Sri Lanka to Extend Digital Nomad Visas up to 270 Days & Impose Fees for Overstaying

Authorities in Sri Lanka have decided to extend tourist visas up to 270 days charging fees that range from 60 to 200 dollars.

Such an announcement has been confirmed by Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration, while the department stressed that overstaying tourists would be subject to a 500 dollar fine, VisaGuide.World reports.

At the same time, it has been reported that a 30 days visa is 35 dollars for most countries and 20 dollars for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries, which is also available online.

All persons who plan to travel to Sri Lanka for tourism purposes are also eligible to apply for a 30 to 90 days visa and also an extension up to 180 days and 270 days. Previously, extensions were given for only two extra months.

According to a report published by Economy Next, travelers from the following countries are subject to a fee that would be 100 dollars for 90 days:

Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Poland, France, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom, Hungary, New Zealand, Australia, United States, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Portugal, Norway, Estonia, Slovenia, Mauritius, Cuba, and Iceland.

It has been reported that the extension would be free for citizens of the following countries: the Maldives, the United States, Seychelles, Singapore as well as the Czech Republic.

Another extension for 90 to 180 days would be available for citizens of the US, and a total of 150 dollars for other 180-to-270-day visas would be given for 200 dollars.

Sri Lankan authorities have unfolded their plans to introduce the Digital Nomad Visa and a new tourist visa with extended validity. This kind of visa permits internationals to live and work in Sri Lanka while working remotely for companies or clients located outside the country.

The introduction of such a visa aims to bring to the country a large number of internationals which would also help the tourism sector recover from the damages caused by the virus and also bring many financial benefits to the country’s economic sector.

Previously, the French travel and tourism operator Club Med ranked Sri Lanka as the second-best destination for all persons who plan to work remotely through the Digital Nomad Visa after Thailand. Such a ranking led the Sri Lankan government to introduce a Digital Nomad Program, which the Cabinet approved in July 2021. In addition, the Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga, proposed introducing a promotional program by the country’s Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) to attract a large number of tourists to the country.