How To Get A Sri Lanka Tourist Visa
Are you planning to visit Sri Lanka for your Sri Lankan vacation? Well, you need to have a clear idea about the process of getting a visa before traveling to this beautiful country. This can be confusing at times. This is because there are several types of Sri Lanka tourist visa available in the market. The government has issued several policy documents that should be read carefully before applying for a visa.
The first thing that one should consider is which type of visa will best cater to his/her purpose. There are several categories under which one can choose from. If you are an Australian citizen by profession or hold a nationality permit for Australia, then you can apply for Australian tourist visa. If you hold an Australian passport and your age is less than 21 years, then you can also get approval for a Sri Lanka tourist visa as long as you can prove that you have not entered into any criminal activity in Australia or any country.
The next thing to consider in the process of visa processing is what sort of visa do you require? Generally, tourists need a visa for visiting Sri Lanka for more than just a day. But, there are some cases where tourists can apply for renewable visas even after their initial visa has expired. When choosing a Sri Lanka tourist visa for your trip, it is important to choose the correct one. It is advisable that you choose the visa type that is most appropriate for your purposes.
Before you submit an application for visa, ensure that you submit all the right documents. These include application form, receipt proof, passport, fee agreement, and money etc. Once your application has been received at the Sri Lanka immigration authority, it will be categorized according to its priority. Then the procedure of visa processing will begin. For the processing of your visa, you will be required to:
Firstly, the immigration authorities will issue a visa to the applicant. This visa will be either valid for stay in Sri Lanka or for travel outside the country. There is a short waiting period during which the visa will remain in effect. After this period, if the applicant decides to renew the visa, he has to reapply. If not, he must depart to proceed with the next available visa.
During the processing, information such as personal and employment details will need to be provided. The Sri Lankan authorities are keen on protecting the rights of foreign nationals. So they may ask for a confirmation of these facts from the applicant stating the reasons for travelling to Sri Lanka and the purpose of his travel. The applicant will also be required to state whether he or she has ever suffered any crimes (such as theft or sexual offences) in Sri Lanka. Finally, his passport will need to be stamped with a photo. The duration of validity of the visa depends on the type of visa, the number of days for which it is valid and the period of stay.
The processing of a tourist visa can take up to four weeks or even more than that. Some nationalities may have to wait for up to six months for their visa to be approved. Those intending to stay longer can apply for an extension of their visa. However, the processing of the visa cannot continue during the extension period. It is therefore advisable to apply for an extension well in advance of your intended departure date.
It is advisable to obtain information regarding the correct format of the Sri Lanka tourist visa and application procedure from the foreign ministry. It will also be worth getting the assistance of a skilled person who can assist you fill out the visa and return it duly signed and completed. While traveling to Sri Lanka, ensure that you follow all of the necessary visa requirements. Failure to do so can result in a heavy penalty or, in the worst case scenario, arrest and prosecution.