Rules for travel from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan,

Sri Lanka and Uganda

UAE residents
All passengers with a valid UAE residence visa are allowed to travel to and through Dubai from
India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda, subject to below conditions.
All passengers arriving to Dubai must comply with the following:

 Dubai visa holders must apply for pre-entry approval through General Directorate of Residency and
Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
 Passengers with a UAE visa sponsored by "Dubai EXPO 2020" do not require GDFA approval to
enter Dubai.
 Passengers must have a valid COVID-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours between the time of
sample collection and scheduled flight departure. Only COVID-19 PCR test reports from certified
labs that issue a QR code linked to the original report will be accepted.
 Passengers must complete a COVID-19 PCR rapid test at the departure airport before the departure
of their flight. The Rapid PCR test can be conducted within 6 hours prior to departure. (Rapid antigen
test will not be accepted)
 Passengers must complete a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

UAE Nationals are exempted from the above requirements but subject to COVID-19 PCR test on
arrival in Dubai.
All other passengers who have been in India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda in the
past 14 days will not be permitted to enter Dubai.

Dubai residence visa holders departing from Dubai

Passengers will need to do COVID-19 PCR tests only if it is mandated by the country they are
travelling to.

 If you travel out of Dubai and return, the process above will apply to your return journey.
 Dubai residents do not need Dubai government approval to leave Dubai.
 Please check the requirements of the country you are travelling to. The travel regulations change
frequently. You may need to take a COVID-19 PCR test before you depart or another particular type
of COVID-19 test specified by your destination.
 This is a list of authorised COVID-19 test laboratories in Dubai where you can get tested before you
travel to your destination.

Rapid COVID-19 testing at Dubai International airport for flights to China

All passengers, except children under the age of 1, who are travelling to China must have a negative
rapid COVID-19 test certificate before travel. You must report to the check-in counter 5 hours before
your flight and take this test at Dubai International airport at Emirates Terminal 3 departure area,
next to Costa. For further information please refer to the travel requirements for China.
Special COVID-19 PCR test rates for Emirates passengers
Emirates has expanded its medical partnerships to offer all passengers exclusive home or office
COVID-19 PCR testing rates at the following centres:

 Al Tadawi Medical Centre

o Located at Al Masood building, Airport Road, Port Saeed area, Deira.
o The test costs AED 130 per person. Home or office testing within Dubai costs AED 240 per person.
Test results will be available within 24 hours.
 Prime Medical Centres
o Locations in Dubai:
 Al Qusais Branch, Damascus Street
 Premier Diagnostic and Medical Center, Salah Al Din Street 
 Prime Corp Medical Center, Salah Al Din Street, Deira
 Sheikh Zayed Branch, Sheikh Zayed Street, near Noor Islamic Bank
 Prime Specialist Medical Center Sharjah Branch, King Faisal St, Al Majaz
 Ajman Branch, Grand Mall, Sheikh Khalifa St
o The test costs AED 150 per person. Home or office testing within Dubai for a minimum of two
passengers is also available at AED 240 per person. Test results will be available within 24 hours.
 Last updated: 19 August 2021, 11:50 (GMT +4)
Travel to Sri Lanka

Travel eligibility
Passengers who have travelled from or transited through South Africa, countries of South America,
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia or Zimbabwe in the last 14
days are not permitted entry to Sri Lanka.
Passengers who have travelled from or transited through India in the last 14 days are not permitted
to enter Sri Lanka as tourists.
Passengers travelling to China are not allowed to transit through Sri Lanka.
Refer to Appendix J of quarantine measures for travellers  for approval process for travellers from
Travel Restricted countries.
Tourists
The following categories of passengers are allowed entry under the Sri Lanka Tourism Safety
Protocol:

 Tourists (foreign nationals) who have obtained approved Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
 Foreign passport holders with a valid Sri Lankan residence visa who have a confirmation letter
issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)
 Sri Lankans who hold dual citizenship
 Sri Lankan passport holders

Eligible passengers can make a reservation at a listed Safe and Secure level 1 hotel to start the
process of acquiring the ETA/SLTDA letter. The passenger may also book with a certified travel
agent.
Non tourists
The following categories of passengers are allowed entry into Sri Lanka without prior approval from
the Foreign Ministry:

 Sri Lankan nationals

 Dual citizens who are travelling on Sri Lankan passports / emergency travel documents

Foreign nationals (including valid resident visa holders) and dual citizens who are travelling on a
foreign passport must get prior approval from the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka before travelling to
Sri Lanka if not travelling as tourists. Application for approval should be submitted
to entry.permission@mfa.gov.lk
Foreign nationals must also carry an approved electronic travel authority or landing endorsement or
residence visa.
COVID-19 testing requirements
Before Departure:
All passengers over 2 years old must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test report in English for a
test conducted within 72 hours of departure.
Antigen tests will not be accepted as a pre-departure test for travel.
Sri Lankan seafarers holding approval for exemption of pre boarding COVID-19 PCR, from Ministry
of foreign affairs, are exempted.
For travel originating from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait:

 Only QR code/Bar Code linked original COVID-19 PCR test reports from respective Government
and Sri Lanka Foreign Mission approved laboratories will be accepted.
 On arrival for passengers not travelling as tourists:
Two COVID-19 PCR tests will be carried out on all passengers as below, except for diplomatic
passport holders, as mandated by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Testing requirements for all passengers who have received the recommended doses of any COVID
19 vaccine 14 days prior to travel:

 The first test will be carried out on the day of arrival at the quarantine hotel (children below 2 years
old are exempted). If tested negative, the passenger will be released to go home.
 Quarantine rules for parents also apply for accompanying unvaccinated children up to 18 years old.
 On the 7th day after arrival, unvaccinated children released with their parents must arrange for a
second test to be conducted at home by any government approved facility.

For all other passengers:

 The first test will be carried out on the day of arrival (children below 2 years are exempted) and the
exit COVID-19 PCR between days 11 and 14 for all passengers over 2 years old at the quarantine
hotel or quarantine centre.
 The passenger will be released from quarantine after a negative result of the exit COVID-19 PCR
test.

Health Ministry approved labs will conduct the first COVID-19 PCR test at the quarantine hotels.
Passengers may pay the lab directly for their test.
Contact CMB.repatriation@emirates.com for any further details.
Quarantine Requirements
The quarantine period for all travellers (except passengers who have received the recommended
doses of any COVID-19 vaccine 14 days prior to travel) entering Sri Lanka will be a total of 14 days
at a quarantine centre, quarantine hotel or Safe, Secure Certified Level 1 hotel, depending on their
category.
Tourists:

 Procedure could be found in quarantine measures link below.

Non tourists:
The following is applicable to passengers not travelling as tourists:

 After arrival formalities, customers will be taken to an available designated hotel for a quarantine
period between 2 and 14 days depending on their category. Quarantine rules for parents also apply
for accompanying unvaccinated children up to 18 years old. Payment has to be done directly to the
hotel and a standard charge per passenger, per day for full board accommodation would be as
follows.
 Charges subject to change with standard of the hotel:
o Sharing room: LKR 7,500
o Single occupancy: LKR 12,500
 Passenger will have to bear the following costs as well as:
o Transportation cost from the airport to the place of quarantine/hotel
o Any other incidental expenditure

Please check quarantine measures for travellers.

Required forms
Passengers are required to submit a completed Health Declaration Form (HDF) on arrival in Sri
Lanka and complete and sign the signed undertaking form for paid hotel quarantine and other
related expenses. Diplomatic passport holders and seafarers are exempted.
Other information
Passengers transiting through Colombo must have OK to board approval for onward travel, and their
transit time should not be longer than 12 hours.
There is a temporary suspension on carrying animals as passenger baggage. Live animals can only
be transported as cargo.
Travel from Sri Lanka

Passengers travelling from Sri Lanka are advised to arrive a minimum of 4 hours before departure to
allow time for health screening and document verification.
COVID-19 testing requirements
It is mandatory that customers confirm the COVID-19 PCR test requirements as per the regulations
of the destination country and present the test result certificate at check-in. Only COVID-19 PCR test
reports from certified labs that issue a QR code linked to the original report will be accepted.
All passengers, except UAE nationals, who are travelling to Dubai must take a COVID-19 rapid PCR
test within 6 hours of their scheduled time of departure at the lab located at the airport.
Please check Rapid PCR Test at Colombo for details.
Travelling to, from and through Dubai
If you're travelling to, from or transiting through Dubai, please check our Travel requirements for
Dubai.