Sri Lanka ETA for Bulgarian Citizens

Bulgarian passport holders planning a Sri Lanka holiday

Bulgarian ordinary passport holders can apply online for an eligible short Sri Lanka Tourist ETA. The complete application price displayed through this website is $99. Use the same Bulgarian passport in the application, airline booking and at the border. A holiday, family visit and sightseeing itinerary should not be mixed with employment, study or a commercial assignment.

A Bulgarian citizen living elsewhere in the European Union still selects Bulgaria when travelling with a Bulgarian passport. Residence and departure airport belong in separate fields. Dual nationals should choose the passport they will actually present before submitting any identity information.

Cyrillic names and the passport's Latin version

Bulgarian everyday records may show a name in Cyrillic, while the passport includes the Latin form used internationally. Copy the passport version into the application. Do not create your own transliteration or combine a Cyrillic spelling from one document with a Latin surname taken from an old ticket.

Check surname, given names and patronymic details against the labelled passport fields. Airline accounts can contain shortened names or a previous surname. Compare the ticket, passport and final form before payment. Verify the passport number, birth date and expiry date separately.

Prepare the Bulgarian travel file

• Current Bulgarian passport intended for the trip.
• Clear identity-page image and requested photograph.
• Final arrival date after all connections.
• First Sri Lankan hotel or host address.
• Reachable email and telephone contact.
• Onward booking and a suitable payment method.

Calculate passport validity from arrival and review the current entry conditions. If renewal is due, resolve it before applying with the old number. Keep an offline copy of the approval and accommodation details, and protect unredacted passport images from public sharing.

A final review before submission

1. Select Bulgaria for a Bulgarian passport.
2. Confirm the tourist purpose matches the journey.
3. Use the Latin identity record printed in the passport.
4. Enter the real arrival and first accommodation.
5. Review the product and complete $99 amount.
6. Save the reference and inspect the issued decision.

Payment confirmation and approval are different records. If a card attempt is interrupted, check the existing application and bank result before repeating it. One family member may pay for several travellers, but every passport and approval still needs its own check.

Sofia, Istanbul and regional departure options

Bulgarian travellers may connect from Sofia through Istanbul, Doha, Dubai or another hub, while some begin at a neighbouring country's airport. The departure location does not change Bulgarian nationality. Ask whether baggage is checked through and whether separate tickets require entry into the transit country.

An overnight connection can change the Sri Lankan arrival date. Compare the final itinerary with the submitted details after any schedule update. If ground transport is used to reach another airport, leave enough time for border, baggage and check-in delays.

Families and organised tours

For a group trip, save every application under the correct traveller's name and passport number. Similar family names can lead to attaching the wrong file. The lead passenger's receipt does not prove that every ETA has been issued. Each traveller should be able to access their own approval.

Use a genuine first accommodation address even when a tour includes several cities. If the organiser changes the first hotel, keep both the original application record and the updated booking. Read the approval conditions before departure.

Bulgarian travellers paying with a lev or euro card should check the complete USD amount shown at checkout and the bank's final result. Currency conversion belongs to the card issuer. Keep the transaction record apart from the ETA decision so a payment question is not mistaken for an approval.

Bulgarian applicant questions

Should I enter my name in Cyrillic?

Use the passport's international Latin identity form and the characters accepted by the application.

Can I depart from Istanbul?

Yes. Select Bulgaria when the passport used to enter Sri Lanka is Bulgarian.

What is the complete price?

The standard Tourist ETA application price shown here is $99.

Does payment guarantee the decision?

No. Sri Lankan authorities decide the application and admission.

Source review

Reviewed 18 September 2026 using the Sri Lanka ETA portal and Immigration Department. Check current requirements before travel.