Difference Between Passport and Visa
What is the Difference Between Passport and Visa?
A passport is an official document identifying you as a citizen, while a visa is a permit allowing you to enter, stay, or leave a foreign country. You need both to travel internationally, with the passport for identification and the visa for permission to enter a specific country.
Table of Contents
Key Differences Between Passport and Visa
Passport and visas are both important documents essential for travelling abroad, without which one cannot cross their country’s borders. Though both the documents are essential to enter another country either for work or travel, as it helps you prove your nationality or citizenship.
On this page, you will find all the details regarding passport and visa including key differences between the two essential documents.
The following are the key differences between both the legal documents – Passport and Visa:
Passport | Visa |
The passport is issued by your own country | A visa is a legal document issued by the country you wish to travel to |
The passport serves as identity proof. It is a legal document that shows which country you belong to | A visa is a document that legally allows you to travel to foreign countries for a particular period of time |
The passport is a legal document issued by the Ministry of External Affairs which contains all your personal details | A visa is a stamp or sticker that is put on your country’s passport |
The passport is valid for five to ten years | A visa validity may differ on the purpose of your visit to a foreign country. It may range from one day to an entire year or even a decade |
The passport is a mandatory document to have to prove your citizenship when you travel abroad | A visa is a mandatory legal permission document to have when you travel abroad to avoid serious legal consequences |
An essential document to carry in foreign countries | Depending on the country you travel to, visas are not mandatory |
Passport Resources
- Indian Passport
- Passport Login
- Passport Application Form
- Passport Renewal
- Documents for Passport
- Passport Enquiry
- Check Passport Status
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Passport Renewal Process
- Tatkal Passport
- Passport Dispatch Status
- Police Verification for Passport
- Passport Address Change
- Indian Passport for US Born Child to Indian Parents
- Short Validity Passport
- How to apply for indian passport in kolkata
- How to Apply for a Passport in Ahmedabad
- How to Apply for a Passport in Delhi
- How to Apply for Passport in Bangalore
- How to apply for indian passport in kolkata
- How to Apply for a Passport in Ahmedabad
- How to Apply for a Passport in Delhi
- How to Apply for Passport in Bangalore
FAQs on Difference Between Passport and Visa
- Is it important to carry your passport while travelling abroad?
Yes, it is important to carry your passport while travelling abroad, as it is required to enter a foreign country legally.
- Who issues a visa for travelling abroad?
The country you wish to travel issues a valid visa for you to travel abroad. You can visit the country’s consulate/ embassy or even check their website online for visa application.
- What is the difference between a visa and passport?
Both visa and passport are essential legal documents required to travel abroad. However, the key difference is that a passport is a document issued by one’s own country and which serves as an identity proof of citizenship, whereas a visa is legal permission given by the foreign country you wish to travel to. Visa is a document that allows you to legally travel to any foreign country either for work or leisure.
- Can I stay in a foreign country even after my visa has expired?
No, you are not legally allowed to stay in a foreign country once your visa has expired. You need to come back to your own country, failing which you can face severe legal consequences such as fines or banning you from visiting the country again.
Disclaimer
Credit Card:
Credit Score:
Personal Loan:
Home Loan:
Fixed Deposit:
Copyright © 2025 BankBazaar.com.