Australians will no longer face the hassle or cost of obtaining a visa for trips to Sri Lanka as of 1 October 2024, until at least early 2025.

In a move intended to boost tourism and strengthen international relations, some 35 countries – including Australia – will be granted visa-free status for six months, although the Sri Lankan minister for foreign affairs described it as the first step towards a ‘visa-free regime.’

Sri Lanka currently charges US$50 for a tourist visa and US$75 for a business visa, with direct flights on flag carrier and Oneworld member SriLankan Airlines connecting the capital of Colombo with both Sydney and Melbourne.

Singapore Airlines is also a popular choice for travellers headed from Australia to Sri Lanka via Singapore.

Other countries on the visa-free list include New Zealand, India, China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada, the UAE, Qatar, and many EU members.

In other visa-related travel news, the EU now plans to roll out its online visa waiver system in the first half of 2025, while the United Kingdom’s own Electronic Travel Authorisation visa waiver scheme will apply to Australians by the end of this year.

The mandatory ETA will cost £10 (A$20), payable via credit or debit card at the time of your online application.