When traveling abroad, should I apply for a passport or visa first?

Apply for a passport first rather than a visa first. Chinese citizens leaving and entering the country must apply for passports or other travel documents in accordance with the law. Chinese citizens traveling to other countries or regions also need to obtain a visa or other entry permit from the country of destination. 1. Visas and Passports

Passports are proof of the holder’s nationality and identity, while visas are permission certificates issued by sovereign countries that allow foreign citizens or their own citizens to enter, exit, or pass through the country’s borders.

Visas are generally endorsed on the passport, and some are endorsed on other travel documents that replace the passport. Some also issue separate visas. For example, the immigration visa of the United States and Canada is a piece of A4-sized paper, and Singapore also issues a separate visa to foreigners. Generally speaking, the visa must be used at the same time as the passport to be valid.

2. Passport types

The types of passports issued by various countries are different. China's passports are divided into diplomatic passports, official passports, ordinary passports and special zone passports. Ordinary passports are further divided into ordinary official passports and ordinary private passports.

Diplomatic passports are mainly issued to Chinese government officials above the level of vice ministers, vice governors, etc., the chief and deputy heads of important party, government, and military delegations, as well as diplomatic and consular officials and their accompanying spouses, Minor children, diplomatic couriers, etc.

Official passports are mainly issued to staff of Chinese government departments at all levels, Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, consular agencies and staff of the United Nations organizational system and its relevant specialized agencies and their accompanying spouses, unaccompanied spouses, and unaccompanied persons. Adult children, etc.

Legal basis: "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China" Article 9 Chinese citizens who intend to enter or exit the country shall apply for a passport or other travel documents in accordance with the law. Chinese citizens traveling to other countries or regions also need to obtain a visa or other entry permit from the country of destination. However, this does not apply unless the Chinese government has signed a mutual visa exemption agreement with the governments of other countries or if the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides otherwise. Chinese citizens who enter or exit the country as seafarers or work on foreign ships must apply for a seafarer's certificate in accordance with the law.