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What is a visa, and how does it differ from a passport?
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Passport pages showing immigration stamps from Indonesia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina, including red, blue, and black inked entry and exit stamps with visible dates in February 2020. Cover of the 2007 U.S. passport, dark blue with gold text reading Passport and United States of America, featuring the Great Seal of the United States and an electronic passport symbol.

What is a visa, and how does it differ from a passport?: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Brian Duignan
    Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 04, 2026
Mention of the H-1B visa added. Sep 22, 2025
Media added. Jun 02, 2025
New article added. May 30, 2025
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