What Is a Visa, and How Does It Differ from a Passport?

A visa is a supplement to a passport, usually in the form of a stamp, sticker, or insert and sometimes as a separate document. It represents a national government’s official approval of a foreign individual’s presence and specified activity in the country (such as tourism, work, or study), usually for a limited period. Visas vary not only in the activities and duration of stay they permit but also in the application and submission procedures they require. Most national governments issue visas through their embassies or consulates in other countries.

In contrast, a passport is an official document or certification issued by a national government that formally identifies a traveler as a citizen or national of the country with a right to protection while abroad.

There are several types of visas. The following are among the most common:

• Business visas are for business-related activities, such as attending a conference or negotiating a contract.
• Student visas are for foreign students attending universities, colleges, high schools, or other educational institutions.
• Medical visas are generally for medical treatment that is unavailable in the passport holder’s country of citizenship.
• Refugee, asylum, and humanitarian visas are for persons subject to violence or persecution in their home countries. Standard permanent visas may also be granted to persons facing such hardships.
• Tourist visas are for travelers visiting a country for a limited period and for leisure purposes only.
• Transit visas are for passage through a country that is not the traveler’s final destination. Transit visas limit the duration of the traveler’s layover and are often required for persons from specified countries.
• Work visas are for qualified applicants of various types, including professionals, skilled workers, and unskilled workers.

Two broader visa categories are permanent or resident visas, also called immigrant visas, and temporary or nonresident visas, also called nonimmigrant visas. Permanent visas, commonly known as “green cards” in the United States, entitle their holders to reside permanently and to be employed in the issuing country, whereas temporary visas allow tourists, students, patients, workers, and others to visit for a limited period.