Navigating The Sri Lanka eVisa For the Citizens of Canada

Updated on Jun 18, 2024 | Sri Lanka e-Visa

Sri Lanka beckons with its spectacular natural beauty, divine beaches, incredible cultures, lip-smacking cuisine and exciting outdoor adventures. As an avid traveller, if Sri Lanka is a dream destination for the passport holders of Canada, then they are in for a treat! Please remember that an exciting journey to Sri Lanka is only possible with a valid travel permit such as a Visa or an eVisa.

The main aim of a Visa is to facilitate international travel for foreign citizens. It provides official authorization for the entrance in international nations and regulates a visitor's stay. No matter what the driving force for a traveller is, they will have to mandatorily obtain an appropriate Visa for Sri Lanka which will allow them to enter the country legally from Canada.

The only exception for this condition/requirement to enter Sri Lanka is that: the traveller is visa exempt. However, the passport holders of Canada are not Visa-exempt for Sri Lanka. Thus, a Visa is required.

To streamline and simplify the Visa application procedures for the passport holders of Canada, the Sri Lankan Government has introduced an eVisa for Sri Lanka. An eVisa is majorly a revolution in the world of obtaining visas for Sri Lanka travel which has made the application process for a Visa hassle-free and quick.

In this comprehensive guide, we aim at educating all travellers about how they can obtain a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens along with its requirements, tips for successful eVisa application and much more.

The Sri Lanka eVisa is tailored to provide Canada nationals a more convenient and speedy means to apply for an appropriate Visa to visit Sri Lanka. Through this deVisailed guide, we will be preparing all Canadian applicants about the application process of a Sri Lanka eVisa through which they will be able to obtain an eVisa successfully and efficiently.

Do The Nationals of Canada Require a Visa For Travelling To Sri Lanka?

Yes. All passport holders of Canada should possess a valid Visa for travelling to Sri Lanka.

The easiest and the most straightforward medium of obtaining a valid Visa for Sri Lanka is: A Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens. The best part of obtaining an eVisa for Sri Lanka is the quick application times which only takes 10 to 15 minutes at max. Once a Sri Lanka eVisa for a Canadian applicant is approved, it will be digitally linked with the applicant's passport. Along with that, a confirmation about the eVisa approval will be sent on the applicant's email address.

What Are the Different Types of Sri Lanka eVisa For Canadian Nationals?

The nationals of Canada will be given an opportunity to select the most appropriate eVisa type that will cater to their purposes of travel to Sri Lanka from Canada. The eVisa policies for Sri Lanka specifies three main types of eVisa which include:

Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa

What is the purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa?

The purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa is travel and tourism related activities.

What is the total validity of a Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa?

The total validity of a Sri Lanka Tourist eVisa is 90 days. This validity starts from the date on which the eVisa is issued to the applicant.

For how many days can travellers stay in Sri Lanka with the Tourist eVisa?

Travellers can stay in Sri Lanka for a period of thirty days with the Tourist eVisa.

How many times can a visitor enter and exit from Sri Lanka with the Tourist eVisa?

With the Tourist eVisa, a visitor will be allowed to enter and exit Sri Lanka one time only as it is a single entry eVisa.

Sri Lanka Business eVisa

What is the purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Business eVisa?

The purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Business eVisa is entrepreneurship and business related activities.

What is the total validity of a Sri Lanka Business eVisa?

The total validity of a Sri Lanka Business eVisa is 12 months. This validity starts from the date on which the eVisa is issued to the applicant.

For how many days can travellers stay in Sri Lanka with the Business eVisa?

Travellers can stay in Sri Lanka for a period of ninety days per visit with the Business eVisa.

How many times can a visitor enter and exit from Sri Lanka with the Business eVisa?

With the Business eVisa, a visitor will be allowed to enter and exit Sri Lanka multiple times as it is a multiple entry eVisa.

Sri Lanka Transit eVisa

What is the purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Transit eVisa?

The purpose of travel served on a Sri Lanka Transit eVisa is layover and transit related activities.

What is the total validity of a Sri Lanka Transit eVisa?

The total validity of a Sri Lanka Transit eVisa is 02 days only. This validity starts from the date on which the eVisa is issued to the applicant.

For how many days can travellers stay in Sri Lanka with the Transit eVisa?

Travellers can stay in Sri Lanka for a period of two days with the Transit eVisa.

How many times can a visitor enter and exit from Sri Lanka with the Transit eVisa?

With the Transit eVisa, a visitor will be allowed to enter and exit Sri Lanka one time as it is a single-entry eVisa.

What Are the Basic Requirements to Obtain A Sri Lanka eVisa For Canadian Citizens?

The basic requirements to obtain an eVisa for Sri Lanka for the passport holders of Canada are:

  • A Canadian passport. This passport should be valid for a minimum period of 180 days from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.
  • A credit card or debit card. This is to make an online payment of the Sri Lanka eVisa fees which is usually non-refundable.
  • An active email address. This is to receive timely updates and notifications about the eVisa results.

 

What Are the Additional/Specific Documents Required to Obtain An eVisa For Sri Lanka from Canada?

The additional or specific documents required to obtain a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens are as follows:

  • Evidence of Sri Lanka. This document is usually submitted to show the accommodation arrangements in Sri Lanka where the traveller plans to stay for the duration of their trip.
  • Evidence of sufficient funds. This can be in the form of bank statements or employment proof which demonstrates that the traveller has enough funds to cover all their expenses in Sri Lanka.
  • Return or onward journey ticket. The traveller will have to present their return ticket or an onward journey ticket if they are transiting from Sri Lanka within forty-eight hours of arriving in the country.
  • A Business letter. If a business visitor is entering Sri Lanka with the Business eVisa, they will have to possess a valid Business letter which is issued from the side of the organisation with whom they will be indulging in business activities. Or the organisation that is inviting them to do business with their company in Sri Lanka.
  • Invitation letter. If an applicant wants to apply for a Business eVisa for attending meetings and conferences in Sri Lanka, they will have to hold an invitation letter from the side of the organisation that is hosting the meeting/conference in the country.
  • Visa for the destination. If a traveller plans to transit from Sri Lanka to a third location, they will have to present a Visa for their destination.

How Much Time in Advance Should a Traveller Apply For A Sri Lanka eVisa From Canada?

Usually, an eVisa for Sri Lanka is obtained extremely quickly. Most applicants receive their approved eVisa within 24 hours of application. Only in certain rare circumstances, the processing period may get delayed for up to 03 business days.

Keeping in mind that the general processing period of a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens is 02 to 03 business days, all applicants should start applying for an eVisa at least 05 days in advance from the date on which they plan to travel to Sri Lanka.

What Is the Online Application Process Of A Sri Lanka eVisa From Canada?

The online application process of a Sri Lanka eVisa from Canada includes the following steps:

  1. Access Online Sri Lanka Visa website.
  2. Fill out the online application form with necessary and relevant personal, passport, travel and contact details.
  3. Review the information mentioned in the application form and make sure that there are no inconsistencies or false information in the application.
  4. Make an online payment of the Sri Lanka eVisa application via payment methods such as a credit card or a debit card.
  5. Receive eVisa confirmation and wait for the processing/approval period to end.
  6. Receive the approved eVisa in the email inbox and print it out.
  7. Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, present the eVisa paper copy, passport and other travel documents to enter Sri Lanka.

What Are Some Useful Tips To Apply For A Sri Lanka eVisa From Canada?

Applying for a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens is extremely simple and straightforward. However, applicants can make use of some useful advice from time to time to ensure the successful application of an eVisa for Sri Lanka:

Apply for an eVisa well in advance

A Sri Lanka eVisa is one of the quickest forms of obtaining a valid Visa for Sri Lanka. Even with that, it is recommended for all applicants to ensure that they are applying for an eVisa well in advance so that if any unexpected or unforeseen events take place during the processing period, the applicant will be able to obtain an approved eVisa just in time.

Double-check the eVisa requirements

As we all know, each travel purpose to Sri Lanka is associated with a specific eVisa type. And each eVisa type has a set of requirements that should be met without which getting an eVisa is almost impossible.

Before a Canadian applicant starts applying for a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens, they are advised to double-check the eVisa requirements associated with the type of eVisa obtained by them to make sure that they are able to successfully obtain their desired eVisa type.

Complete filling out the eVisa application form correctly

Filling out the Sri Lanka eVisa application form is one of the most important steps in the online application process. Thus it should be done correctly and with the utmost precision. Take your time while filling out the eVisa application and make sure that all question fields are filled with details that are 100% correct.

Any errors or inconsistencies in the application form will either lead to a delayed processing or a cancelled/rejected application. Thus the application form should be filled out extremely carefully.

Pay the eVisa charges electronically

No matter what website the applicant uses to apply for a Sri Lanka eVisa, they will have to make an online payment of the eVisa. Thus it is recommended that all applicants keep their credit card or debit card information ready before they start applying for an eVisa so that there is no delay in the payment process. Please note that the cards that an applicant can use to make an online payment should either belong to American Express, Visa or MasterCard.

Keep checking the eVisa status and email inbox

Once the applicant has submitted their eVisa application and has received confirmation for the same, they are recommended to keep checking the eVisa status on the website through which they applied for an eVisa. And their email inbox as well as the approved eVisa will be sent on their email address. This is especially helpful if the eVisa result is negative as the applicant will be able to re-apply for an eVisa right away after getting the status update of a ‘Rejected’ eVisa.

Conclusion

We sincerely hope that this deVisailed guide was helpful for all Canadian applicants who wish to obtain a Sri Lanka eVisa for Canada citizens to fulfil all their dream purposes of visiting the country!

READ MORE:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sri Lanka e-Visa. Get answers to the most common questions about the requirements, important information and documents required to travel to Sri Lanka.


Apply for Sri Lanka e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens from Australia, Denmark, France and New Zealand can apply online for Sri Lanka e-Visa.