Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) vs Visa on Arrival which is faster?

Asked 2 days agoSeen by 150 travellers2 found this helpful
J
Jake Miller470 rep
asked 2 days ago

My flight to Colombo is in a week. Should I apply for the ETA online now, or is it just as fast to get the Visa on Arrival at the airport? I land at 2 AM and don’t want to stand in a massive queue.

2
asked 2 days ago
J
Jake Miller470 rep

2 Answers from travellers

Accepted Answer

Always apply for the ETA online before you fly. The Visa on Arrival counter at BIA (Colombo Airport) can have very long queues, especially when multiple flights land at 2 AM. The online ETA usually processes within 24 hours and lets you walk straight to passport control.

5
answered 2 days ago
N
Nuwan P.1580 rep

Online is definitely better. I did it last month and got the approval email in 10 minutes. Print a copy just in case your phone dies, though they usually just scan your passport and see it in the system.

3
answered 2 days ago
S
Sarah Jenkins310 rep

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