Vaccines Required for Traveling to Sri Lanka
Did you know that you are required to show proof of vaccinations before your Sri Lanka eTA is granted? Sri Lanka is a small island country located south of the Indian Subcontinent. It has a rich culture and beautiful natural scenery which you can enjoy during your visit.
However, before you are allowed entry within Sri Lanka's borders, you have to provide certain documents to the Sri Lankan government's authorities. One of these documents used to be the vaccination certificates for many diseases, but presently, only a few of such vaccinations are necessary to travel to Sri Lanka.
Despite the now lower restrictions, it is highly recommended that you get vaccinated. So, if you are wondering what these required vaccinations are or why these certificates were mandatory before, keep reading as we'll discuss all the vaccines required for Sri Lanka travel.
Why Should You Get Vaccinated Before Your Sri Lanka Visit?
While Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with many great natural scenery spots, this same natural beauty is also the cause of many diseases that plague the country's population. In particular, Sri Lanka has a history of diseases caused by mosquito bites in particular. Diseases like dengue are very prevalent in Sri Lanka.
Malaria was once very rampant in Sri Lanka, and it was mandatory for foreign travelers to vaccinate themselves against it. After 2016 thanks to the efforts of the government and other health institutions, it is no longer mandatory to get vaccinated against Malaria and claims of the disease being completely eradicated from the country had begun to surface.
Despite this, we still recommend that you get vaccinated against all diseases related to mosquito bites and try to protect yourself against them in Sri Lanka. For Latin-American and African tourists, it is mandatory to get a yellow fever vaccination but, check this information on the government's website as this requirement has been changed several times.
Sri Lanka is also known to not follow standard levels of hygiene in many parts of the country. So, while you can avoid catching diseases in Sri Lanka through preventive measures, the best preventive measure against the many diseases in Sri Lanka is to get vaccinated against such diseases.
Which Vaccinations Should I Get Before Visiting Sri Lanka?
When it comes to which particular diseases you should get vaccinated against before you visit Sri Lanka, the top priorities should be yellow fever. For tourists who are visiting Sri Lanka from countries recognized by Sri Lanka's government as having a high risk of yellow fever disease, it is mandatory to provide proof of vaccination before you are allowed entry inside the country. Other diseases that you should get vaccinations for are:
- Tetanus: This is a dangerous disease that can occur from getting cut by dirty and rusty objects like roads, old metal objects, etc. which are very common in Sri Lanka.
- Typhoid: A disease caused by the consumption of dirty water. This is a common disease in Sri Lanka due to low standards of hygiene.
- Poliomyelitis: Also known as polio, this disease is not only an issue in Sri Lanka but the entire southeast Asia.
- Measles: A common disease that affects the respiratory organs of the body. Vaccination against this disease is highly recommended.
- Diphtheria: Diphtheria is an infection of the nose, throat, and skin.
- Hepatitis A: A highly contagious liver disease that spreads from close contact with an infected person.
The above-mentioned list comprises some of the most common diseases that can affect you during your journey through Sri Lanka. For those of you who wish to explore the villages and other areas in the countryside, you can get these additional vaccinations for extra safety:
- Rabies
- Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B
- Japanese B encephalitis
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificates
In Sri Lankan laws, there is no explicit mention of getting vaccinations; however, the government has made several policies to keep the yellow fever out of the country.
As discussed previously, it is mandatory for tourists from countries with a high risk of yellow fever to get vaccinations and present the evidence for the same to government officials before they are allowed into the country.
The mosquito that is responsible for causing yellow fever is present within Sri Lanka which is the reason behind these strict regulations. You are required to get vaccinated 4-6 weeks before your date of arrival if you wish to apply for a 30-day Sri Lanka eTA; however, if you wish to apply for an eTA that is for longer periods, then you have to get vaccination even earlier.
People above the age of 9 months are required to get this vaccination if they either belong to a country with a high risk of yellow fever or spent at least 12 hours within such a country. If you wish to see a full list of countries recognized by Sri Lanka as having a high risk of yellow fever, you can check the same on the government's website.
Is Certificate of Vaccination for COVID-19 Required Anymore?
During 2020, COVID-19 started spreading all over the world. To curb the spread of this disease in Sri Lanka, the government modified its policies, implementing strict measures to ensure that every traveler has to go through a designated quarantine period at hotels chosen for this task and regular PCR tests to confirm that the tourist is not infected with COVID 19.
For tourists who had been vaccinated, these restrictions were more lax. In the present day however, these restrictions have been completely lifted and you no longer need to go through a quarantine period or provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter Sri Lanka.
It is highly recommended that you get yourself properly vaccinated as other preventive measures alone are not very effective in Sri Lanka due to the abundance of mosquitos and low hygiene standards of several areas. In particular, vaccinate yourself from diseases caused by mosquito bites, consumption of unhygienic food, and injuries from rusted and dusty materials.
Remember to check the list of countries that are considered high risk for yellow fever and get yourself vaccinated against any possible disease before embarking on your journey.
READ MORE:
Sri Lanka just looks like a small island from an aerial view but for travelers, it has many attractions that need at least 2 weeks to explore. For wildlife lovers, culture enthusiasts, history buffs, and beachgoers, Sri Lanka has something to offer everyone. Read more at How Many Days Are Enough to Explore Sri Lanka.
Check Eligibility for Sri Lanka eTA and apply for Sri Lanka eTA 3 days in advance of your flight. Citizens from Estonian Citizens, Canadian Citizens, German Citizens, Japanese Citizens and Finnish Citizens can apply online for Sri Lanka eTA.