How To Apply for an Indian Visa in Sri Lanka

If you are planning to visit India while you travel in Asia or if you want to return to India after your tourist visa expires then one good location from where you can apply for a new Indian Visa is Sri Lanka. It's very close to south India, the visa process is smooth and the staff working at the Indian Visa Application Centres are very friendly and polite.

Applying for a new visa can be an intimidating and stressful process but the first time that I applied for an Indian visa in Colombo the woman at the desk received me with a warm greeting saying "hello, good morning, are you enjoying your holidays in Sri Lanka?" That would never happen in Nepal! They are not always that friendly but still very polite.

Where to apply for an Indian visa in Sri Lanka

According to the High Commission of India website, there are four different Indian missions from where you can apply for a new Indian visa: Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and at the Consular Section of the Consulate General of India in Hambantota.

So you can choose your location according to your travel plans.

I have applied many times for a tourist Indian visa in Colombo and one time I came along with a friend when she applied for her tourist visa in Kandy.

The process is always the same and it is smooth and easy. I can recommend either location.

If you want some tips about where to stay in Colombo you can read Sri Lanka Travel Tips: From India to Sri Lanka and Back.

How to apply for an Indian visa in Sri Lanka

1. Choose the Indian mission (location) where you will be submitting your application. You will need to know this in advance before filling up your application
2. Fill up the online Indian Visa Application Form (click the link at the bottom of the page). For “port of entry” and “port of departure” make sure you type “ALL PORTS.” If you type one specific port like let's say "Chennai" it will have to be the same for both, entry and departure, and it will be mentioned in your visa. That might be a problem if you decide to enter or depart from a different port.
3. Prepare your application file with the application form and all the other documents required according to the hcicolombo.org and ivsvisalanka.com websites.
4. Submit the application at the Indian Visa Application Centre.
5. After submitting your application the staff at the IVAC will ask you to return in seven days (they will give you the exact date and time) to submit your passport. You'll be able to collect the passport the same day or the next day in the afternoon.

And that's it. Pretty straight forward, isn't it?

If you are not sure how to fill up the form you can find right outside the IVAC in Colombo and in Kandy small shops where they can help you prepare all your papers and forms for a small fee. About 300 SL rupees.

Where are the Indian visa application centers located

The IVAC is not the embassy but a third party company that provides the service to the High Commission of India. Only if there is a problem with your application you might need to go for an interview to the High Commission of India in Colombo. These are the addresses of the IVACs in Sri Lanka.

Colombo
No 129,
Philip Gunawardena Mawatha
Colombo 4
Tel: +94 11 255 9435 +94 11 255 9436 +94 11 255 9442
Email: infocolombo@ivsglobal.in

Jaffna
No 145,
Temple Road,
Jaffna.
Tel: +94 21 221 7151
Email: infojaffna@ivsglobal.in

Kandy
No. 675,
William Gopallawa Mawatha,
Kandy.
Tel: +94 81 223 7999
Email: infokandy@ivsglobal.in

Hambantota (No IVAC)
Consular Section,
Consulate General of India,
No 107B, New Road,
Hambantota
Tel: +94 47 222 2500 +94 47 222 2502
E-mail: cg.hambantota@mea.gov.in
Website: http://cgihambantota.com/

Indian visa application centre opening hours

Open on working days: Monday to Friday except for public holidays

• Application submission time: 08:30 – 14:00 hrs
• Passport/document collection time: 16:30 – 17:30 hrs

Where to stay in Colombo

For tips about visiting Sri Lanka, where to stay while you apply for your Indian visa and which places to visit in Sri Lanka while you wait for your visa you can read, Sri Lanka Travel Tips: From India to Sri Lanka and Back.

Yes, you do need an onward ticket

Before leaving Sri Lanka, make sure to buy an onward flight ticket for your departure date out of India.

They normally don't ask for a flight ticket when you apply for the Indian Visa, but for some reason, they ask for it at the check-in counters before boarding the flight.

I have discussed this several times with the clerks at the check-in counters. What they have told me is that this is a requirement only if you have a three months single entry visa but still they always ask for it.

You can use this as an argument in case you don't want to buy a flight ticket.

The first time I was flying from Sri Lanka to India I had a six months multiple entry Indian visa and they didn't want to let me board the flight. I had to go out of the airport, buy a flight ticket at the last minute and do the check-in again.

With Sri Lankan airlines, however, you can get a “pay later” ticket.

Go to www.srilankan.com, choose a flight, follow the booking steps and just when you get to the payment section you'll get the option to choose “pay later.” You'll need to confirm your ticket within 48 hours if you really want it. No need to type in your credit card details.

Depending on the port of entry in India you might also get ask proof of your onward travel.  Last time I arrived in Bangalore (Sep 2018) immigration asked me to show them a ticket. 

What to do while you wait for your Indian visa?

Sri Lanka is a really beautiful country and it is very easy to travel around.   I have included some options of places to visit in my Sri Lanka Travel Tips.

While you are waiting for your visa you could also take the opportunity to do some yoga.

There are many excellent yoga retreats in Sri Lanka.  You can visit my curated list of some of the best yoga retreats right here, 7 Unique Yoga Retreats in Sri Lanka for Every Budget.


I hope you'll find this post helpful to know how to apply for an Indian visa in Sri Lanka. Please be aware that regulations and processes changes with time so this information might not always be accurate.

For any questions about the Indian Visa process in Sri Lanka, you can visit the High Commission of India Visa FAQ. Please feel free to share your experience after applying for your new Indian visa in the comment section below.