We hope you are getting prepared and excited for your trip. It’s not long now!
This page provides important information that explains what to prepare before departing and what will happen when you arrive at your destination. Please make sure you have a saved copy of this page on your phone, or a printed copy to refer to.
Travel Checklist
One week before departing you should go over the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need before heading to the airport:
- Valid passport for 6 months after your return
- Your printed BETA visa approval notice
- Proof of Sufficient Funds (printed bank statement or a screenshot of your bank balance)
- A printed copy of your flight itinerary
- Emergency contact phone numbers added to your mobile phone and written down on a piece of paper (see below)
- Local address in Sri Lanka written down on a piece of paper and on your phone. Please use the accommodation address provided on your MYPA page.
Arriving at the airport
Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo, you will have to go through customs.
They will stamp your passport at the immigration desk, then you can reclaim your luggage.
Meeting our staff
You will be met by Projects Abroad staff who will wait in the main arrivals area with an A4-sized Projects Abroad sign or a name board with your name on it.
The staff member will take you directly to your host family. The journey may be anything from 1.5-4 hours depending on the town in which you are based.
For volunteers joining the Kulapitiya Veterinary Project, your host family will collect you from the airport.
Depending on the time of your arrival, one of the local staff will come and meet you that day or the following day or the next working day if it is a Friday/over the weekend/holiday. Staff will give you a briefing before leaving you with the host family, and make sure you feel comfortable.
In the extremely rare event that the staff member coming to meet you is late and you do not see anyone holding a Projects Abroad sign at the airport or if you experience any flight delays, please call Mr Gishan Perera (Country Director): +94 77 748 5582
For any other flight travel related emergencies please contact one of the phone numbers below:
European emergency numbers: +44 1273 007261 / +44 1273 007262
American emergency number: +1 917 8104520
Any Questions?
Send an email to your Destination Expert if you have any further questions. They can also arrange to talk to you on the phone if you prefer.
From all of us at Projects Abroad, we wish you a safe journey and look forward to meeting you soon!
Our accreditations
