IranSri Lanka: eTA

IranSri Lanka

Do Iran passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka?

eTA

Iran passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Sri Lanka, but no embassy visa.

An electronic travel authorisation must be approved online before departure. No embassy visit.

Source: eta.gov.lk (checked July 17, 2026).

RequirementeTA

Maximum stay30 days

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-14

Distance4,313 km, straight line (~5h 34m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Sri Lanka242 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Sri Lanka passport holders visiting Iran: Visa on arrival.

Sri Lanka drives on the left, the opposite side to Iran. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Other visa-free destinations for Iran passport holders

See all Iran destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Iran passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka?

Iran passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Sri Lanka, but no embassy visa.

How long can Iran citizens stay in Sri Lanka without a visa?

Up to 30 days, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is Sri Lanka from Iran?

About 4,313 km in a straight line, roughly ~5h 34m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR).

What is the emergency number in Sri Lanka?

110 / 119.

Does Sri Lanka drive on the same side of the road as Iran?

Sri Lanka drives on the left, the opposite side to Iran. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

What time zone is Sri Lanka in?

Colombo (UTC+5:30).

What is the nearest airport to Colombo?

Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML), about 12 km away.

How many countries can enter Sri Lanka without a visa?

242 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Sri Lanka visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Iran

Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and historically known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. With a population of over 92 million, Iran ranks 17th globally in both geographic size and population. It is divided into five regions with 31 provinces. Tehran is the nation's capital and largest city and serves as its primary economic center.

CapitalTehran

RegionSouthern Asia

Population92.4M

Area1,648,195 km²

CurrencyIranian rial (1 USD ≈ 1736662.96 IRR)

LanguagesPersian (Farsi)

Calling code+98

Drives on theright

TimezoneTehran (UTC+3:30)

Nearest airportMehrabad International Airport (THR), 12 km

Emergency number110 / 115 / 125

UNESCO sites38

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$3,924 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.6M (2020)

Climate in Tehran

Warmest July, coolest January, driest June, sunniest July. Best time to visit: May, September, October.

Monthly climate normals for Tehran, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	8°C	-0.7°C	32mm	255h
February	11.6°C	1.6°C	98mm	243h
March	16.9°C	6.4°C	50mm	278h
April	19°C	9.3°C	103mm	298h
May	29.5°C	17.2°C	16mm	379h
June	35.6°C	22.6°C	0mm	392h
July	36.6°C	25.5°C	1mm	396h
August	35.1°C	23.6°C	0mm	393h
September	31.1°C	19.8°C	2mm	335h
October	23.6°C	12.1°C	18mm	324h
November	15.1°C	7.9°C	90mm	212h
December	8.4°C	1.4°C	42mm	242h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Iran, formerly Persia, can be considered part of the Middle East or Central Asia; indeed the Persian Empire was the dominant Central Asian power for many centuries. The wellspring of one of the world's great civilizations, Iran is a country of striking natural beauty and gorgeous tiled mosques. Once the centre of a pro-Western monarchy, it became an Islamic Republic in 1979, a modern Islamic theocracy whose laws are based on Ja'fari Shia Islam, and since then, its history has been tumultuous.

Full source list on About.

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest, and lies across the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the east. Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, which is also its largest city and the political, financial and cultural centre of the country; neighboring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Sri Lanka's population is 22 million. About 74% of the population are Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhala language, and about 15% are Tamils who speak the Tamil language. Other long-established ethnic groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.

CapitalColombo

RegionSouthern Asia

Population21.8M

Area65,610 km²

CurrencySri Lankan rupee (1 USD ≈ 331.10 LKR)

LanguagesSinhala, Tamil

Calling code+94

Drives on theleft

TimezoneColombo (UTC+5:30)

Nearest airportColombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML), 12 km

Emergency number110 / 119

UNESCO sites9

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$5,002 (2025)

Tourist arrivals540K (2020)

Climate in Colombo

Warmest March, coolest December, driest January, sunniest March. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, August, October, December.

Monthly climate normals for Colombo, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	30.6°C	23.2°C	20mm	351h
February	32.2°C	24.1°C	24mm	337h
March	31.6°C	24.7°C	49mm	357h
April	31.3°C	24.8°C	153mm	331h
May	29.9°C	25.9°C	287mm	254h
June	29.2°C	25.9°C	264mm	293h
July	28.7°C	25.2°C	252mm	250h
August	28.7°C	25.4°C	209mm	303h
September	27.9°C	24.7°C	388mm	209h
October	28.6°C	25°C	109mm	328h
November	29.2°C	23.8°C	374mm	250h
December	28.8°C	23.1°C	152mm	267h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the Sinhalese and the Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.

Full source list on About.