Due to the temporary suspension of the electronic visa system (e-Visa), visitors to Sri Lanka must now apply for a visa upon arrival; Nigerians, on the other hand, must submit their applications in person at the Department of Immigration’s headquarters.
The online application method, which was discontinued on August 2, 2024, has been replaced by this procedure.
The suspension of the e-visa system prevents Nigerians who intend to travel to Sri Lanka from obtaining a visa at the airport.
Instead, they must submit their visa applications through a representative at the Department of Immigration’s headquarters.
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The suspension follows an interim order from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, which invalidated the agreement under which VFS Global the company managing the e-Visa system and its partners managed the e-Visa system. Consequently, the e-Visa portal, https://www.srilankaevisa.lk/ has been taken offline.
VFS Global stated that it had “been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today pertaining to the agreement under which this platform is operated. In view of these orders, the website is suspended effective 2 August at 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time”.
VFS Global has also announced that applicants who submitted their applications after the suspension will receive refunds.
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“for applicants, whose visa applications is under process, in case you have applied on 2 August after 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time you will receive a refund. Please share your application reference number to travel.partner@srilankaevisa.lk” they stated
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka also ordered the reinstatement of the previously used ETA portal, which was operated by Mobitel, a Sri Lankan telecommunications company.
Other countries that cannot obtain a visa upon arrival at Sri Lankan airports and must ensure they have a visa before their arrival are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria,
