Sri Lankan passport holders can travel to 53 destinations without obtaining a traditional visa in advance, according to data published by Passport Reports.
The figure includes 15 destinations with visa-free access, 34 destinations offering visas on arrival and four destinations that allow entry through an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
However, visas are still required in advance for 145 destinations, highlighting the limited international mobility available to Sri Lankan passport holders.
Passport Reports ranks Sri Lanka’s passport 169th in the world, with a mobility score of 53.
Where Can Sri Lankan Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa in Advance?
The 53 destinations are divided into three different forms of travel access.
15 destinations are visa-free, meaning travellers can enter without obtaining a visa before travelling, subject to the entry rules of each destination.
Another 34 destinations offer visas on arrival. In these cases, travellers do not need to secure a traditional visa before departure. Instead, they can apply for the required visa after reaching the destination.
A further four destinations allow entry through an ETA.
An ETA is an electronic travel authorisation that travellers obtain online before travelling. It is different from a traditional visa, although travellers still need approval before departure.
Therefore, the 53 destinations should not all be described as completely visa-free. Instead, they represent destinations where Sri Lankan passport holders can travel without obtaining a traditional visa in advance.
Sri Lanka’s Passport Ranking
Passport Reports places Sri Lanka at 169th globally.
The ranking puts Sri Lanka below India, which is ranked 131st, while China is ranked 97th and Russia 75th.
Pakistan is ranked 183rd, while Nepal is ranked 171st and Myanmar 168th.
Meanwhile, countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia and Luxembourg occupy the top five positions in the Passport Reports ranking.
The United Arab Emirates is ranked first, followed by Singapore in second place, Spain in third, Malaysia in fourth and Luxembourg in fifth.
What the 53 Destinations Mean for Travellers
For Sri Lankan travellers, the most useful part of the data is the breakdown of access.
The 15 visa-free destinations provide the simplest form of access.
The 34 visa-on-arrival destinations remove the need to obtain a traditional visa before departure, although travellers may still need to meet entry requirements and complete the visa process on arrival.
Meanwhile, the four ETA destinations require an online travel authorisation before departure.
Passport Reports says its platform separates these categories instead of reducing passport strength to a single ranking number.
This provides a clearer view of the actual travel access available to passport holders.
The organisation describes itself as an independent global mobility platform that tracks passport strength and visa access worldwide.
Last modified: September 22, 2026
