Sri Lanka to overhaul visa issuance process

8 May 2024 06:15 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 36 Bookmark

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- VFS no longer issuing on-arrival visas at BIA

- E-Visa system operated by VFS

In the wake of perplexities surrounding the issuance of the on-arrival visa issuance at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Government is mulling to overhaul the visa issuance process, Daily Mirror learns.

To fulfill this requirement, a cabinet paper is to be submitted at the next cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, government sources confirmed that VFS Global has temporarily ceased operations at the BIA counter.

Nevertheless, there has been a request from the government of Sri Lanka to take over the on-arrival visa issuance, which VFS Global has refused.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya said the entire process pertaining to the issuance of on-arrival visa issuance at the BIA is solely handled by the Immigration officials.

However, VFS Global handles the e-Visa documentation process, with final approval granted by immigration department officials.

When applying for visas via e-Visa, the minimum fee starts from $18.5 and the total fee varies depending on the taxes and the visa type, i.e tourist visa, business visa and transit visa.

In addition, the Cabinet earlier decided to uphold the existing visa fee of USD 50 for a 30-day visa for foreign visitors to Sri Lanka while the double-entry six-month visa is priced at USD 75.

Comments - 36

Joshua Wednesday, 08 May 2024 06:30 AM

There is nothing to overhaul. The situ was brought about by tiran by bringing VFS without following due processes. Of course we know how SLPP morons work

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Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 08 May 2024 09:35 AM

Tiran is Ranil's man. Please do not forget that the previous eVisa system was Gotabhaya idea which he implemented with local resources. It worked fine for over 15 years and suddenly Ranil's man made a underhand deal.

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Rani Wednesday, 08 May 2024 03:41 PM

Called fatting their wallets ! SL ministers and MPs are rich because of this. Commission central.

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Jude Wednesday, 08 May 2024 06:37 AM

Lankan politicians had training on how to mess up any process!!

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Mila Wednesday, 08 May 2024 06:56 AM

Everything was going OK, but now they suddenly decided to allow Indians to do things with our visa. No Indian should do anything in this visa process. Just bring back the old way of applying for visas. There are many tourists that have cancelled, and I also don't feel like coming to Sri Lanka if these Indians are doing our visa. People in the government should do what people want and not that they want. Sri Lankans should not allow these people to do these unwanted things. I can't believe how anyone wants Indian people to do anything with our visa because this is not their country. Are these Indians also not ashamed to do visas for countries that are not theirs?

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L Wednesday, 08 May 2024 06:59 AM

We should be grateful to this young guy who exposed the process which government has implemented with no transparency. If VFS continues to handle the documentation of the applicants, where is the privacy of the people who arrive in SL. VFS could sell all the information and do business while assessing the visitor behaviour for example, promotional activities by third parties. This is a serious concern divulging the information. Since SL has no rules or governance this could be works out to crimes. Tiran A, talks like an expert in this area. He should be bumped off from all his ministerial portfolios.

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Lawry Wednesday, 08 May 2024 06:59 AM

I once tried to figure our how to use VFS for a visa to Canada. It looks like they wilfully send you round in circles. I could not even reach the online application form. I am not new to the internet. Complicated on purpose??

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Mila Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:05 AM

Visas should only be done by Sri Lankans and not by outsiders. We need a new law that forbids outsiders from doing visa processing. I came every year to Sri Lanka without any problems. Applying for a visa was easy and not expensive. Now, when you call, you can hear an Indian person on the phone. I feel shocked to hear Indians talk about my visa. I want a Sri Lankan person on the phone, not Indians. Please stop this madness. Just because other countries use Indians, we don't need to follow what they do. This is so wrong.

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Sri Lankan IT people not able to online e-visa system Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:24 AM

VFS global makes Sri Lankan people capability look weak. There is plenty of e-commerce site in Sri Lanka, and if just collecting document there is plenty of IT in department of immigration who can do it, and massive amount of IT people outside. Why VFS global given the IT work?

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wsw Thursday, 09 May 2024 06:14 AM

One word, commissions !!

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Sambo Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:47 AM

Whatever happens in this country is for someones benefit.

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Athk69 Wednesday, 08 May 2024 07:56 AM

The current cabinet must learn from the mistakes made by former president. I.e. the effects of stubbornly sticking to the ban of pesticides and going fully organic crippled the agricultural industry - effects are still felt. Similar outcome can happen to the Tourist industry. No point in admitting a mistake in hindsight.

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WAKE UP PEOPLE WE NEED A GOVERNMENT WHO WILL WIPE OUT THE SCUMBAGS WE HAVE WHO WORK FOR THEMSELVES/STOOGES NOT US THE POEPLE Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:03 AM

FEE STARTS AT $18.50!!! MEANS FOR $50 NAD $75 SOMEONES NEST IS BEING FEATHERED. WE HAVE TOO MANY INEFFICIENT, CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS RUNNING DECISION MAKING WHILE THE FOX IS ABOUT TO LOSE HIS RACE.

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Nihal S Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:09 AM

Thank you that gentleman who made a big noise at the airport. Tiran Alas has to back down. You are spending tax payers money. What was the commission?

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Yohan Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:18 AM

Why vfs needed fir online visa when mobitel offered a proposal with just $1 per applicant. TA seems to still trying hard to rob the foreigners. He has misled the cabinet, parliament and now the general public with fake statements. RW should sack him or opposition should take this scammer to courts. If not for that brave youth this would be a hidden scam by Tiran Scammer.

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Steve Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:22 AM

Another case for the Pandora Papers.

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Yohan Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:22 AM

Look at malaysia visa process. E visa is smoothly functioning. Why do we need a Indian Scam company to handle evisa when we can do it easily.

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Just Another Citizen Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:26 AM

They need to overhaul many things, including the drop off and pick up points

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Dreaming of a better Sri Lanka Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:35 AM

What a bunch of incompetent clowns we have as politicians. Hope to see a major overhaul soon.

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Gamini Wijesuriya Wednesday, 08 May 2024 09:49 AM

Controller General says minimum fee starts at $18.50. What he has not clarified is that this fee is the handling fee for VFS Consortium, applicable for the Countries for which the Government has granted free entry. For others, 30 day visa will cost $50 plus the VFS handling fee of $18.50.

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Ram Wednesday, 08 May 2024 09:54 AM

Hats off to the man who represented this Visa saga, we need people like him on every aspect when this government does anything incorrectly. If Tiran says the cabinet has already approved this proposal, then this cabinet is not fit to continue. Election must be conducted soon.

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Nimal Wednesday, 08 May 2024 10:18 AM

Everything was functioning smoothly until this scoundrel, driven by greed, made a real mess of it.

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Harin the best womenizer Wednesday, 08 May 2024 10:20 AM

Consequences of appointing ponna harin Fernando.

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Latley Gunasekera Wednesday, 08 May 2024 10:24 AM

Side effects of this scandal. My retired brother in law ( I am married to Swiss lady since 1985) with his friends ( 5 pax) about to come to Sri Lanka in June , after seeing this visa footage has changed their destination to Bali. I am sure they are not the only ones .

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Mandayan Wednesday, 08 May 2024 02:02 PM

Many booked to India now from the west, visa is cheaper now!

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Driver Man Wednesday, 08 May 2024 11:54 AM

The minister responsible also has to be overhauled.

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anti Indian sentiments Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:00 PM

VFS Global is not an Indian company but a Singaporean company whiich has employed some of their citizens of Indian origin to work at the Katunayake Airport on a request made by the Goverment of Sri Lanka. By carrying on like this you are not ony insulting the great country of Singapore but also the wider community of indians all over the world. The CEO's of the major companies like Micrisoft IBM Google Adobe and infosys are all Indians and the Headquarters of Microsoft and the Silicon Valley are both based in india. india is an emerging super power and has the fastest growing economy in the world. How about you ?

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wsw Thursday, 09 May 2024 06:12 AM

Fastest growing economy only on paper. When you visit the joint, it still resembles a cesspit regardless, quite a contrast to China, where stated growth actually reflects on the nation's lifestyle and its obvious prosperity. As for our country, we may have dragged ourselves down due to multiple reasons including the setback we faced from the Indian sponsored Terror campaign, but I assure you most Sri Lankans still enjoy a better lifestyle comparative to India overall. At least our people are civilized enough to refrain from defecating on the streets unlike the hoards living in abject poverty in India. Your global CEOs you gloat about have hardly made a difference to these sorry souls.

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AGR Silva Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:10 PM

Earlier kids under 12 yrs were exempted from visa payment encouraging family tourism. Do the parents have to now pay for their kids?

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navaratna bandara willamune Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:31 PM

pathetic, why change when making profits ,brining in foreign exchange and well handled by SL tech no how.Teran A must be benifitting .no other explanation

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Jock Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:32 PM

Too late. We will be going elsewhere. Corrupt greedy little island. Stick your palm trees where the sun don't shine.

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Ram Wednesday, 08 May 2024 12:54 PM

In February I returned from overseas and waited for almost a hour to clear immigration with only 2 counters working. They know the crowded hours and must engage more staff. I saw the queue for visa on arrival. That was long and passengers had to wait for more than a hour

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wsw Thursday, 09 May 2024 06:15 AM

I agree, these guys seem to be quite lazy to perform the duties they have been paid to do.

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A Pohottu Supporter Wednesday, 08 May 2024 01:37 PM

What is important is not to overhaul the Visa Issuance Process but to remove foreign Visa Companies and local greedy Ministers from the Visa Process.

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Rip Winkle Wednesday, 08 May 2024 08:33 PM

The visa system system was working just fine until it was messed by Alles' greedy fingers.

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Arveen Singh Thursday, 09 May 2024 02:07 PM

Just visited sri Lanka last 2weeks tourist visa cost too much 90.00 Australia then taxi drivers tried to rob me with unreal fares everywhere they rob if they get a chance

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