A passport is a small, internationally-recognized booklet used to identify and distinguish the nationality of an individual. People require passports to travel from one country to another. When crossing international borders, a customs official places an official country stamp on one of the passport pages to mark the date of entry and exit into/out of the country. Different types of passports are available to citizens depending on the individual's primary reason for travel. For example, certain individuals may obtain a diplomatic or military passport.
A visa is an official travel document (generally a stamp or a sticker) that is affixed to one of the pages in a passport and is issued by the country the individual wishes to visit. Visas are required for entry into certain countries depending on the citizenship of the individual. See Resources for information on which countries require visas for U.S. citizens. Most people entering the U.S. must get a visa prior to entry. Different types of visas are available, depending on the traveler's reason for travel -- student visas, work visas and permanent resident visas.
For U.S. citizens, applying for a U.S. passport is relatively simple. First-time applicants must apply in person at a passport agency (usually found at a United States Postal Service Center), fill out official forms, prove U.S. citizenship, submit passport photographs and pay a fee. The passport agency will process the passport and mail it to the individual's home in four to six weeks. Once the individual receives the passport, he may travel abroad.
For U.S. citizens, travel to certain countries such as Brazil, Bolivia and Vietnam requires a visa. Visa applications vary by country and purpose of travel. Generally visas require a passport with at least six months of remaining validity, passport photographs and vaccination records as well as other official documents. Some countries allow visas to be processed through visa processing agencies while other countries require in-person application at a consulate or embassy. Visa processing times also vary depending on the country and purpose of travel.
