double-entry facility because anyone returning to Sri Lanka during the same authorization period uses whatever time remains from the original 30-day grant.

A visitor who enters, leaves, and returns within that same window keeps access to Sri Lanka under the same ETA approval. A visitor who wants to stay longer than 30 days must seek a visa extension.

Sri Lanka does not waive the cost of staying beyond the initial period. Applicable fees apply to any extension, even though the initial ETA-based tourist entry is free.

The arrangement gives Omani citizens a lower-cost route for short leisure trips while preserving Sri Lanka’s standard controls for longer stays. The waiver covers the initial tourist entry only, and the extension process carries normal charges once the 30-day period ends.

Passport validity remains unchanged under the free tourist visa scheme. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oman states that a passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Health coverage also remains part of the practical guidance tied to the trip. Travelers are advised to have health insurance for the duration of their stay in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka ETA portal identifies Oman as eligible under the free 30-day ETA list, while the Department of Immigration and Emigration serves as the competent authority for ETA issuance. That division leaves the immigration department in charge of the approval process, with the embassy restating the passport rule for applicants in Oman.

The policy gives Omani citizens access to a short-stay format that combines fee-free tourist entry with limited flexibility on re-entry. A single approval can cover two arrivals, provided both occur within the same 30-day validity period.

That makes the double-entry facility one of the most practical parts of the change. Someone who enters Sri Lanka, departs briefly, and then returns does not need a new tourist ETA for that second arrival as long as the original authorization still runs and time remains on the first 30 days.

The rule also sets a clear limit. A second entry does not produce a fresh 30-day stay, and it does not erase time already used during the first visit.

Omani citizens considering the free tourist visa option still need to match their travel dates to the authorization period. An early first arrival shortens the amount of time left for any later return trip under the same ETA.

Sri Lanka’s use of the ETA channel also means the waiver sits inside an existing electronic entry system, not outside it. The free tourist visa works through ETA-based tourist entry rather than through an exemption from authorization requirements.

Oman’s inclusion in the 40-country list gives official backing to the policy on both the ETA portal and through the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oman. Together, those references set out the central terms: Omani citizens with ordinary passports can obtain free tourist entry for 30 days, re-enter once within that period, and pay fees only if they seek to remain longer.

The result is a narrow but concrete change in entry costs. Sri Lanka removed the tourist visa fee from the first 30 days for eligible Omani citizens, kept the passport and insurance expectations in place, and limited the benefit to the original authorization period even when the double-entry facility is used.

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