Гостевой пропуск работает как карта доступа.

Because гостевой is an adjective, and it has to agree with пропуск.

Here, пропуск is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

So the adjective also appears in the masculine singular nominative form:

• гостевой пропуск = guest pass

This is normal adjective-noun agreement in Russian.

In this sentence, пропуск means a pass, entry pass, or permit used to get into a place.

So гостевой пропуск is a guest pass or visitor pass.

This noun can have slightly different meanings in other contexts, but here it clearly means a physical or digital pass used for access.

Yes, работать usually means to work, but it can also mean to function or to operate.

So in this sentence:

• Гостевой пропуск работает...
  = The guest pass works... = The guest pass functions...

That sounds natural in Russian when talking about cards, passes, devices, systems, and so on.

So the meaning is not that the pass is doing a job, but that it functions in a certain way.

Работает как means works as, functions as, or acts like.

So:

• работает как карта доступа
  = functions as an access card

This is a very natural way in Russian to explain the practical function of something.

It suggests that the guest pass can be used in the same way as an access card.

Here как is followed by the nominative form карта, because the phrase is identifying the role or function of the item:

• как карта доступа = as an access card

In this type of sentence, Russian often uses как + nominative to mean in the role of or functioning as.

So the structure is:

• работать как + nominative noun

That is why you see карта, not something like картой here.

Because карта доступа literally means card of access.

In Russian, one noun often modifies another noun by putting the second noun into the genitive case.

So:

• карта = card
• доступ = access
• карта доступа = access card

This is a very common Russian pattern:

• центр города = city center
• чашка чая = cup of tea
• номер телефона = phone number

So доступа is genitive because it depends on карта.

Yes. That is a very natural translation.

Depending on context, these are all possible:

• The guest pass functions as an access card.
• The guest pass works as an access card.
• The guest pass works like an access card.

The difference is mostly stylistic in English. The Russian sentence is about function, not strict identity.

It suggests that the guest pass can be used for entry in the same way an access card is used.

Yes, Russian word order is fairly flexible, but the original order is the most neutral and natural:

• Гостевой пропуск работает как карта доступа.

This order presents:

1. the subject: гостевой пропуск
2. the verb: работает
3. the function/comparison: как карта доступа

You could rearrange it in some contexts for emphasis, but the original is best for a simple statement.

Yes, but it would change the structure.

For example, Russian might say:

• Гостевой пропуск служит картой доступа.

That means something like The guest pass serves as an access card.

Here, картой is in the instrumental case because the verb служить commonly takes instrumental.

So:

• работает как карта доступа
• служит картой доступа

Both are possible, but they use different grammar.

Not necessarily.

Гостевой пропуск could be:

• a physical badge
• a plastic card
• a temporary pass
• even a digital pass, depending on context

The sentence only tells you that it functions as an access card. It does not by itself tell you what form the pass takes.

Yes, it sounds normal.

It means a pass issued to a guest or visitor, especially in places like:

• offices
• business centers
• hotels
• secure buildings
• campuses

A close English equivalent would be guest pass or visitor pass.