Navigating the complex world of corporate immigration can be daunting, especially when faced with a myriad of technical terms and legal jargon. Whether you’re an HR professional managing international assignments, a business leader expanding into new markets, or an expatriate trying to understand your visa options, having a clear understanding of immigration terms is key.
This comprehensive glossary is designed to simplify corporate immigration for you, breaking down essential terms and concepts into easy-to-understand language.
| Term | Definition |
| Adjudicating Authority | The Adjudicating Authority refers to the official body or government agency responsible for reviewing and making final decisions on visa applications. |
| Application | This is another term for “Submission” of your application, including all required documents and forms. |
| Apostille | A certification that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country. |
| Assignee | An employee who is assigned to work in a different location for a temporary period. |
| Assignee Management | The process of managing employees who are assigned to work in a different location. |
| Business Permit | Authorisation granted by a government to conduct business activities in a specific location. |
| Business Traveler | An individual who travels for business purposes. |
| Business Visa | A visa that allows the holder to engage in business activities in a foreign country. |
| Compliance: Employment | Adherence to laws, regulations, and standards related to employment practices. |
| Consulate | A diplomatic office of a country in a foreign city that provides services to citizens of the home country. |
| Corporate Assignees | Employees who are assigned to work in a different location for a company. |
| Corporate Housing | Furnished accommodation provided by companies for their employees on temporary assignments. |
| Corporate Housing | Furnished accommodation provided by companies for their employees on temporary assignments. |
| Corporate Immigration | The process of managing immigration matters for employees moving to a foreign country for work. |
| Corporate Immigration Program | A program designed to manage immigration matters for a company’s employees. |
| Corporate Visa | A visa issued to individuals traveling for business purposes on behalf of a company. |
| Critical Skills | Skills that are considered essential for a particular industry or sector, often identified by governments as being in high demand and necessary for economic growth. |
| Cultural Training | Training that helps individuals understand and adapt to different cultures, often provided to employees relocating to a new country. |
| Data Compliance | Adherence to laws and regulations related to data protection and privacy. |
| Dependant Visa | A visa granted to dependents of a primary visa holder, allowing them to accompany the primary visa holder to a new country. |
| Destination Services | Services provided to individuals or families relocating to a new location, including orientation, housing, and schooling assistance. |
| Document Authentication | The process of verifying the authenticity of documents for immigration purposes. |
| Document Legalisation | The process of certifying a document for international use. |
| Document Procurement | The process of obtaining necessary documents for immigration purposes. |
| Embassy | The diplomatic mission of one country in another country. |
| Embassy Appointment | An appointment made to visit an embassy for visa or other consular services. |
| Employee Experience | The overall experience an employee has within an organisation, including their interactions, satisfaction, and engagement. |
| Enterprise Mobility | The use of mobile technology to improve business processes and employee productivity. |
| EuRA | European Relocation Association, an organisation representing relocation service providers. |
| Expatriate | An employee who is sent to live abroad for a defined period while remaining employed by their home company. |
| Expatriate Management | The process of managing employees on international assignments. |
| Foreign Labour Law | Laws and regulations governing the employment of foreign workers. |
| Foreign Talent | Individuals with skills or expertise sought by companies in a foreign country. |
| Fully Managed Move | A relocation service where all aspects of the move are managed by a third-party provider. |
| Future Work | The concept of how work will be performed in the future, often including remote and flexible work arrangements. |
| Global Mobility | The process of relocating employees for international assignments. |
| Global Workforce | A workforce that is spread across multiple countries, often requiring international mobility and management. |
| Highly Skilled Immigration | Immigration programs that target individuals with high levels of skill, often in fields experiencing shortages. |
| Highly Skilled Visa | A visa category that is designed for individuals with high levels of skill or expertise, often targeting professions that are in demand in the destination country. |
| Home Leave Trip | A trip back to one’s home country during an international assignment. |
| HR Director | The head of the human resources department in an organisation. |
| Immigration Consultant | An individual or company that provides advice and assistance on immigration matters. |
| Immigration Costs | Costs associated with immigration processes, including visa fees and legal fees. |
| Immigration Costs | The costs associated with immigration processes, including visa fees, legal fees, and relocation expenses. |
| Immigration Fines | Fines imposed for violations of immigration laws and regulations. |
| Immigration Lawyer | A legal professional specialising in immigration law, providing advice and assistance on immigration matters. |
| Immigration Lawyer | A legal professional who specialises in immigration law and provides advice and representation to individuals and companies navigating the immigration process. |
| Immigration Practitioners | Professionals who provide legal advice and services related to immigration. |
| Immigration Risks | Potential risks and challenges associated with immigration, including legal, financial, and logistical issues. |
| Immigration Stamps | Stamps placed in a passport to indicate entry or exit from a country. |
| Immigration Supplier | A company that provides immigration services to individuals or companies. |
| International Employee Relocation | The process of moving employees to a foreign country for work. |
| International Movers | Companies that specialise in moving goods internationally, providing relocation services for individuals or companies. |
| International Recruitment | The process of recruiting employees from foreign countries to work for an organisation. |
| International Transfer | The transfer of an employee to a foreign location for work. |
| Intra-Company Transfer | The transfer of employees within the same company to a different location, often involving the relocation of employees to a branch or subsidiary in another country. |
| ISO Compliance | Adherence to the standards set by the International Organisation for Standardisation. |
| Labor Market Testing | A process to determine if there are suitable local candidates available before hiring foreign workers. |
| Legal Compliance | Adherence to laws and regulations related to legal matters. |
| Legalisation | The process of certifying a document for international use. |
| Long Stay Visa | A visa that allows the holder to stay in a country for an extended period. |
| Long-Term Assignment (LTA) | An international assignment lasting more than a year. |
| Mobility Costs | Costs associated with employee mobility, including relocation and immigration. |
| Mobility Manager | The person responsible for managing employee mobility, including relocation and immigration. |
| Mobility Project Manager | The person responsible for managing mobility projects, including relocation and immigration. |
| Mobility Reporting | Reporting on mobility activities, including relocation and immigration. |
| Mobility Team | A team responsible for managing employee mobility, including relocation and immigration. |
| Partner Visa | A visa granted to the partner or spouse of a primary visa holder, allowing them to accompany the primary visa holder to a new country. |
| Passport | A travel document issued by a government that certifies the identity and nationality of the holder. |
| Permanent Leave to Remain | Permission to stay in a country indefinitely. |
| Permanent Residence Permit | A permit that allows the holder to reside in a country indefinitely. |
| Permit Check | A check to verify the validity of a work permit. |
| Points Based Immigration | An immigration system where individuals are awarded points based on specific criteria such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and age. Applicants must reach a minimum points threshold to qualify for immigration. |
| Power of Attorney | A legal document that gives one part, the power to act on behalf of another person. |
| Premium Lounge (VFS) | The VFS Global Premium Lounge includes: Separate lounge with personalised service by dedicated staff, refreshments, and faster submission of applications. |
| Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) | A company that provides comprehensive HR solutions for other businesses, including employment and compliance services. |
| Relocation Management Company (RMC) | A company that provides services to help individuals or families relocate to a new location. |
| Receiving Entity | A receiving entity is the local organisation or company that will be employing the individual who is applying for a work visa. |
| Relocation Package | A package of benefits provided to employees relocating for work, which may include housing, transportation, and other allowances. |
| Relocation Services | Services that assist individuals or companies in relocating to a new location, often including housing, transportation, and other logistical support. |
| Remote Work | Work performed outside of a traditional office setting, often from home or another remote location. |
| Remote Work Visa | A visa that allows individuals to work remotely from a foreign country. |
| Residence Check | A check to verify the validity of a residence permit. |
| Residence Permit | Permission granted by a government to reside in a country for a specified period. |
| Right to Work | Permission granted by a government to work in a specific location. |
| Scarce Skills | Skills that are in high demand and low supply, often targeted by governments to attract skilled workers to address workforce shortages. |
| Sending Entity | A “sending entity” is the organization or company based outside of the country of applciation, that is sponsoring or employing an individual applying for an ICT visa. |
| Serviced Apartments | Fully furnished apartments with amenities and services similar to hotels, typically used for temporary stays. |
| Short-Term Assignment (STA) | An international assignment lasting less than a year. |
| Social Integration | The process of becoming integrated into a new society or community, including adapting to social norms and building relationships. |
| Sponsor Licence | A license granted by a government that allows a company to sponsor foreign workers. |
| Spousal Assistance | Support provided to the spouse of an employee on an international assignment, including job search assistance and cultural integration. |
| Spousal Visa | A visa granted to the spouse of a foreign national to accompany them to another country. |
| Streamlined Immigration Process | An immigration process that has been simplified or made more efficient, often through the use of technology or improved procedures. |
| Submission | This is another term for “Application” where the applicant submits all required documents and forms. |
| Submission | The act of submitting documents or applications for immigration purposes. |
| Talent Acquisition | The process of identifying, attracting, and hiring skilled individuals to fulfill organisational needs. |
| Talent Acquisition (TA) | The process of identifying and recruiting skilled employees. |
| Talent Retention | Strategies and practices aimed at retaining talented employees within an organisation. |
| Visa | A document issued by a country’s government that allows the holder to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in that country. |
| Visa Appeal | The process of appealing a visa decision. |
| Visa Application | The process of applying for a visa. |
| Visa Check | A check to verify the validity of a visa. |
| Visa Exemption | An exemption from the requirement to obtain a visa for entry into a country. |
| Visa Extension | The process of extending the validity of a visa. |
| Visa Forms | Forms required to apply for a visa. |
| Visa Interview | An interview conducted as part of the visa application process. |
| Visa Management | The process of managing visas for employees traveling to foreign countries for work. |
| Visa Outcome | This is the outcome or ressult of a Visa Application. It can either be a successful application with the visa, or a rejection letter with reasoning. |
| Visa Parameters | The conditions and restrictions associated with a visa. |
| Visa Rejection | The refusal of a visa application. |
| Visa Renewal | The process of renewing a visa. |
| Visa Sponsor | A company or organisation that sponsors a foreign national for a visa. |
| Work Authorisation | Permission granted by a government to a foreign national to work in that country. |
| Work Endorsement | Authorisation to work in a specific job or occupation. |
| Work From Anywhere (WFA) | A work arrangement that allows employees to work from any location. |
| Work Permit | An official document that allows a foreign national to work in a specific country for a specified period. |
| Work Visa | A visa that allows the holder to work in a foreign country. |
With this glossary, you’ll have the foundational knowledge needed to make informed decisions and ensure smooth transitions in your global mobility efforts.
Written by Simon Carletti, PR and Creative Supervisor
