Do UK citizens need a visa?
Yes — you need an ETA before travel. For British tourists the 30-day tourist ETA is free.
Add your travel date and we'll tell you exactly how much to panic, based on typical processing times.
ETA/ESTA usually approved within a few days.
Book a travel clinic appointment 6–8 weeks before you fly.
Required only if you're travelling from — or transiting through — a country with active transmission.
Certificate required if arriving from (or transiting) a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Not required for entry — advised by NHS / CDC for most travellers.
Recommended — food & water borne.
Recommended, especially for longer stays or rural travel.
Consider for rural stays, especially in monsoon season.
Consider for rural travel, cyclists, and long trips.
Which countries require the certificate, timing, cost, and the 10-day validity rule.
Not medical advice. Always confirm with your GP, travel nurse, or a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre — requirements change and can vary based on where you're arriving from.
Sri Lanka requires all foreign nationals to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel. Under a notice effective 25 May 2026, British passport holders get a free 30-day tourist ETA, with double entry allowed within 30 days of first arrival. An ETA is not a guarantee of entry, and we don't estimate approval times.
For UK British Citizen passport holders, tourism or short business trips.
| Passport | UK British Citizen passport |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Tourism (other purposes, including business, have separate rules — check the official ETA/visa authority) |
| Visa required | Yes — ETA/ESTA |
| Maximum stay | Up to 30 days on a free tourist ETA (double entry within 30 days of first arrival) |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months beyond entry |
| Return/onward ticket | If arriving by air: round-trip ticket to show at the port of entry (official ETA Terms, read 13 Oct 2026). You can get the ETA before booking a ticket (official ETA FAQ, read 13 Oct 2026). |
| Arrival form | Arrival card: Sri Lanka Immigration lists issuing immigration/emigration forms to be completed by passengers at ports (official Immigration "Tasks" page, read 13 Oct 2026). Airport and Aviation Services announced on 2 Jan 2023 a facility for foreign air passengers to fill in arrival cards online three days prior to travel; this is a historical online facility notice, not a current online mandate, and the linked online service could not be opened on 13 Oct 2026, so the current method is not verified. Confirm how to complete your arrival card before travel. The arrival card is separate from your ETA. |
| Last checked | 28 June 2026 |
What an Electronic Travel Authorisation actually is, why every country wants one, and how to spot the scam sites.
Full border-enforcement rules for the Yellow Fever certificate, including transit-country traps that catch Sri Lanka travellers out.
Not border-enforced, but genuinely recommended for rural or long stays. Here's when it's worth it.
No, UK citizens do not need a visa to visit Japan for short tourism or business trips (Up to 90 days).
Read the dossierNo, UK citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days for tourism or business. Longer stays need the appropriate visa, such as the 90-day eVisa.
Read the dossierYes, UK citizens need an eVisa to visit India for short tourism trips (Typically up to 30, 90 or 180 days depending on eVisa type).
Read the dossierHuman-checked
Every dossier is written from official government sources, then re-checked on 28 Jun 2026.
Auto-monitored
An hourly job re-scans official sources for changes. Anything fishy triggers a manual review.
Not legal advice
Always cross-check with the linked official source before you book. Read our methodology and disclaimer.