68, Kings Street, Kandy · ★ 4.9 Google rating
Home / Canada Visitor Visa Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan citizens need a Canada visitor visa, officially a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), to visit Canada for tourism, family visits or short business trips. We help individuals and families prepare clear, honest, well-documented applications, including the Super Visa for parents and grandparents.
★★★★★ 4.9 Google rating from 125+ reviews
Sri Lanka is not currently eligible for the lower-cost Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), so you must complete the full visitor visa application. Canada visitor visa refusals usually come down to weak ties to Sri Lanka, unclear purpose, or financial evidence that does not add up, not the trip itself.
Visa application fee per person, plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
Most approved visitors can stay up to six months per visit, as decided by the border officer on arrival.
A multiple-entry visa is usually issued and can be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport expires.
A Canada visitor visa, officially a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is an official document placed in your passport by IRCC. It allows you to travel to Canada for a temporary stay, typically for tourism, visiting family or friends, or attending business meetings.
Sri Lankan citizens are generally required to hold a valid TRV before travelling to Canada. Because Sri Lanka is not on Canada’s eTA-eligible list, Sri Lankan travellers must complete the full visitor visa process rather than the simpler eTA. Most approved visitors are authorised to stay for up to six months per visit, although the exact period is set by the border services officer at the port of entry.
A standard TRV for sightseeing, leisure travel, or seeing relatives and friends living in Canada. It can be issued for single or multiple entries. Common supporting documents include:
A special multiple-entry visa exclusively for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Stays of up to five years per visit, with multiple-entry validity of up to 10 years. Holders may apply from inside Canada to extend a stay by up to two further years. Key requirements:
2026 update: IRCC has relaxed how the host’s income is assessed, for example using either of the two most recent tax years, or supplementing the host’s income with the visiting parent’s own income in qualifying cases. With the permanent Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) heavily restricted, the Super Visa is now the main pathway for extended family reunification. Always confirm current LICO figures and insurance rules on canada.ca.
For meetings, conferences, negotiations, or site visits, without entering the Canadian labour market. Common documents include business registration documents, a company profile, a letter of invitation from the Canadian company or event organiser, conference or trade-show registration, business bank statements, and evidence of ongoing business in Sri Lanka.
The exact documents depend on your circumstances, purpose of travel, financial background, and travel history. Most applications require strong evidence in these areas.
A valid passport, ideally with at least six months’ validity beyond your planned travel date.
You must be in good health and have no criminal or immigration convictions that would make you inadmissible. A medical exam may be requested in some cases.
Employment, business, family, or property that will bring you back to Sri Lanka at the end of your visit. This is the single most important factor in most visitor visa decisions.
Enough funds to support your stay. The amount depends on the length of your trip and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
You must convince the officer that you intend to leave Canada at the end of your authorised visit.
A letter of invitation is written by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident inviting a friend, family member, or business associate to visit. While IRCC does not strictly require one for every application, it significantly strengthens a visitor visa application, particularly for family visits. It does not guarantee approval and should be supported by the host’s proof of status and, where relevant, their financial documents. A strong letter should clearly state:
If your application was refused, review the reasons carefully, correct the specific concerns with stronger evidence, and prepare a consistent new application. The Visa Central can review previous refusal cases and guide you where genuinely possible.
If your Canada visitor visa was refused, do not rush to reapply with the same documents. Before submitting a new application, review the refusal letter carefully, identify the exact concerns raised, correct weak or missing documents, explain any genuine change in circumstances, and provide stronger, more specific supporting evidence, while avoiding contradictory information across forms.
Most applications from Sri Lanka are submitted online through the IRCC secure portal. Biometrics are completed in person in Colombo through VFS Global, the authorised service provider for the Government of Canada in Sri Lanka.
We understand your purpose of travel, background, financial situation, and timeline.
A personalised checklist based on your profile and the type of visit.
We identify gaps, inconsistencies, or areas needing clarification before submission.
We assist with your IRCC online application, ensuring details are accurate and consistent across all forms.
We guide you through booking biometrics at the Canada Visa Application Centre in Colombo.
We help you monitor your application through your IRCC account and respond promptly to requests.
We support you until the process is complete and advise on next steps where relevant.
No. 675, Dr Danister De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 09, Sri Lanka.
No. 6, Srimath R. G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
As general guidance, IRCC’s average processing time for visitor visa applications from outside Canada is around 30 days as of mid-2026, but this varies significantly by volume and completeness. IRCC counts processing time from the day it receives your biometrics, not the day you apply online. Check the current time for Sri Lanka on the IRCC website and apply well before you plan to travel.
Set by IRCC and the same worldwide. General guidance only; confirm current fees before paying.
No visa consultant in Sri Lanka, or anywhere else, can guarantee a visa. Any consultancy that promises guaranteed approval should be treated with caution. The final decision always rests with IRCC and, at the border, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
What we do promise is professional preparation, clear advice and honest guidance at every step.
Download our free Canada Visitor Visa Checklist and understand the key documents generally required for Sri Lankan applicants, including letter-of-invitation guidance and common mistakes to avoid.
Enter your details and we will send the checklist straight to you.
Form not showing? It needs a free form plugin. See the setup guide, step 6.
Yes. Sri Lankan citizens generally need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before travelling to Canada. Sri Lanka is not currently on Canada’s eTA-eligible list.
Most tourists apply for the standard Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa), which can be issued for single or multiple entries.
Yes. The standard visitor visa can be used to visit family or friends, provided the purpose and supporting documents are clear. A letter of invitation is recommended.
In most cases, visitors can stay for up to six months per visit, as determined by the border services officer on arrival.
The visa fee is CAD $100 per person (family maximum CAD $500), plus biometrics of CAD $85 per person. Confirm current fees on IRCC before paying.
IRCC’s average for applications from outside Canada is around 30 days as of mid-2026, but it varies by volume and completeness. Processing counts from when IRCC receives your biometrics.
There is no single fixed amount. Your funds should reasonably support your travel plan, duration of stay, and personal circumstances.
It is not always mandatory, but a well-written letter of invitation from your host significantly strengthens family visit applications.
The Super Visa is a special long-stay, multiple-entry visa exclusively for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, allowing stays of up to five years per visit.
A Super Visa can be valid for up to 10 years as a multiple-entry visa, allowing stays of up to five years per visit, with the option to request a two-year extension from inside Canada.
Private medical insurance from a Canadian insurer with at least CAD $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada.
Yes. The host child or grandchild must meet the minimum necessary income (based on LICO) for their family size. IRCC relaxed how this is calculated in 2026, so confirm the current rules.
A relative cannot “sponsor” a visitor visa the way a permanent-residence sponsorship works, but they can provide a letter of invitation, financial support, or act as a Super Visa host where eligible.
IRCC usually issues a multiple-entry visa, valid up to 10 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
No. A visitor visa does not permit work. Employment in Canada requires a separate work permit.
Only short courses of six months or less. For longer programs you need a study permit.
Travel history can support an application but is not the only deciding factor. Your full circumstances are assessed.
You may apply from inside Canada for a visitor record to extend your authorised stay, subject to IRCC approval. Apply before your current status expires.
Review the refusal reasons carefully and prepare a stronger application addressing the specific concerns before reapplying. We can review your refusal and guide you where possible.
We provide professional guidance, document support, application assistance, and submission guidance based on the service package you select.
No. No consultancy can guarantee a visa. The final decision is made by IRCC and, at the border, by the CBSA.
Because we focus on transparency, genuine advice, professional document review, and personalised support, including Super Visa applications, without false promises.
Speak with The Visa Central for professional guidance before you apply.