Sri Lanka has doubled the fee for short-term travel visas from $50 to $100 as of April, prompting a debate over the rationale behind the increase.
The surge in visa expenses followed Sri Lanka’s shift from utilizing internal Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) to implementing an e-visa system managed by VFS Global, a visa processing company.
Tourism Minister Harin Fernando attributed the price surge to a “technical issue,” claiming that VFS Global failed to include the option for 30-day visas when it commenced visa processing operations on April 17.
In response, VFS Global stated that the introduction of visa categories was in accordance with directives from Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration (DI&E).
Both parties concurred that the $50 30-day travel visas were reinstated as of May 7. VFS Global confirmed in an email to CNBC that on this date, “the DI&E re-introduced the 30-day visa category for all nationalities.”
Another point of contention arose regarding VFS Global’s service fees. Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Public Security abandoned the ETA system due to concerns about frequent website hacking by scammers, according to Fernando. He emphasized the government’s aim to engage a globally reputable company, leading them to select VFS Global.
Despite VFS Global’s extensive international presence and government approvals, its fees drew criticism from various sectors of Sri Lanka’s travel industry. Allegations of corruption surfaced from Sri Lankan opposition leaders.
VFS Global clarified that service fee charges were determined based on factors such as engagement scope, application volume, and infrastructure costs. However, Fernando stated that these fees were substantially reduced for 30-day visas, with Sri Lanka’s government retaining $40 and VFS Global charging $10.
While citizens of seven countries are eligible for free visas to enter Sri Lanka, applicants are still required to pay VFS Global’s fees, as confirmed by Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s “free visa” policy differs from “visa-free” agreements enacted by many Asian countries in the past year, as visas remain obligatory under Sri Lanka’s policy.
Fernando revealed that Sri Lanka is contemplating the addition of 60 more countries to its “free visa” list. He emphasized that a government-appointed committee would make a decision within 30 days, ensuring the establishment of a comprehensive visa policy.
“We will definitely have a visa policy in place very soon,” Fernando affirmed.