Question 1

What is an eVisa or Travel Authorization?

Accepted Answer

An eVisa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a digital travel document required by many countries for visa-exempt travelers. Unlike traditional visas, they are linked electronically to your passport and can be applied for entirely online.

Question 2

Do I need to print my travel authorization?

Accepted Answer

While your authorization is digitally linked to your passport, we strongly recommend holding a printed copy of your approval document during your travels, as some airlines or border control officers may request to see it.

Question 3

What is the difference between an embassy visa and an eVisa?

Accepted Answer

An embassy visa requires you to physically visit a consulate, submit physical photos, and possibly attend an interview. An eVisa or ETA is an expedited online process designed for tourism or short business trips.

Question 4

Which travel authorizations does Charta Visa support?

Accepted Answer

We currently support the US ESTA, UK ETA, and Canada eTA. ETIAS for the Schengen Area is coming in late 2026. We are continuously expanding to new destinations — create a free profile to be notified when new visas launch.

Question 5

How is my personal data protected?

Accepted Answer

Your data is encrypted at rest and in transit using industry-standard protocols. We are fully GDPR compliant, never share your information with third parties, and you can request permanent deletion of your account data at any time. We store only what is strictly necessary to complete your application.

Question 6

What is the US ESTA?

Accepted Answer

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Question 7

How long is an ESTA valid for?

Accepted Answer

An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During this time, you can make multiple trips to the US, staying up to 90 days per visit.

Question 8

Who is eligible for the US ESTA?

Accepted Answer

ESTA is available to passport holders from the 42 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, including Australia, the UK, most EU member states, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and others. You must hold a valid e-passport (with a chip). If your country is not on the VWP list, you will need a standard US visitor visa.

Question 9

What happens if my ESTA is denied?

Accepted Answer

An ESTA denial does not mean you cannot visit the United States — it means you will need to apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa through a US embassy or consulate instead. This is a more involved process. Our support team can advise you on next steps if this happens.

Question 10

What is the UK ETA?

Accepted Answer

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa to visit the UK. It gives you permission to travel to the UK, and it is electronically linked to your passport.

Question 11

How long is a UK ETA valid?

Accepted Answer

A UK ETA is valid for two years. You can travel to the UK as many times as you like during that time, staying up to 6 months per visit.

Question 12

Who needs a UK ETA?

Accepted Answer

The UK ETA is required for nationals of countries that can visit the UK without a standard visa — including US, Canadian, Australian, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals are currently exempt, as are those who already hold a valid UK visa or a British National (Overseas) passport.

Question 13

When must I have my UK ETA before travelling?

Accepted Answer

You must have an approved ETA before you board a plane, train, or ferry to the UK. Airlines and carriers are legally required to verify this before boarding. We recommend applying at least 72 hours before departure, though approvals are typically granted much sooner.

Question 14

What is ETIAS?

Accepted Answer

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an upcoming entry requirement for visa-exempt travelers visiting Europe's Schengen area. It is similar to the US ESTA.

Question 15

Do US citizens need ETIAS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once the ETIAS system is fully operational, US citizens (and other visa-exempt nationalities) will need an approved ETIAS to enter the Schengen area.

Question 16

How long does it take to apply?

Accepted Answer

With Charta Visa's guided wizard, most people complete their application in about 10 minutes. If you need to stop, your progress is automatically saved.

Question 17

Can I apply for my family or a group?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can create traveler profiles for family members and manage everyone's applications from your single account. Each person, including children, needs their own authorization.

Question 18

What happens if my application is denied?

Accepted Answer

If your electronic authorization is denied, you will typically need to apply for a standard visitor visa through the respective country's embassy or consulate.

Question 19

How much does Charta Visa cost?

Accepted Answer

Our service fee is  per person. This covers the full guided application wizard, our 23-point error review, real-time status tracking, and lifetime support — from the moment you apply to any future changes. Government processing fees are charged separately and vary by destination.

Question 20

Are the official government fees included?

Accepted Answer

Yes — everything is included. The price you see is the total you pay. Charta Visa bundles the official government processing fee together with our guided application form, pre-submission review, real-time status tracking, and customer support into an all-in price. No hidden charges, no surprise fees at checkout, and no separate government payment to worry about.

Question 21

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you haven't submitted your application through our service, you can request a full refund of our service fee at any time. See our Refund Policy for details.

How can we help you?

General Information

How can we help you?

General Information