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The official sample acknowledgement gives a 48-hour response window. A response may request further action; it is not a guarantee of approval within 48 hours.
Apply with time to resolve a problem
Apply once your passport and travel details are settled, within the application and entry window applicable to your trip. Leave time to correct a mistake or answer an official request. Waiting until the airport leaves very little room to resolve a referral.
Keep your departure date separate from your Sri Lankan arrival date, particularly on overnight flights. Our validity guide explains the difference between the deadline to use an ETA and the stay allowed after entry.
Keep three records separate
| Record | What to do with it |
|---|---|
| Submission reference | Save it with the date and email address used. |
| Payment record, where applicable | Keep it as evidence of the transaction, without treating it as permission to travel. |
| Official outcome | Read the decision and conditions; save the approval when issued. |
If the application is still pending
Use the government portal’s status checker first. Check spam folders and make sure you are looking at the email account used in the application. A family organiser should check each traveller separately, even if applications were submitted together.
If the stated response window has passed, use the contact details on the official service and provide the existing reference through that official channel. Do not buy a second application simply because an advertisement promises faster processing.
When the flight is close
Explain the actual status to the official service and your airline. Ask what you need before departure and consider flexible booking arrangements while the outcome remains unresolved. This website cannot expedite a case or authorise boarding.
If information is incorrect, follow the correction guidance. For pending, referred and missing-email scenarios, continue to check your ETA status.
Official sample notices · Application procedure
Check the linked official information again before applying or travelling. The authorities determine individual visa and entry decisions.