Planning a trip to Sri Lanka but feeling overwhelmed by the overload of information available? Worry not! We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know before your trip to Sri Lanka. We’ll provide insider tips on dining, accommodation, transportation, and suggest some handy apps to enhance your experience. Consider this your go-to resource for transforming your wanderlust into a well-prepared, memorable journey!
Everything you should know before your trip to Sri Lanka
1. Food and cuisine
2. Accommodation
3. Transportation
4. Local culture
5. Public holidays and festivals
6. Language and communication
7. Safety and health
8. Money and budgeting
9. Apps and technology
10. Sightseeing
11. Connectivity
12. Visa and entry requirements
1. Food and cuisine
Sri Lankan cuisine is famous for its rich blend of herbs, spices, rice, vegetables, and fruits, creating incredibly flavorful dishes. What amazed us was the abundance of vegetarian options! We hadn’t realized Sri Lanka was so vegetarian-friendly. The staple dish is steamed rice paired with a range of curries made from lentils, vegetables, or meat. However, there are numerous other delicious dishes to explore! But we’ll dive into those details later.
The first thing we noticed in Sri Lanka was the lack of street food stalls. Sure, we often bought samosas (more on them later) from bread trucks and local bakeries, and in Dickwella we discovered Roti Hut. However, we didn’t really find any food markets or things like that. We found standalone stalls on the side of the road now and then, but nothing that resembles the awesome street food culture from India or Thailand.
Another thing you should know is that Sri Lankans like their food spicy. If you want to make sure your food isn’t too hot, you should ask for “no chili”, rather than “not spicy”. The reasoning behind this is that restaurants don’t associate “spicy” with “hot food”, but with “flavor” (eg. “spices”).
And now, on to the good stuff: local dishes. Having been in Sri Lanka for 3 weeks, we can tell you that we tried a lot of delicious, local foods! We’ve curated a list of dishes you absolutely must try!
Roti
We start the list with a delicious classic that goes by the name of roti. Roti is a flatbread made from wheat flour, served with any toppings you like. We often ate these for breakfast with some banana or jam, super delicious! If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can also opt for a spicy roti. This one comes with chili and peppers mixed in the dough. Most of the times we ordered it, it also came with a topping of (spicy) shredded coconut. So hot, but so good! Another topping we really liked with this was dhal, a delicious lentil curry.
Kottu
On to the dish we probably ate the most during our time in Sri Lanka: kottu. The first time we tried kottu was at Pradeep Restaurant in Sigiriya. We went for the vegetable option, and after one bite we knew: this is it. Kottu is a simple but delicious dish where they chop roti bread and stir-fried it with vegetables, egg, and usually a choice of meat or seafood. We tried all variations and can safely say we like them all! Except for maybe the kottu with cheese. 😂 Also, if your kottu comes with a brown, gravy-esque sauce, definitely try some of that as well! The brown sauce is usually a (spicy) chicken broth/gravy that adds a ton of flavor.
Local bakeries and bread trucks
Local bakeries and bread trucks are by far the cheapest way to get breakfast in Sri Lanka! We often paid less than € 2 for the two of us, including drinks. If you don’t know where to find these trucks, just listen until you hear Beethoven’s Für Elise and head in that direction. 😉 The options at these places are endless, ranging from hotdogs, samosas, buns, and even roti. Our favorites were the vegetable bun, chicken samosa, and vegetable roti. Now, the roti we’re talking about is not like the one we mentioned earlier. A roti at a local bakery can be best described like a filled-up wrap, that’s then folded and grilled on each side. So yummy!
Rice and dhal curry
Last but not least, we have to mention the delicious rice & dhal curry. It’s a dish that is perfect for any occasion. Need something quick and easy for lunch? Yes! Want to eat as much as you can for as little as possible? Rice & dhal curry buffet! 😉 We ate rice and dhal curry more than a handful of times, each time it was more delicious than before.
Honorable mentions
Now, onto two dishes that we either didn’t try enough of, or didn’t try at all but still want to mention. The first dish in this category really surprised us, and this dish is called hoppers. The reason we list it here is because we only ate it once. That one time at SkinnyTom’s sure was delicious, though! Think of hoppers as bowl-shaped pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk, accompanied with any toppings you like.
The second this is one we didn’t try, just because we were too scared. This dish isn’t actually a dish, but more a way of cooking, and it’s called deviled. This means that the dish is highly seasoned or spiced. We saw this on the menu of every restaurant we visited, and never dared to take the jump. We found “regular” Sri Lankan food already spicy enough, but an even spicier variation? No thank you. Although there were occasions on which Kelvin wanted to try it, Thysia always talked him out of it. 😂 If you tried a deviled dish, please let us know!
2. Accommodation
General information
The people that frequent our blog will remember from our Sri Lanka budget breakdown that we kept our daily accommodation costs at an average of just € 11,58 per person. Yes, you read that right! We’re so proud of ourselves! 😉 Now, what can you expect from accommodations in Sri Lanka?
First of all, get ready to stay at a lot of homestays if you’re looking to save money. Don’t think that this means you’ll have to be content with less comfort, though. Sure, we did have the occasional cold shower or power outage, but that’s just Sri Lanka for you. Most of our homestays had breakfast included, which means even more savings since you don’t have to pay for the first meal of the day! Another great aspect is that your hosts are usually eager to share insights about the local culture and sights, giving you a unique perspective that you wouldn’t discover otherwise.
Other than that, we also stayed in hostels in order to save money and couldn’t recommend them enough. Do note that it is often much cheaper to stay in homestays than it is to stay in hostels. So if you are planning on getting a private room at a hostel, make sure to check out homestays too! These often come with breakfast included, which results in even more money savings.
Now, we totally get it if you don’t want to stay in homestays or hostels. Sri Lanka is surprisingly affordable, which means you can stay at very nice hotels without breaking the bank. The choice is yours: either pay peanuts for very good accommodation, or spend a little more money for pure luxury. Or, you can do like we did and do a combination of both. 😉
Lastly, we also want to mention that it is not necessary to book every accommodation in advance. You’ll almost always be able to book very nice accommodations on the spot, so no need to stress! The only exception to this is Ella. Similar to how you have to book your train ride months in advance (more on that later), we recommend booking your Ella stay in advance, too. Ella is one of the hotspots in Sri Lanka, so you want to make sure your accommodation fits all your needs!
Looking for accommodation in Tissamaharama? Make sure to check out our blog post about Rice Rice Villas. Or may we suggest a peaceful stay at Habibi Hostel in Unawatuna, offering the perfect blend of comfort and convenience?
3. Transportation
There are tons of options to get around Sri Lanka. During our time there, we took the bus, train, tuktuks, taxis, and used ride-sharing apps.… Because we tried all of these (a lot!), we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from what type of transportation.
Getting around in Sri Lanka by bus
If we can suggest one transportation option in Sri Lanka, it’s definitely the local buses. They’re affordable, efficient, punctual, and offer a unique experience. What more could you ask for?
Riding a bus in Sri Lanka is quite the experience. The first thing that caught our eye was how colorful they all are! Well, apart from the government owned red buses, that is. There are tons of stimuli: music playing, a lightshow in the front, and when it is really busy you might feel like a packed sardine. 😂 Locals tend to not share your same idea of “personal space”, so there’s a chance that someone is standing closer to you than you’d like. That’s part of it, though! Luckily, you can usually find a seat, or at least that was our experience.
You can choose between regular buses or air-conditioned ones. Air-conditioned buses are often smaller, less comfortable, and quite pricey by Sri Lankan standards. Expect to pay at least double the regular bus fare. Plus, there’s a higher chance of the conductor trying to charge you extra for bags in smaller buses. 😉 Regular buses offer refreshing airflow through their open doors and windows, which we found more pleasant than the chilly air conditioning.
On to the part that was maybe the best part about taking the bus: the price. Buses in Sri Lanka are dirt cheap! A 2-hour ride to another city will almost never exceed € 1. That’s actually amazing, we often got to our next city for less than € 2 in total! If price is your driving factor, definitely take the bus!
Finally, if you’re unsure about which bus to take or where to get off, don’t hesitate to ask your accommodation or the bus conductor. They’re always willing to assist!
Good to know
No worries when traveling with backpacks! Bags go in front with the bus driver, which means you have all your space to yourself. We had one conductor try to charge us extra for our bags, though. When we said to him that we never had to pay for our backpacks in the past, he immediately dropped his act. We recommend you do the same if they want to charge you extra!
Getting around in Sri Lanka by train
Train rides in Sri Lanka are among the most beautiful in the world, and we totally confirm that! However, most people tend to “conveniently leave out” how difficult it is to get train tickets, or that the train ride itself can be… something. Together with taking the bus, getting on a train is the most local and authentic experience in Sri Lanka. This means hanging out of the doors, paying pennies, and amazing landscapes passing you by. Unfortunately, this also means cabins bustling with people, almost no chance of getting a seat, and uncertainty whether you’ll get a ticket or not. Now that we introduced you to trains in Sri Lanka, let’s talk about what you should know and do.
The most important thing is to book train tickets a few weeks in advance for rides you really want to go on. This applies to all popular routes like Colombo to Kandy and Kandy to Ella, especially if you want to get your hands on some reserved seat tickets. You can always go to the train station on the day to get unreserved third class tickets, but you’ll probably have to stand the whole time. Depending on how long the ride is, you might have to think about whether you want that. The best and easiest way to score train tickets is by using 12go.asia. The process is simple, and you’ll get instant confirmation. Note that you can reserve train tickets as far as one month in advance.
Another thing to know is that trains are by far the cheapest option for longer distances. If all you care about is scoring the best deal, then definitely take the train! It is cheaper than taking the bus, especially if you’re looking to travel a bit further away. However, it is also the least comfortable option, particularly if you’re opting for unreserved (third class) tickets.
In Sri Lanka you can get either a reserved seat, or unreserved seat ticket. With a reserved seat you’re sure that you will have a seat available to you, simple as that! Unreserved tickets are a game of chance whether you get a seat or not. Knowing how popular train rides in Sri Lanka are, we can tell you that the odds are not in your favor. Unreserved tickets are also only sold at the station and cannot be bought in advance.
With regard to classes, there are three of them. First class tickets are always reserved, and are by far the most expensive option. The cabins have a giant window for scenic views, and are air-conditioned, that’s why the windows don’t open. Additionally, you won’t really be able to hang out the window since the first class cabins are separated from the rest. Overall, it is the most expensive, least authentic, and less fun option. There’s not much difference between 2nd and 3rd class, apart from the fact that 2nd class has fans, the seats there have cushions, and there are minor differences in seat layout. Both classes have open doors and windows, and offer reserved as well as unreserved seats.
Getting around in Sri Lanka by tuktuk
Other than taking tons of buses, we also relied heavily on tuktuk rides. We found tuktuks in Sri Lanka quite reliable. Since we mostly used an app to order one we almost never had to haggle, but more on that later. Just remember, these apps may not work in every area. In such cases, you’ll need to flag down a tuktuk the old-fashioned way. We always agreed on the fare before hopping into a tuktuk. Usually, the initial price offered was fair, so we didn’t feel the need to negotiate further. However, if bargaining is your style, go for it! We never paid more than 1000 LKR (€ 3) for a ride, except for a half hour ride from Dambulla to Sigiriya (2500 LKR/€ 7,29).
Good to know
Beware of tuktuk drivers who say they have no change! While this might be true occasionally, it’s often a tactic to keep the extra money. If the driver genuinely doesn’t have change, you can usually buy a bottle of water at a nearby store to sort it out.
Renting your own tuktuk
Another super cool thing you should know about before your trip to Sri Lanka is that you can rent your own tuktuk! Renting a tuktuk is not only a convenient way to explore this beautiful country but also a unique experience that you won’t find in many places around the world. Now, there are some things you should know before renting a tuktuk.
The first thing makes sense: the longer you rent, the cheaper it gets. It also comes with full insurance! We checked out pricing of the few companies that rent tuktuks in Sri Lanka so you don’t have to. 😉 The daily rental price is pretty cheap when you rent for 5 or more days. Only planning on renting a tuktuk for less than 5 days? It might not be as cheap as you think!
Next, we also want to mention that it comes with some extra fees that you probably didn’t think of. If you’re picking up or dropping off the tuktuk in a city other than Colombo, you’ll have to pay transportation fees. These are around $40 every time someone has to come from the main office to where you are located. Make sure to have your international driver’s license type B with you, too! If not, you will have to buy a local license at $40.
Now, one thing that is really cool is that you can pay someone to take your tuktuk from point A to B. Let’s say you want to hop on the scenic train ride from Kandy to Ella, what happens with your tuktuk? Just ask the rental company to drive your tuktuk to Ella! It’ll cost you around $50, though. Take all of this into account before you make your decision on renting a tuktuk in Sri Lanka. 😉
Getting around in Sri Lanka by private driver
You can also hire someone for the day to take you around and do sightseeing. We hired a private tuktuk driver in Kandy and paid around € 20 for the whole day. Simply list the places you want to visit at the start of the day, and you’re ready to explore! The benefit of having a private driver is that you can ask him for recommendations if you’re a little more adventurous. If you didn’t rent your own tuktuk and find yourself at a place where there’s lots to do and see (like Kandy or Ella), hiring a private tuktuk driver is definitely an option! To get a private driver, it is best to ask your accommodation if they know someone trustworthy. Most homestays offer this service, too!
Getting around in Sri Lanka by taxi
We only took 2 taxis during our time in Sri Lanka, but were very happy with both of them. They are still very affordable (compared to Western prices), super comfy, and one of the fastest ways to get to your destination. We took one taxi to get from Nuwara Eliya to Ella because our minivan got ambushed. The other taxi we took was on our first day in Sri Lanka, from Colombo to Negombo. We ordered this taxi through an app that you probably haven’t heard of, so make sure to check out the apps section. And no, it is not Grab, PickMe, or Uber. 😉
4. Local culture
We want to make this section a little broader so that we’re sure it covers everything you should know before your trip to Sri Lanka. 😉 First of all, Sri Lankan people are super friendly, perhaps the friendliest folks we’ve ever met. At first, we were a bit unsure because we thought there had to be a catch to their kindness. But it turns out, they’re just genuinely friendly and helpful, not looking for anything in return. We love them!
Next, be prepared for power cuts no matter where you are. These are so common, you’ll just have to learn to deal with it. We experienced power cuts more than 10 times during our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka, so that says something. The longest one was the one in Unawatuna, which lasted over 8 hours. We were out exploring during most of it, so almost no impact for us. Funnily, we connected the dots when every restaurant in the area told us that there was no power. After the fifth restaurant we knew something was up. 😂
Another thing worth mentioning is that you might need a small trick to plug something into most wall outlets. The trick is to switch off the outlet, insert a pen into the top hole, and then plug in whatever you need. Sounds difficult, but is actually pretty easy (and fun)!
When it comes to culture and religion, do know that Sri Lanka is a (mostly) buddhist country. You’ll see tons of temples, statues, and small places of worship everywhere. This also includes dressing appropriately: covering your shoulders and knees. You’ll likely need to take off your shoes when entering sacred places as well.
5. Public holidays and festivals
When you’re on holiday, it really helps to know about the local (or national) holidays. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere because buses aren’t running, or you can’t find any shops open. During our time in Sri Lanka, we experienced one public holiday: Independence Day on the 4th of February. This is a fun day with a big parade in Colombo, although public transport is limited throughout the country. But, what we found even more spectacular, was that Independence Day is an alcohol-free day! All liquor stores (the only way to buy alcohol in Sri Lanka) close the night before, making it impossible to buy on the day of. This restriction applies to every Poya day (full moon day), too.
Other important holidays in Sri Lanka are Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day (in April) and Deepavali Festival Day (early Autumn).
6. Language and communication
Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages spoken in Sri Lanka. We’ll warn you right away, the alphabets of these languages resemble nothing of the Romance and Germanic languages. It will definitely help to learn some basic phrases in Tamil and Sinhala, especially if you plan on wandering off the beaten track. Phrases like “Ayubowan” (hello), “Sthuthiyi” (thank you) and “Karunakara” (please) in Sinhala, similarly “Vanakkam”, “Nanri”, or “Tayavu ceytu” in Tamil.
Now, if you stay in the touristy and urban areas, English will do just fine. Here, we almost never had to use translation apps in a normal conversation, apart from maybe once or twice. Since most businesses are family-owned, you’ll always find a family member that speaks English well enough to help you. And yes, this family member might be a 10-year old girl, but that all adds to the experience. 😂 We noticed that the locals are so happy to help, which makes any conversation pretty straightforward!
Another thing we noticed is that locals have a pretty fun way of shaking their head when they want to say “yes”. They’ll wobble their head from left to right, often whilst showing off their best smile. When you see someone do this, know that they’re agreeing with you!
7. Safety and health
Travel insurance
It goes without saying that travel insurance is really important. Make sure to pick a plan or credit card that covers medical expenses and provides emergency help. Also, consider getting insurance for trip delays or cancellations, which happen more often than you think. And don’t forget about protecting your belongings from loss or theft! If your insurance covers all these areas, you’re good to go. Our Mastercard includes these benefits, plus car rental insurance, and we can’t recommend it enough.
Health precautions and vaccinations
When it comes to health precautions, we don’t have any specific tips for Sri Lanka. Traffic is way less chaotic than in India, for example, and the air much better, too. Only Kandy gave us some “Delhi vibes” if we’re talking about pollution. Of course, always use common sense when traveling. 😉
For vaccinations, we first made an appointment at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. The doctor there recommended several vaccinations after asking us what kind of trip we were making. If you stay in resorts and never eat street food, you might not need a rabies shot or typhoid vaccination. 😉 We played it safe and got all the recommended shots, 13 each in total! Now, you don’t have to make an appointment at an institute to get informed. We suggest using the Belgian site wanda.be, which shows a nice overview of all required and recommended vaccinations per country. We got the following vaccinations for Sri Lanka: Hepatitis A and B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, polio, measles-mumps-rubella, typhoid fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis.
8. Money and budgeting
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), with a current exchange rate of 1 euro being a little over 320 LKR ( 1 USD is 300 LKR). Being in a foreign country, we always have to get used to this new currency. To make our calculations easier, we always divided the amount in LKR by 300 to get a general idea of the cost. So something that costs 900 LKR was around 3 euro. It has the added bonus that actual prices are even cheaper since you’re dividing by 300 instead of 320! By using this trick we quickly got the hang of Sri Lankan prices. You can use it if your currency is USD, too. 😉
Now, you should know that cash is still king in Sri Lanka. We were able to pay with our credit card only a handful of times. A shame, because we get some nice miles and rewards by using that card! This means that you will need to use ATMs to acquire Sri Lankan rupees, or exchange local cash to LKR. The first time we did this was at Colombo Airport, where we found 5 ATMs next to each other near the exit. ATMs in Sri Lanka are easy to find, and do not come with any hidden fees for withdrawing cash. Just remember to decline the conversion every time to get the best exchange rate! To find the best ATM, we used the app ATM Fee Saver.
One thing we do want to say is that most Sri Lankan ATMs only give bills of 5000 LKR (€ 15), sometimes bills of 1000 LKR. Just know that most locals do not (or pretend to not) have change for bills this big. We recommend paying with your largest bills whenever you can, just so you can acquire smaller bills. Places that do accept big(ger) bills are supermarket chains, big hotels, and trendy places (that often accept cards, too).
For budgeting tips, we forward you to the tips part of our Sri Lanka Budget Breakdown.
9. Apps and technology
Navigation
For navigation, we can recommend two apps: Google Maps and maps.me. Google Maps is really useful, especially if you have a mobile sim. You can even download maps for offline use. But remember, if a road seems sketchy, it probably is. Just stay on the main road and Google Maps will automatically suggest a new road. If you only plan on using offline maps, we find maps.me much more practical. Just download the map of your destination before your trip, and you are ready to go!
Ridesharing
Uber is an (expensive) option, but largely available (especially in the bigger cities). The local alternative to Uber is PickMe, much cheaper and much more reliable too. We used a Sri Lankan phone number to verify, but we saw in the app that you could use your own as well. You can see PickMe as the combination of Uber and Uber Eats, very useful! Types of vehicles range from tuktuks to sleek cars, and everything in between. Downloading this app is essential, even if you don’t intend to book rides. It serves as a useful tool for tuktuk negotiations. Simply check the prices on PickMe before leaving your hotel to get an idea of the fare, which reduces the chances of getting in an overpriced tuktuk!
A thing we noticed with ridesharing apps, is that drivers tend to cancel if you don’t pay in cash. We said it before, cash is king in Sri Lanka, and drivers know this too. They’ll either never accept the ride, or accept the ride and then call you to say they’re in an accident or something like that. Speaking of being called, literally every driver called us seconds after confirming the pickup to tell us he was on the way. They would ask if our location was correct, and then tell us he’s coming as if we can’t see it in the app. 😂
Lastly, we wanted to mention an unknown but amazing transportation app. Only locals use it, so next time you’re using Kangaroo Cabs you can thank us! It is a very professional and affordable taxi company that accepts both cash and cards. They even have a card machine in the car in case you run out of cash. We can’t recommend them enough, and no they do not sponsor us. 😉
Food delivery
We already mentioned PickMe, which is the recommended app for food delivery. If you don’t find anything on PickMe, Uber Eats is available too in bigger cities.
Currency converter
We used the built-in iPhone converter that can be found on everyone’s home screen. It doesn’t use up additional storage, and on top of that you don’t need an internet connection for it! Just go to your home screen, swipe down to reveal the search field at the top, and enter the currency you’re interested in. 😉 Fast and easy, just how we like it! You only need the abbreviation of the currency you want to convert, LKR in the case of Sri Lanka.
10. Sightseeing
Looking to spice up your Sri Lankan adventures? Look no further! Instead of reinventing the wheel, why not let us guide you to some fantastic recommendations? We’ve curated an amazing list of 14 must-visit restaurants across Sri Lanka, ensuring you won’t miss out on some good food. 😉 If you’re headed to Mirissa, we’ve got you covered with the 8 absolute best things to do in this coastal paradise. And for beach lovers, we’ve handpicked the 9 most stunning beaches in Sri Lanka, each offering its own slice of paradise. 😉 Plus, if you’re planning an epic Sri Lankan getaway, our 3-week itinerary has got you covered with a comprehensive overview of all our adventures. Whatever you choose, you’re in for an unforgettable journey!
11. Connectivity
Where to buy sim cards
One thing that is super important to us is connectivity. We rely so much on Google Maps, local ridesharing apps, and browsing in order to plan our trips, that not having a (data) sim would be a terrible decision. Prior to our trip, we found out that Mobitel is the most reliable provider in Sri Lanka with the best coverage. That’s why we bought a Mobitel sim at the airport, moments after we landed. This sim had unlimited data for 30 days, and allowed us to make phone calls as well. It cost around 6000 LKR (€ 20), which we found pretty affordable. That was until we checked the official Mobitel website, where that same card was at least 1000 LKR (€ 3) cheaper. Not the biggest sum, but if you’re on a budget we suggest buying outside of the airport.
Regarding the quality of the network, we were quite happy with Mobitel. Coverage was widespread, although we never had 5G (only 4G/LTE). This did impact speed, which was fast enough to do some remote work and occasional streaming. Not the fastest, but it did the job!
The WiFi in hotels/homestays on the other hand, was really unreliable. Sure, we opted for budget-stays throughout our time in Sri Lanka, but even then we expected some basic functionality. Nope! Sometimes we did not have WiFi, sometimes we were connected but it still didn’t work, and if it wasn’t any of those two the speeds were… not great. If you have to be connected and/or only stay in budget accommodations, we really recommend buying a data sim as “backup”.
Speaking of data sims, we recently learned about this cool website called Airalo. They offer a range of local, regional, and global e-SIMs that you can easily activate online, saving you time and often money too. Plus, the process is incredibly simple. You just purchase the e-SIM, install it on your phone, and it activates as soon as your phone connects to a network. It’s that easy! This ensures you’re connected as soon as you touch down. And what’s even better is that you can use the code TastingSunsets for a $3 discount of your first order. How cool is that? To help you get started, we’ve included a search bar for Sri Lanka.
12. Visa and entry requirements
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for obtaining a visa to Sri Lanka are pretty normal and straightforward. You’ll need a passport that’s valid for more than 6 months, and that’s about it! You have the option to apply for an ETA online, or go for a visa on arrival. We really recommend going for an ETA, since it is 10 USD cheaper than acquiring one on arrival ($50 versus $60). We found the price quite steep at first, but it was so worth it!
By getting an ETA in advance, you don’t run the risk of your entry being denied. On top of that, you’ll also save some money!
Visa application process
The online visa application process is super straightforward. No strange questions (looking at you, India) and we got our results back pretty quickly. We did have to provide an outbound flight, too, so make sure you have one. 😉 You will receive your application result via mail, but don’t be surprised if there is no document attached! The ETA application is fully digital, no need to print anything. Just hand your passport and filled in arrival card to the officer immigration, simple as that!
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