What is the difference between a passport and a visa? When do you need a passport and a visa?

1. You need a passport to enter and leave this country. All countries in the world generally stipulate that citizens must hold valid passports (or other documents instead of passports) when entering or leaving the country. Some countries have to go through entry and exit formalities in addition to passports. Without a passport or certificate, it is regarded as illegal entry and exit.

2. If a citizen of a country wants to travel, settle down, do business or study in other countries, he must have a valid passport or travel document, and another condition is to obtain a visa to other countries.

There are three differences between passport and visa, namely, concept, application place and type:

First of all, the concept is different.

1. Passport is the holder's nationality and identity certificate, and visa is the permission certificate of a sovereign country to allow foreign citizens or their own citizens to enter, exit or transit.

2. Visas are generally endorsed on passports, some are endorsed on other travel documents instead of passports, and some are issued separately. For example, immigration visas in the United States and Canada are A4 paper, and Singapore also issues separate paper visas to foreigners. Generally speaking, a visa must be used at the same time as a passport to be valid.

Second, the application place is different.

1. Passport: Generally, it is handled at the exit-entry administration department of the public security bureau where the applicant's household registration is located.

2. Visa: Usually, you apply at a foreign embassy or consulate in that country.

Third, the types are different.

1. Passport: Most countries issue diplomatic passports, official passports (or official passports) and ordinary passports.

1) Diplomatic passports are passports issued by the government to foreign diplomatic representatives, consular officials, heads of state, heads of government, parliamentarians and members of government delegations. It also applies to the spouses and minor children of the above-mentioned persons. The passport is marked "diplomatic". ?

2) Official passports (or official passports) are issued to people who go abroad to engage in various official activities, such as general government officials, staff of embassies and consulates abroad, and personnel sent abroad to perform cultural and economic tasks. Passport is marked "service" or "official business". ?

3) Ordinary passports are passports issued to citizens who go abroad or live in foreign countries for personal reasons, and are the most widely issued and used passports in the world. This kind of passport can be divided into three types according to its validity period: long-term valid passport (valid for 3 years or 10 years), short-term valid passport (valid for less than 3 years) and indefinite passport (valid permanently under certain conditions). ?

2. Visa type

Generally divided into diplomatic visas, official visas and ordinary visas, and some countries also issue courtesy visas. Issue exit visas, entry visas, entry visas, entry visas and transit visas according to the entry and exit situation.

Transit visas pass through the country at the designated entry and exit ports within a limited time (such as hours and days), and are generally not allowed to travel to other areas. When applying for a transit visa, you must have an entry visa for the country you are going to. Some countries classify visas into student visas, work visas, residence visas and tourist visas according to entry reasons. ?

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