COVID19 Guideline
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Covid-19 Guidelines
for Tourist to Visit Sri Lanka
Key Point to Note – Safe Travel – Amazing Sri Lanka
No minimum number of days is required for a stay
All facilities of the hotel would be made available to the guests
No restrictive quarantine required
Tourists can visit approved tourist sites under the safety of a bio-bubble
Tourists must stay at a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel for up to 13 nights/14 days of their stay.
Pay for PCR Tests (40 USD per PCR test depending on the number of days of the stay) when applying for visa online and for insurance (12 USD) with one month cover of 50,000 USD.
Currently no exceptions would be made for vaccinations taken; all safety protocols should be adhered to regardless
Covid-19 Guidelines for Tourist to Visit Sri Lanka (Updated on 02nd February 2021 by SLTDA)
- Travelers should undergo a PCR test from an accredited laboratory and obtain a negative result, approximately 96 hours before their flight.
- A Health Declaration Form (HDF) should also be submitted prior to boarding, on-board the flight or upon arrival.
- No minimum number of days is required for a stay.
- No restrictive quarantine required.
- Children under 12 years of age, visiting Sri Lanka under the tourism route will be exempted from PCR testing. However, if the child indicated symptomatic or identified as a first contact of a known patient, they will be required to undergo a PCR test.
- The on-arrival PCR test; pre-purchased by the guest upon application of their visa; should be carried out prior to check-in; and arranged for by the hotel with a private sector laboratory approved by the Ministry of Health. Movements of the guests should be restricted to the minimum until the on arrival PCR test result is negative.
- The second PCR test should be conducted 5-7 days after the guest’s arrival at the hotel; should the stay exceed 14 days, an additional (third) PCR test would be carried out between the 10th and 14th day of arrival.
- Tourists must stay at a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel for up to 13 nights/14 days of their stay.
- Currently no exceptions would be made for vaccinations taken; all safety protocols should be adhered to regardless.
- All facilities of the hotel would be made available to the guests.
- Tourists can visit approved tourist sites under the safety of a bio-bubble.
- The Passport No. would be considered as the reference number for the tourist’s identification to ensure traceability of reports and payments.
- Arrival of tourists would be decided by the testing capacity of the private laboratories as determined by the Ministry of Health and Minister of Tourism jointly. All visas must be applied online through the Immigration.
- ETA portal (eta.gov.lk). Prior to applying for visa, travelers are required to pre-purchase PCR tests and a mandatory COVID-19 Insurance Cover using tourism channels (pay to your Level 1 hotel or safe and secure certified travel agent) and upon payment traveler’s will be issued a unique tourism reference number which needs to be used in the ETA portal when processing the visa (visit srilanka.travel/hello again for more information).
- Pre-purchase PCR tests depending on the number of days of stay as deemed by the Ministry of Health. The cost per PCR test will be USD 40. (eg: On arrival PCR testing is mandatory. If a traveler stays for 4 nights/5 days or less pay for 1 PCR test, If the stay is more than 5 days yet less than 13 nights/14 days, pay for 2 PCR tests, If the stay is 14 days or more, pay for 3 PCR tests.
- Purchase the mandatory COVID-19 Insurance Cover from People’s Insurance PLC at USD 12 for a policy of USD 50,000 for a period of one month.
- Upon issuing a visa, the details of the international traveler would be sent to the area Medical Officer of Health; and be updated accordingly until their arrival at the respective hotel.
Hotel Bookings & Using Hotel Facilities
- All bookings to be made with a Level 1 certified ‘Safe & Secure’ hotel for the initial period of up to 13 nights/14 days.
- Tourists are allowed to stay any number of days with no minimum requirement, provided they continue their stay at a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ (pre-booked) hotel for up to 13 nights/14 days.
- All certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotels would have a unique QR code displayed so that the tourist may provide feedback on the health protocols observed.
- Hotels will ensure effective access control measures are in place, in and around the hotel.
- Use of common areas such as the spa and pool could be permitted, subject to strict adherence to the general health guidelines, including social distancing.
- Tourists are not permitted to move outside the hotel for a period of up to 13 nights/14 days; except for approved tourist sites by the COVID Taskforce; in consultation with the Ministry of Health under a bio-security bubble (provided the on-arrival PCR test is a negative result).
- After the initial 13 night/ 14 day stay at a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel, the tourist is then permitted to leave their accommodation and interact with the community; provided the PCR test results are negative; including moving to any accommodation of their choice.
Visiting Tourist Sites
- Arrangements have been made to visit permitted sites on a daily basis; in a bio-safety bubble; with specific timeslots allocated for tourists.
- Any special arrangements including stops for meals, lavatory breaks or any other stops, must be indicated in the itinerary and should be done in consultation with the local health authorities of the specific areas in which the stops are planned.
- Permission for the tourist sites has been granted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority in consultation with the Ministry of Health, COVID Taskforce and the relevant local health authorities.
- Itinerary should be shared in advance with the local health authority of the tourist site and the agencies managing the site, through the SLTDA.
