Understanding The Differences Between Visas and Passports
When you think about travelling abroad, you think about a select few things, such as making memories, travel expenses, getting international travel insurance, and visa and passport applications.
However, some tend to think visas and passports are one and the same. While they’re both considered legal and travel documents and are necessary for international travel, they serve different purposes. Read on to learn what is the difference between passport and visa.
Visa vs Passport: Definitions
Passport
A passport is a government-issued identification document that signifies the identity and citizenship of the holder. When you are at an international destination, this government ID, your passport, will be the ultimate proof of your citizenship.
Visa
A visa is a limited-time authorisation on your name attached to your passport. This document, stamp or endorsement is provided to you by the immigration officials of the country you wish to visit. This document states that you are a reliable citizen and are permitted to visit the country for (whatever reason mentioned) a purpose.
Difference Between Passport and Visa
| Feature | Passport | Visa |
Form |
A passport is a government-issued official document. | A visa is an authorisation given to you to approve your travel. |
Details |
The contents of your passport are as follows: passport holder’s full name, date of birth, gender, photograph, signature, passport number, country code, address, place of birth, place of issuance, date of issuance and expiry date. | The contents of your visa are as follows: visa holder’s full name, passport number, photograph, number of entries, visa type, purpose of your travel, date of issuance and expiry date of the document. |
Function |
A passport functions as a document of your identification as an Indian abroad. It is a piece of evidence for your identity and citizenship in a foreign land. | A visa works as an authentication and authorisation note for the airport officials of your destination/country to check. It allows you a temporary entrance into the concerned country for your mentioned purpose. |
Issued By |
The Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuing passports. You must go to your nearest passport office to get the document. Your passport is issued after thorough verification of your identity and police verification. | A visa is issued by immigration officers of the country you want to visit. You need to visit your destination country’s embassy or consulate to apply for a visa. The purpose of your visit, credibility, motivation for travel, and financial status will be checked before your application is accepted and the visa is issued. |
Validity |
An Indian passport is valid for 10 years for an adult and 5 years for a minor or until the minor turns 18, whichever comes earlier. | A visa is valid for a fixed and temporary amount of time. For most countries, the timeframe is 30, 60 or 90 days for short stays and up to 1 – 2 years for longer stays. |
Types |
There are multiple types of passports that have distinctive purposes.
1. Blue passport: regular citizens 2. White passport: government officials 3. Maroon passport: diplomats |
There are multiple types of visas that also cater to different issuers.
1. Tourist visa for travelling purposes. 2. Student visa for educational purposes. 3. Business visa for entrepreneurial purposes. 4. Work visa for employment purposes. |
Visa Vs Passport: Are Passports and Visas Mandatory When Travelling?
It should also be noted that some countries or destinations do not require a passport or a visa. For example, Indian citizens can visit Bhutan and Nepal without requiring an Indian Passport.
Moreover, some countries offer visa-on-arrival services where you can apply for a visa once you reach your destination country. It’s always best to check whether your travel destination is one of the visa-on arrival countries for Indians to streamline your travel plans and processes.
Conclusion
The main difference between a passport and a visa is that passports primarily serve as ID on foreign soil, while visas function as entry permits that allow you to travel to your destination country. We hope this visa vs. passport discussion helped you clear any small doubts you had regarding the topic.
Before you set off on your trip it’s important to get travel insurance online. Most countires either mandate or heavily travel insurance plans as a part of their visa processes so it’s always best to go the extra mile and insure your trips – even when it’s not a mandate.
When you buy travel insurance online, make sure you go for reputed IRDAI-approved insurers like Tata AIG to ensure you get proper coverage under your travel insurance plans.
