What's the difference between a tourist passport and a work passport?

Travel passport and work passport are two different passport types, the main difference lies in the purpose of use and the conditions of issuance.

Tourist passports, as the name implies, are mainly used for tourist purposes. It allows holders to enter and leave the country mainly for sightseeing, leisure and vacation. The conditions for issuing tourist passports are relatively relaxed. Usually, only the applicant has the corresponding basic conditions such as nationality, age and health, and meets the relevant regulations on entry and exit management.

Work passports are mainly used for work purposes. It allows the holder to legally engage in a specific occupation or job abroad. The conditions for issuing work passports are relatively strict. In addition to the basic conditions such as nationality, age and health, applicants usually need to provide relevant documents such as work contracts and work permits signed with overseas employers to prove their legal working status and qualifications abroad.

In addition, there may be differences in the validity period and visa requirements between tourist passports and work passports. Specifically, the validity period of a work passport may depend on the duration of a work contract or work permit, while a travel passport usually has a fixed validity period. In terms of visa requirements, the work passport may require the applicant to apply abroad and obtain the corresponding work visa, while the travel passport may only need to apply for a tourist visa or meet the visa-free policy.

To sum up:

There are obvious differences between tourist passports and work passports in terms of use purpose, issuance conditions, validity period and visa requirements. Tourist passports are mainly used for tourist purposes, and the issuance conditions are relatively loose; Work passports are mainly used for work purposes, and the issuance conditions are relatively strict. When applying for a passport, the applicant should choose the appropriate passport type according to his own travel purpose and needs, and abide by the relevant entry and exit management regulations.

Legal basis:

Passport Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 2 provides that:

The passport of the People's Republic of China is a document issued by People's Republic of China (PRC) to China citizens for international travel. Passports are divided into diplomatic passports, official passports, ordinary passports and SAR passports. Official passports are divided into official passports and ordinary official passports. SAR passports are divided into Hong Kong SAR passports and Macao SAR passports. Diplomatic passports, official passports and ordinary official passports are collectively called "official passports", and ordinary passports are generally called "personal passports".

Article 4 provides that:

Ordinary passports are issued by the Exit-Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security or the Exit-Entry Administration of the public security organs of local people's governments at or above the county level entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security, as well as China's embassies and consulates abroad and other overseas institutions entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Official passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the people of China, China's embassies and consulates abroad or other overseas institutions entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the foreign affairs departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities with districts entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.