SL Immigration handicapped in on-arrival visa processing

• Officials at the arrival lounge are struggling to verify passengers’ online visas previously submitted before the suspension of online visa processing
• The department has decided to issue only on-arrival visas. Online visa checks upon passenger arrival have not returned to normal

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The Department of Immigration and Emigration at the airport is facing a critical situation with visa checks for arriving passengers, mainly due to the lack of an active Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.   

A senior official from the department told the Daily Mirror that officials in the arrival lounge are struggling to verify passengers’ online visas previously submitted before suspension of online visa processing.   

 Some passengers reported difficulties with visa verification when boarding their flights.   

As a result, the department has decided to issue only on-arrival visas. Online visa checks upon passenger arrival have not returned to normal. However, on-arrival visas are not available for nationals of Afghanistan, Syria, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Myanmar.   

Charging for on-arrival visas at the airport poses additional challenges, as many foreign tourists have already paid for their visas through the VFS Global. Without issuing at least on-arrival visas, the department cannot allow passengers to enter the country, the official said.   

Several attempts made to contact the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration were unsuccessful.   

Currently, the department’s official website displays a notice about the suspension of the visa issuance system effective August 2 at 17:00 Sri Lanka Standard Time. Applicants whose visa applications were in process or submitted after this time will receive a refund and are requested to share their application reference number with [email protected].