The Indian High Commission has issued a clarification with regard to the issuance of visas to Sri Lankans visiting India on pilgrimage.

A statement issued in this regard notes that although the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage was briefly discontinued due to a change in visa outsourcing agency working for the High Commission of India.

“Subsequent to the selection of the new service provider, which has started working from 07 July 2026, the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage is being reintroduced,” the statement adds.The statement also notes that “there is no visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, whose applications are submitted as indicated in the statement.  However, applicants would be required to pay a visa service fee of LKR 1855/- to the ICAC for their services.

The complete statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, is as follows :

It is our standing policy to facilitate timely and smooth issuance of visas to all Sri Lankans. It may be noted that Sri Lanka is also one of the many countries around the world whose citizens can avail of the E-visa facility for travel to India. However, those citizens of Sri Lanka who chose to apply at the High Commission are required to apply online and submit their applications to the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICAC), which are located in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, Hambantota and Batticaloa.

As regards those Sri Lankans who travel to India for pilgrimage, including to Buddhist pilgrimage sites, visa is facilitated, and issued swiftly. Wherever possible, if these applications are recommended by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, these visas are issued on a Gratis basis for groups of 10 pilgrims and above. For a brief period, due to change in visa outsourcing agency working for the High Commission of India, this practice was discontinued. Subsequent to the selection of the new service provider, which has started working from 07 July 2026, the practice of issuing Gratis visas for Sri Lankans on pilgrimage is being reintroduced. As was the practice earlier, these requests should be forwarded by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs. These visas can be applied as group of 10 or more and applicants are required to visit ICAC as a group or individually as is convenient for the purposes of capturing their biometrics. This is a mandatory requirement under the new regulations of the Government of India. However, biometrics are required for the people between the age of 12 and 70 only.

As regards other senior citizens visiting ICAC for their biometrics, special and expedited process has been instituted to keep their waiting time to the minimum possible. Capturing biometrics will ensure that their passage through the Indian Immigration on arrival in India is smooth and convenient.

As such, there is no visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, whose applications are submitted as indicated above. The question on any change in visa fee for Sri Lankan pilgrims, therefore, does not arise. However, applicants would be required to pay visa service fee of LKR 1855/- to the ICAC for their services.