A passport is an official document issued by a country to its citizens, certifying their nationality and identity when they travel abroad or reside in foreign countries. It serves as a travel permit for citizens to pass through international ports around the world. Some countries also issue travel documents that can be used in place of passports. In China, passports are categorized into diplomatic passports, official passports, ordinary passports, and special administrative region (SAR) passports. Ordinary passports are further divided into official ordinary passports and private ordinary passports. The validity of a passport does not exceed five years, and it can be extended twice before expiration, with each extension not exceeding five years. In China, the authorities responsible for issuing passports domestically are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. Overseas, these documents are issued by Chinese diplomatic missions, consular offices, and agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Passport Categories

Chinese passports are classified into: diplomatic passports, official passports, official ordinary passports (formerly known as public ordinary passports), ordinary passports, Hong Kong SAR passports, and Macau SAR passports.

Diplomatic passports, official passports, and official ordinary passports are collectively referred to as \"official passports\" and are valid for a maximum of five years.

Ordinary passports, commonly known as \"private passports,\" have validity periods of either five or ten years. They are issued by the Ministry of Public Security or its authorized local public security authorities, as well as by Chinese embassies, consulates, and the offices in Hong Kong and Macau, to Chinese citizens traveling abroad for non-official reasons such as settlement, family visits, study, employment, tourism, or business activities.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to Chinese citizens who have the right of abode in Hong Kong and hold a valid Hong Kong Permanent Resident Identity Card. Eligible individuals overseas may apply through Chinese diplomatic missions.

The Macau Special Administrative Region passport is issued by the Macau Identification Bureau to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Macau and hold a Macau Permanent Resident Identity Card.

The People's Republic of China Travel Document (commonly referred to as the Travel Document) is an international travel document used in place of a passport. It is issued by Chinese diplomatic missions, consular offices, and other overseas agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the following individuals: 1. Compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan who do not hold a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents or a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents and need to return to the mainland; 2. Taiwanese compatriots who are unable to apply for a foreign visa with their Taiwan travel documents; 3. Chinese citizens who are unable to apply for a passport due to time constraints or other limiting conditions.

A visa is a permit issued by a government authority in accordance with its national laws to foreigners who apply to enter, exit, or transit through the country.

According to the principles of international law, any sovereign state has the right to independently decide whether to allow foreigners to enter or leave its country, and the right to issue visas, refuse visas, or revoke already issued visas in accordance with its national laws.

Visas are usually attached to the passport or other international travel documents held by the applicant. Under special circumstances, a valid passport or other international travel document can be used to issue a visa on a separate sheet. With technological advancements, some countries have begun issuing electronic visas and biometric visas, significantly enhancing the anti-counterfeiting function of visas.

Visas play an important role in a country's control of inbound and outbound personnel, protection of national security, prevention of illegal immigration and criminals, and more.

Visa Categories

Visas in countries around the world are generally divided into two categories: entry visas and transit visas, with some countries also having exit visas. Chinese visas are divided into entry visas and transit visas.

Entry Visa

An entry visa permits the holder to enter the country within a specified period through open or designated ports. Chinese entry visas take effect from the date of issuance, while some countries explicitly state the effective date of the entry visa.

Transit Visa

A transit visa permits the holder to pass through the country within a specified period via open or designated ports en route to a third country. To obtain a transit visa, one must first secure a valid entry visa or permit from the destination country (except for visa-exempt countries). According to international practice, passengers with connecting tickets who transit directly through an airport without leaving it within 24 hours are generally exempt from visa requirements, but some countries still require foreigners transiting through their country to obtain a transit visa.

Exit Visa

An exit visa permits the holder to leave the country through open or designated ports. Some countries do not restrict the exit port. Many countries, including China, have abolished exit visas, allowing foreigners to leave the country with valid documents within the permitted stay period or the validity period of their residence documents.

Other Categories

Some countries also have entry-exit visas, exit-entry visas, and re-entry visas. These categories are not present in the current Chinese visa system.

A port visa refers to a visa issued by a country's visa authority at the port of entry to foreigners who have already arrived, allowing them to enter the country promptly to handle urgent matters. Countries that implement port visas have established conditions and procedures for applying for them. Some countries refer to port visas as landing visas, and the procedures for obtaining a landing visa are relatively simple.