Originally published at: Visa vs. Passport | GoVisaFree
A visa and a passport can often be mistaken for each other. However, the two are entirely separate documents sharing a major characteristic in common: They’re both required for international travel.
Countries may have visa agreements between them that allow their citizens to travel visa-free to certain destinations. However, hardly ever can anyone travel internationally without carrying a valid passport.
Read on to learn about the definitions of a visa and a passport; and the properties that differentiate the two from one another.
What Is a Passport?
A passport is an official document of identification that includes a person's name, address, photo, and information about the date and place of birth. In addition to personal information, a passport contains several blank pages for immigration officers to affix stamps each time you exit or enter a country while traveling internationally.
Passports are issued to the citizens by the governments of their countries of nationality.
International traveling almost always requires a passport. If you don’t carry a valid passport, customs and immigration officials can block your entrance or exit in and out of countries
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An exception to the obligation to carry around a passport during international travels is the regulations in the Schengen Area. The Schengen Agreement, which includes 26 countries, allows passport-free travel within the member states of Schengen. However, even though the officials will let you in the country passport-free, you may not be able to fly without one because most airlines demand to see your passport to get on board.</span></p> </div>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="What_Is_a_Visa"></span><b>What Is a Visa? </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A visa is an official permit that governments issue foreigners to enter their countries. It can be valid for ten days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or longer, but after the expiration date of a visa, you’re no longer allowed to stay in the country that issued it to you. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are several requirements you need to meet to obtain a visa. These requirements may vary depending on the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While most countries require tourist visas, business visas, transit visas, employment or student visas, some countries allow visa-free entrance to citizens of certain countries. There are also countries that issue visas upon arrival.</span></p> </div>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Difference_Between_Passport_and_Visa"></span><b>Difference Between Passport and Visa </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While a passport is a document of identification issued to a person by the government of their country of citizenship, a visa is an official permit issued by a foreign government to allow a person to enter their country legally. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first is issued to enable a person to leave their country, whereas the latter permits that person’s entrance into a foreign country. </span></p> </div>
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<span class="gvf-alert-content"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At times, travelers may get confused about whether they need a visa or a passport. To avoid such confusion, it’s best that you keep your passport around regardless of whether or not your destination requires it. This way, you won’t have to deal with any potential inconveniences if an official in a foreign country or an airline employee demands to see it. Also, don’t forget to do research on the country of your destination before you travel and apply for a visa if required.</span></p></span>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Types_of_Passport"></span><b>Types of Passport</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The issued type of a passport may vary depending on the profession or status of an individual, or the reason for application.</span></p> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Regular_Passports"></span> Regular Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are the standard passports that can be issued to all the regular citizens of a country. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Service_Passports"></span>Service Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A service passport is a type of passport that’s issued to the officials of the government. The dependents of government officials can also obtain service passports. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Diplomatic_Passports"></span> Diplomatic Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diplomatic passports are issued to diplomats for international travel. It also allows them to reside in foreign countries to serve state missions. The dependents of diplomats can also acquire diplomatic passports. However, holding a diplomatic passport doesn’t grant diplomatic immunity in a foreign country by nature, the diplomatic privileges are to be discussed with the country of destination. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Family_Passports"></span>Family Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Family passports are joint documents that allow a family to travel internationally. A family passport is held by one person and the rest of their family members are included in the travel document. This type of passport used to be quite common back in the day but nowadays, most countries issue separate passports to parents and their children. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Collective_Passports"></span>Collective Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Collective passports are issued to people traveling in groups such as a bunch of students going abroad for a school trip. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h3 class="gvf-accordion-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Emergency_Passports"></span>Emergency Passports<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> </div>
<div class="gvf-accordion-content" data-content=""><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emergency passports are issued in cases of passport losses or theft. An emergency passport is typically a temporary document that provides the opportunity for immediate international travel. They expire when the actual document is delivered. </span></p></div> </div>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Types_of_Visa"></span><b>Types of Visa </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are various types of visas that are issued in accordance with the purpose of travel. </span></p> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Transit_Visa"></span><b>Transit Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A transit visa only allows a traveler to transit through a country while traveling to other locations. The typical validation period for a transit visa is 24 hours but it can go up to two weeks. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Tourist_Visa"></span><b>Tourist Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A tourist visa is generally issued for 30 to 90 days to people who travel for touristic purposes. There are some countries that issue 10-year tourist visas on the condition of periodical entries. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Student_Visa"></span><b>Student Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Student visas are issued to students who want to study abroad. A student visa is valid throughout the relevant study program. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Work_Visa"></span><b>Work Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Work visas are issued to those employed in a foreign country. A work visa is valid until the finalization of a work contract: so long as the contract gets renewed, the visa can be extended.</span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Working_Holiday_Visa"></span><b>Working Holiday Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working holiday visas allow tourists to travel to foreign countries and work in specific industries, typically for a year or two. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Business_Visa"></span><b>Business Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Business visas are issued to those who travel to a foreign country to conduct business there. The validity period of a business visa varies depending on the type of business and the destination. Business visa validity can go up to several months. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Immigrant_Visa"></span><b>Immigrant Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An immigrant visa allows a person to obtain a permanent residency permit in a foreign country. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Retirement_Visa"></span><b>Retirement Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Retirement visas allow people who belong to the relevant age bracket and have the financial means to support their retirements abroad to retire in a foreign country. </span></p></span> </div>
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<span ><h3><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Pilgrimage_Visa"></span><b>Pilgrimage Visa</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pilgrimage visas are issued for religious travels such as going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. </span></p></span> </div>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Other_Travel_Documents"></span><b>Other Travel Documents </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><strong>Certificate of Identity</strong><b>: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel document issued to non-citizens/the stateless, e.g., the Nansen passport</span></p><p><strong>Refugee Travel Document</strong><b>: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel document that’s issued to those who hold a refugee status and are unable to use their national passports</span></p><p><strong>Interpol Travel Document</strong><b>: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel document that provides effortless international travel issued to officers of the Interpol for transnational investigations</span></p><p><strong>Travel Permits</strong><b>: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel documents issued by countries to residents who are unable to use their passports due to personal conditions, e.g., Australia Immicard or Japan re-entry permit</span></p><p><strong>Chinese Travel Document</strong><b>: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Travel documents that are issued instead of regular passports by the PRC</span></p> </div>
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<h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="How_To_Get_a_Visa"></span><b>How To Get a Visa </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To get a visa, you’re required to apply for it at a consulate or an embassy of the relevant country. In addition to holding a valid passport, you must meet the visa requirements, such as delivering the required documents and paying the requested fees. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before applying for a visa, make sure your passport does not expire any sooner than three months after your departure date.</span></p><h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="What_Happens_After_I_Get_a_Visa"></span><b>What Happens After I Get a Visa? </b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If your visa application gets approved by the consulate or the embassy, they’ll either stamp your passport or hand you a separate document of a visa. If you got an electronic visa, on the other hand, you’ll have to print it out. </span></p><h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="The_Wrap-Up"></span><b>The Wrap-Up</b><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To avoid mix-ups and inconveniences at airports or borders, it’s always best to carry a valid passport with you while traveling internationally. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you do thorough research in advance on the visa regulations of the country you’re traveling to, on top of sticking to your passport at all times, you’re all good to go! </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bon voyage!</span></p> </div>
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<div class="col-12"><div class="gvf-post-item gvf-post-style-flat"><div class="gvf-post-subtitle">Read Next</div><h3 class="gvf-post-title"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Digital_Nomad_Visas"></span><a href="/digital-nomad-visa-freelance-visa/">Digital Nomad Visas </a><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3></div></div>
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