SwitzerlandSri Lanka: eTA

SwitzerlandSri Lanka

Do Switzerland passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka?

eTA

Switzerland 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 of2026-10-19

Distance8,114 km, straight line (~10h 3m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Sri Lanka242 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Sri Lanka passport holders visiting Switzerland: Visa required.

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

Other visa-free destinations for Switzerland passport holders

See all Switzerland destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Switzerland passport holders need a visa for Sri Lanka?

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

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

Up to 30 days, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is Sri Lanka from Switzerland?

About 8,114 km in a straight line, roughly ~10h 3m 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 Switzerland?

Sri Lanka drives on the left, the opposite side to Switzerland. 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 Switzerland

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the intersection of Central, Western, and Southern Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, and Italy to the south. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura Mountains; the Alps cover most of the country's territory, whereas the majority of its 9 million people are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts many of the largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Winterthur, and Lucerne.

CapitalBern

RegionWestern Europe

Population9.1M

Area41,284 km²

CurrencySwiss franc (1 USD ≈ 0.82 CHF)

LanguagesFrench, Swiss German, Italian, Romansh

Calling code+41

Drives on theright

TimezoneZurich (UTC+2)

Nearest airportBern Airport (BRN), 5 km

Emergency number112 / 117 / 118 / 140 / 1414 / 144 / 145

UNESCO sites14

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$114,769 (2025)

Tourist arrivals11.8M (2019)

Climate in Bern

Warmest August, coolest January, driest January, sunniest July. Best time to visit: July.

Monthly climate normals for Bern, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	5.5°C	-2.5°C	35mm	221h
February	9.6°C	0.9°C	114mm	185h
March	9.6°C	0°C	68mm	270h
April	17.2°C	5.1°C	40mm	345h
May	17.7°C	7.2°C	94mm	330h
June	19.9°C	11.3°C	177mm	305h
July	23.9°C	14°C	79mm	385h
August	24.1°C	14.2°C	131mm	320h
September	20.2°C	10.7°C	53mm	299h
October	12.5°C	5.2°C	183mm	191h
November	8.9°C	1.1°C	40mm	205h
December	4.2°C	-1.5°C	122mm	128h

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

Switzerland is a mountainous country known globally for its neutrality, democracy, and almost-legendary affluence: Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and prices to match.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Abbey of Saint Gall
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Glarus thrust
Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area
La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning
Lavaux
Monte San Giorgio
Monte San Giorgio site fossils
Old City of Bern
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Allerheiligen

December 8, 2026Mariä Empfängnis

December 25, 2026Weihnachten

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 ≈ 330.89 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	23.1°C	20mm	351h
February	32.2°C	24°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	25.8°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	25.3°C	209mm	303h
September	27.9°C	24.6°C	387mm	209h
October	28.7°C	25°C	109mm	328h
November	29.3°C	23.8°C	374mm	250h
December	28.8°C	23°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.