Understanding Travel Documentation and Visa Types

Documentation

A process of legally securing the necessary travel papers for perspective passengers.

Citizen or National

A person who possesses the nationality of a country.

Alien

A person living in a country where he or she is not a citizen.

Immigrant

A person who legally enters a country with the purpose of establishing permanent residence.

Tourist

A person who temporarily visits a country for at least 24 hours.

Transit passenger

A person passing through a country without leaving the international transit area.

Passport

A passengersidentification document and proof of citizenship. It is also a document required for international travel.

Regular Passport

Most common type, it is issued to citizens for general leisure and business travel.

Official Passport

Issued to government officials or employees who are travelling abroad on official business.

Diplomatic Passport

Issued to certain government officials and their family members who are travelling on official business of a diplomatic nature.

Stateless person

Issued to an indicidual who cannot obtain a passport from their country of origin. Also known as "refugee passport."

Emergency passport

Issued to an individual who cannot obtain a passport from their country of origin. Also known as 'refugee passport'.

Seaman's passport

Issued to a crew member aboard commercial transport or pleasure trips. Also known as 'seaman's book or seafarer's passport'.

United Nations official passport

Issued to employees of United Nations and other recognized international organizations. Also known as 'United Nations Laissez-Passer'.

Visa

A document that allows a traveler to enter a foreign country.

Sticker Visa

Most common type. Sticker that is placed in a blank page of a passport for tourist visas, business visas, student visas, and other long-term visas.

Visa Stamp

Ink-based impression stamped into the passport, historically common for tourist or business visas.

E-visa

The traveler applies for the visa via the official government website and receives an electronic visa in the form of a PDF document or QR code.

Visa on Arrival (VoA)

Obtained upon arriving at the border, airport, or port of entry of the destination country for tourists or short-term visitors.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

A form of entry authorization granted electronically for travelers from countries that are part of a visa-waiver program.

Visa Waiver

Travelers are simply allowed to enter based on their nationality or the length and purpose of stay, subject to entry clearance.

Sticker Visa (Biometric)

Sticker visa that includes biometric data, such as fingerprints, iris scans, or a digital photo, for longer-term visas.

Sticker Visa with QR Code

QR code can be scanned to verify the visa's authenticity or to access additional details about the visa holder's status.

Group Visa

Issued to a group of travelers under a single visa authorization for tour groups, official delegations, or business groups.

Special Pass/Travel Pass

Issued for diplomatic missions, refugees, emergency travel, and other exceptional circumstances.

Single entry Visa

Allows the holder to enter the country once; a new visa would be required for any future visits.

Multiple entry Visa

Allows holder to enter and leave the country several times within the visa's validity period.

Transit Visa

Issued to travelers who are passing through a country on their way to another destination, usually valid for a short period.

Tourist Visa

Granted for people visiting a country for leisure, vacation, or sightseeing, typically with a fixed duration.

Refugee/Asylum Visa

Issued to individuals who seek refuge or asylum in another country due to persecution or threats in their home country.

Diplomatic/Official Visa

Issued to government officials, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations, often allowing for privileges like immunity.

Health Visa

Issued to foreign nationals traveling for medical treatment or procedures.

Working Holiday Visa

Issued to young people from select countries who want to travel and work temporarily in a foreign country to fund their travel.

Business Visa

Issued to individuals traveling to a foreign country for business-related activities, such as meetings or negotiations.

Student Visa

Issued to individuals who wish to study at an accredited educational institution in a foreign country.

Work Visa

Granted to individuals who wish to live and work in a foreign country, generally requiring an offer of employment.

Residence Visa

Allows the holder to reside in a country for a long-term or permanent basis.

Philippine Visa

A visa specific to entry into the Philippines.

Visa Policy of the Philippines

The regulations and guidelines governing the issuance of visas for entry into the Philippines.

Visa Waiver Program

A program that allows travelers from certain countries to enter without a visa.

Visa Refusal

The denial of a visa application, preventing entry into a country.