People with diplomatic status are those who serve as ambassadors or liaisons to another country. This can include heads of state, government officials and governmental delegates who are serving as delegates for national affairs or activities. In accordance with the International Convention, the spouse and children of those granted diplomatic status are typically granted diplomatic status as well. The United States grants A-1 and A-2 visas to foreign citizens who are traveling to the U.S. on behalf of their countries' government. To obtain this type of diplomatic passport, foreign citizens must be solely in the U.S. for their government's affairs.
A service or official passport is granted to a government official or government worker who is traveling in another country to perform official duties. This passport is also available for all that work for embassies or consulates but do not possess diplomatic status. If granted authorization, this type of passport is also available for the spouses and children of aforementioned government officials and workers. A service passport may also be granted to a U.S. government contractor who is traveling to another country to perform work for the U.S. government.
This tourist passport, also known as regular passport, is one of the most common passports granted to citizens who may be traveling abroad. This passport is issued by the U.S. and is generally valid for 10 years for those 16 years old or older and five years for those who are 15 years old and under. An alternative to the tourist passport is the U.S. passport card. The U.S. passport card, which is granted on the same basis as a regular passport, allows U.S. citizens to travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The passport card is only valid through land and sea ports of entry in the aforementioned countries and is not valid for global travel. The disadvantage of a passport card is that it does not permit International air travel; its advantage is that it is less expensive than a regular passport. The passport card validity period is the same as a tourist passport.
A family passport allows one passport holder, usually a parent, to cover the family under his passport. For example, a father who is a family passport holder can take his wife and children with him as he travels abroad. The holder of a family passport can also use his family passport to travel alone; however, this only works one way, other family members who are not the passport holder may not use the passport to travel alone.
A collective passport is granted to a group of people who are traveling together, this type of passport is rarely granted. An example of a collective passport is a passport granted to a school group traveling abroad.
