From today – 1 March – fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to take a pre-departure Covid PCR or Rapid Antigen test to enter Sri Lanka.
The announcement – which came just a few days ago (27 Feb) from the nation’s Ministry of Health – explained that individuals, who have received their full vaccination against Covid-19, can now arrive into the country without having to present a negative Covid test result.
And, the news is sure to be welcomed by those who are looking to visit the stunningly-beautiful country of Sri Lanka – which is situated in the southern region of Asia – with there now being one less requirement to undertake prior to traveling.
What are the current entry requirements for fully vaccinated visitors entering Sri Lanka?
Although there is no longer a need to take a pre-departure Covid test before arriving into Sri Lanka, there are a number of other entry requirements that fully vaccinated travelers will need to adhere to. These include:
- purchasing Covid-19 travel insurance – which is a mandatory requirement for all visitors. It is important to note, however, that if you do already have full insurance cover – which specifically covers you for Covid-19 – then you do not need to purchase additional Covid-19 travel insurance
- showing official proof of your Covid-19 vaccine record – to be considered as ‘fully vaccinated’ you must have received the second dose of your vaccine no sooner than 14 days before your departure to the country
- completing an online pre-travel health registration form – which can be found here
- applying for a tourist visa before your arrival – which can be done using Sri Lanka’s Electronic Travel Authorization System.
Who is considered fully vaccinated?
The Sri Lankan authorities consider an individual to be fully vaccinated if they have received the second dose of their vaccine against Covid-19 no earlier than 14 days before their planned arrival into the country.
Also, any individual who has received an approved one-dose vaccine will also be considered as being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
For individuals aged 12-18 – who have received at least one dose of a recognised vaccine – are also considered as being fully vaccinated by the Sri Lankan authorities.
However, their single dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to them traveling to the country.
Can you enter Sri Lanka if you are unvaccinated?
Yes, you can enter Sri Lanka for tourism purposes if you are unvacinnated, or ‘not-fully vaccinated’ – these are individuals that completed their vaccination against Covid-19 less than two weeks before their departure to Sri Lanka. However, you will have to adhere to the above entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers, as well as:
- present a negative PCR test result (taken within the previous 72 hours before departure) or a negative Rapid Antigen test (taken no longer than 48 hours before departure) on arrival into the country
- present your vaccination record – this is only applicable for those that are considered ‘not-fully vaccinated’
- undergo a PCR test upon arrival into the country
- a pre-confirmed booking at a level 1 ‘safe and secure certified’ hotel of up to 8 days – the number of days, however, is dependent upon your vaccination status
- stay in either a ‘Flexible bio-bubble’ or ‘Tourism Bio Bubble’ – which is dependent on whether the individual is ‘not-fully’ or ‘not-at-all’ vaccinated against Covid-19
- undergo an ‘Exit’ PCR test on the final day of your ‘Tourism Bio Bubble’.
It is important to note that children under the age of 12 are exempt from any Covid PCR or Rapid Antigen testing.
Sri Lanka joins other tourist hotspots in Asia – including the likes of Thailand and Bali – who have recently made changes to their entry requirements with the hopes of attracting tourists.
