Tanzania has lifted visa restrictions for Sri Lankan travelers, ending a policy that had been in place for over 20 years. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Kana Kananathan, announced that Sri Lanka is no longer on Tanzania’s visa referral list, according to VisaGuide.World.
Easier Access for Sri Lankan Businessmen and Travelers
High Commissioner Kananathan highlighted that approximately 450 Sri Lankan businessmen, including gem and stone traders, can now apply for standard visas online, simplifying travel for business and personal purposes. The move follows extensive high-level negotiations between the Sri Lankan High Commission and the Tanzanian government.
Kananathan expressed gratitude to the Government of Tanzania for this significant policy change, emphasizing the strong bilateral relations between the two nations. He encouraged Sri Lankans to seize this opportunity while adhering to high standards of conduct abroad.
Tanzania’s Passport Rank and Visa-Free Travel
As of September 2024, the Tanzanian passport ranks 140th globally according to the VisaGuide Passport Index, allowing Tanzanian passport holders to travel visa-free to 49 countries and territories. To benefit from visa-free travel, travelers must ensure their passports are valid for at least six months beyond their departure date and secure travel health insurance as required by their destination.
Sri Lanka Eases Entry for Travelers from 38 Countries
Sri Lanka has also introduced a visa-free policy for travelers from 38 countries, effective September 3, 2024. This decision follows a period of issuing visas on arrival due to disruptions in the country’s e-Visa system, previously managed by a foreign consortium.
The new visa-free policy eliminates the previous e-visa options, including double-entry visas and transit visas, and is designed to streamline entry for eligible travelers. However, visa-on-arrival remains unavailable for citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, North Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria.
Source: VisaGuide
