10 Difference Between Passport and Visa (With Table)

Traveling abroad can be both an exciting and life-changing experience. The new insights, adventure, and taste of different culture are worth giving it a try.

But any wanderlust will be expected to have vital traveling documents. These documents are ideal for satisfying your citizenship and grant you permission to enter a foreign country.

Passport and Visa are crucial traveling documents to consider. Any traveler may require both before entering another country.

So, what is the main difference between passport and visa? The former identifies the citizenship of a person planning to travel abroad while the latter is permission granted by the foreign country to travel and stay for a particular period.

This article provides further differences between passport and visa in a tabular form for a deeper understanding. Take the time to read through it and learn to distinguish these traveling documents.

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Comparison Table (Passport vs Visa)

Basic Terms	Passport	Visa
Meaning	It is a legal travel document that the government issues to citizens for certifying their nationality and identity.	It is official permission granted by another country to allow entry and stay for a specified period.
Description	Personal identification.	Official permission.
Nature of the Document	Small-size booklet	A stamp placed on the passport
Significance	To reveal personal identity during foreign travels.	Legal authorization to permit an individual to enter and stay in a foreign country.
Source of Issuance	Country of Origin.	The country you intend to visit.
Main Features	Names. Citizenship. Date of Birth. Photo. Physical Address.	Reason for visiting the foreign country. Stipulate the duration of staying in a foreign land.
Approval Status	Privately approved	Publicly certified
Authority of Issue	Specific government department	Embassy or consulate
Form	Legal document	Stamp
Security	No protection	Guarantee a higher level of protection in case of security concern.

What Is a Passport?

It is a legal travel document that allows an individual to travel to foreign countries. It is issued by the government of a country to help identify the bearer with nationality.

The document enables the holder to travel abroad under its protection. Passport usually varies from one country to another. But it contains the same basic features like names, photos, place,s and more.

It acts as proof of the holder’s citizenship to permit entry into a country. A passport has an expiry date of about ten years. It is subjected to renewal.

The advancement in technology has enabled many countries to consider biometric passports. The microchip embedded in the passport is machine-readable. Forging a biometric passport is difficult.

Popular types of passports are ordinary passports, official passports, and diplomatic passports. The diplomats use diplomatic passports during the travels to foreign countries.

What Is a Visa?

It is a temporal legal authorization granted by immigration officials of a foreign country, permitting the person to enter and stay for a specified period.

The permission specifies the reason for travel. Visa is conditional in nature since it is approved by the immigration officer. These officers have the power to grant or deny an individual the chance to enter a country.

Visa specifies the period of stay, date, place to visit, and number of visits. Keep in mind that a visa is issued for a number of reasons like student visa, tourist visa, transit visa, medical visa, and business visa.

Main Difference between Passport and Visa

Passport issued by the government of a country to its citizens. Visa issued by immigration officers from a foreign country at the embassy.
A passport is a personal identification of the holder. Visa is official permission to visit a foreign land.
A passport is a legal travel document. Visa is affixed in the passport.
Passport issued by a government department. Visa issued by immigration office at the embassy.
Passport is approved privately. Visa is approved publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need A Passport for A Visa?

Absolutely. A passport is a booklet where the visa stamp is affixed by the immigration officer. You cannot travel to a foreign land without a passport.

Where Can I Go Without A Visa?

USA passports allow American citizens to travel to Europe, the Caribbean, North and South America without a visa. Besides that, Americans can travel to any tourist destination in the world without a visa.

Which Type of US Visa Is Easy to Get?

Visit visa is the easiest and most appropriate to get. B-visa is ideal for people desiring to visit the US for business and medical purposes.

Is Getting US Visa Difficult?

Absolutely. An individual needs to hire an experienced attorney to help during the application process. There is no guarantee of getting the applied visa due to so many reasons like criminal records.

Is UK Visa Easy to Get?

Yes. But it depends on the type of visa. A standard visitor visa is the easiest to secure. Keep in mind that the longer the period, the harder it becomes to get the visa.

In Conclusion

Every country has a structured accounting system for people that enter and leave the nation. It forms are an excellent method for regulating the entry and exit of people.

Passports are internationally recognized and play a crucial role in helping identify the citizenship of an individual. Each country has a government department for issuing passports.

The emergency of fake passports has forced many countries to adopt biometric passports that contain a microchip. Getting a visa is super easy since it involves an official stamp.

So, what is the difference between a visa and a passport? A visa is an official stamp granting permission to enter a foreign land for a specified period while a passport is a personal identification document for traveling in foreign countries.

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