Is there an error on your granted ETA for Sri Lanka, or do you want to submit a new application while you still have a pending application? If you submit multiple applications with the same passport within a period of six months, you will probably get an error message. Continue reading to find out how you can still travel in this case.

New e-visa required for travel with a new passport

Did you recently apply for a Sri Lanka visa through this website or another provider, or have you been granted a visa within the last six months which is no longer valid at the time of your trip? In that case you cannot just apply for a new visa with the same passport, even if you meet all the requirements. A new visa application with the same passport details can only be submitted when the validity period of your current ETA Sri Lanka has expired.

New application with the same passport often not possible

If you want to re-apply for a Sri Lanka visa, because you made a mistake in your previous visa application, you cannot just do so. e-Visa.ie has seen that a second visa application that is submitted with the same passport details as the previous application is often blocked by the Sri Lanka immigration service. Except for errors caused by an incorrectly entered passport number, a new application cannot be used to correct any mistakes. Not even if the previous application has not yet been processed and the previously applied for visa has not yet been granted.

In addition, it is also not possible to apply for a new visa if the current ETA is no longer valid long enough for your next trip, but the validity period has not yet expired at the moment you want to apply for a new ETA. Only when the validity of the previous ETA has expired, you can apply for a new ETA Sri Lanka with the same passport details.

Error message: “This traveller already has a visa”

Generally, immigration services frequently do not indicate why a visa application is rejected. However, if an application is blocked because it was submitted with passport details that were already used for another application, you will be notified. In this case, because an application with the same passport details already exists, the application cannot be processed by the Sri Lanka immigration service. In many cases, the application can be submitted, but cannot be processed. When applying through this website, you get the following error message: “The application could not be processed because this traveller already has a visa or a pending visa application.”

For example, you may receive the above error message if you have previously applied for a visa or have started with another provider and then attempt to apply for the visa through this website. In this case, you submit your application by completing it on the website you initially started it. The visa specialists at e-Visa.ie cannot support you in this situation in case of problems regarding completing the previous application.

Travel with new passport and e-visa

To solve this problem, although it is not necessary in all cases, you can apply for a new passport and re-apply for the ETA in the usual way. Once this new application is approved, you can travel with your new passport and the new e-visa that is linked to the passport number of this new passport. This applies as long as you continue to meet all other requirements.

However, you can also choose to still travel with the visa you already have. Usually, you can have your visa corrected upon arrival at the airport in Colombo. If you want to make sure you can travel without any problems before departure, contact the Sri Lanka Embassy.

Passport validity

If you have a valid visa, you also need to keep in mind that your passport has to be valid for six more months upon arrival in Sri Lanka. By the way, it is permitted to use the visa a second time within a period of 30 days after your first arrival. In this case, even when you arrive in Sri Lanka for the second time, your passport has to be valid for six more months.

Re-apply for the ETA Sri Lanka

Do you need a new Sri Lanka visa? Only re-apply for an ETA if you have not been granted an ETA in the past six months, and you have not already applied for a Sri Lanka visa in the past five days or started a visa application (regardless of the visa type).

Please note: this news article about the visa for Sri Lanka is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for Sri Lanka.