Sri LankaUnited Kingdom: Visa required

Sri LankaUnited Kingdom

Do Sri Lanka passport holders need a visa for United Kingdom?

Visa required

Yes. Sri Lanka passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to United Kingdom.

A visa must be obtained in advance, typically from an embassy or consulate, before travel.

Source: gov.uk (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa required

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-14

Distance8,713 km, straight line (~10h 45m nonstop)

Visa-free access to United Kingdom114 of 228 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? United Kingdom passport holders visiting Sri Lanka: eTA.

Visa-free alternatives near United Kingdom

Sri Lanka passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for Sri Lanka passport holders

See all Sri Lanka destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Sri Lanka passport holders need a visa for United Kingdom?

Yes. Sri Lanka passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to United Kingdom.

How far is United Kingdom from Sri Lanka?

About 8,713 km in a straight line, roughly ~10h 45m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in United Kingdom?

British pound (GBP).

What is the emergency number in United Kingdom?

112 / 999.

What time zone is United Kingdom in?

London (UTC+1).

What is the nearest airport to London?

London City Airport (LCY), about 13 km away.

How many countries can enter United Kingdom without a visa?

114 of the 228 nationalities this site tracks can enter United Kingdom visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can Sri Lanka passport holders visit without a visa instead of United Kingdom?

Andorra, San Marino.

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 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.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Anuradhapura
Atamasthana
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Dambulla cave temple
Kandy
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Polonnaruwa
Sigiriya
Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Full source list on About.

About United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a population of over 69 million in 2024. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles, covering 94,354 square miles (244,376 km2). It shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea, while maintaining sovereignty over the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. The capital and largest city of England and the UK is London; Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are the national capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

CapitalLondon

RegionNorthern Europe

Population69.5M

Area242,900 km²

CurrencyBritish pound (1 USD ≈ 0.75 GBP)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+44

Drives on theleft

TimezoneLondon (UTC+1)

Nearest airportLondon City Airport (LCY), 13 km

Emergency number112 / 999

UNESCO sites37

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$57,602 (2025)

Tourist arrivals11.1M (2020)

Climate in London

Warmest August, coolest December, driest May, sunniest May.

Monthly climate normals for London, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	9.4°C	3.9°C	59mm	127h
February	10.2°C	3.8°C	103mm	157h
March	10.7°C	3.2°C	45mm	229h
April	16.6°C	5.7°C	34mm	323h
May	19.1°C	7.9°C	5mm	397h
June	20.5°C	11.6°C	80mm	324h
July	21.7°C	13°C	47mm	320h
August	23.5°C	15.4°C	74mm	313h
September	20°C	11.2°C	25mm	266h
October	14.1°C	8.4°C	159mm	169h
November	12.3°C	6.1°C	48mm	141h
December	8.1°C	3.1°C	85mm	117h

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

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy comprising most of the British Isles. It is a union of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each of which has something unique and exciting for visitors.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape
Blenheim Palace
Buildings and architecture of Bath
Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
Derwent Valley Mills
Durham Castle and Cathedral
Flow Country
Forth Bridge

Upcoming public holidays

November 30, 2026Saint Andrew's Day

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 28, 2026Boxing Day

Full source list on About.