Because the application for the Sri Lankan ETA for Canadian citizens can be completed online, the entire application process is shorter than for a traditional visa. Once the application has been filled in and submitted, which normally takes only a few minutes, processing time for the visa is around 24 hours. However, since delays can occasionally occur, travelers from Canada are recommended to apply for their online Sri Lanka visa for Canadian Citizens at least 2 business days before their intended date of departure for Sri Lanka.
Once the Sri Lanka ETA for Canadian citizens has been processed and approved, the ETA document is delivered electronically to the applicant via email. This eliminates the need for travelers to wait in lengthy queues at their Sri Lankan port of entry to apply for a visa on arrival. It also makes the process much quicker than applying for a traditional visa at a Sri Lankan consulate or embassy.