Visa & Immigration Terminology

Visa

An official authorization, usually placed in or linked to your passport, that allows you to travel to a country’s border and request entry for a specific purpose and period. A visa does not guarantee entry — the border officer makes the final decision when you arrive.

Visa Validity

The window of time during which a visa can be used to travel to the border and ask for entry. This is different from your permitted duration of stay, which is decided separately at the border.

Duration of Stay

The length of time you are allowed to remain in a country after being admitted, set by the border officer at entry — not by the visa’s own validity period.

Entry

The act of being physically allowed to cross into a country after a border officer reviews your documents and travel purpose.

Admission

The formal decision by a border or immigration officer to let you into the country, usually for a specific status and time period.

Immigration Status

Your official standing in a country — such as visitor, student, worker, or permanent resident — which determines what you are legally allowed to do there.

Temporary Resident

A general status for someone permitted to be in a country for a limited period and purpose, without an automatic right to stay permanently. Visitors, students and workers are usually all temporary residents.

Permanent Resident

A status granting the right to live in a country indefinitely, with most rights of a citizen, but without full citizenship unless separately naturalized.

Visitor

Someone entering a country temporarily for reasons such as tourism, family visits, or short business activity, without the intention to work, study long-term, or settle permanently.

Tourist

A visitor traveling mainly for leisure or sightseeing. Many countries use “tourist visa” and “visitor visa” interchangeably, though the exact term used varies by destination.

Immigration Officer

A government official responsible for assessing and deciding immigration applications or admissions, at a visa office abroad or at the border.

Visa Officer

The specific official who reviews and decides a visa application, typically based at an embassy, consulate, or visa processing centre.

Consular Officer

A government official at an embassy or consulate with authority to issue or refuse visas on behalf of that country.

Port of Entry

The official location — an airport, land border crossing, or seaport — where a traveler presents themselves to a border officer to request admission.

Border Control

The process and authority by which a country checks arriving travelers and decides whether to admit them, separate from the earlier visa decision.

Admissibility

Whether a person is legally allowed to enter or remain in a country, based on factors such as health, character, and compliance with immigration law.

Eligibility

Whether an applicant meets the specific requirements set for a particular visa, program, or immigration category.

Inadmissibility

A formal finding that a person is not allowed to enter or remain in a country, for reasons defined in that country’s own immigration law, such as security, health, or misrepresentation concerns.

Visa Exemption

An arrangement under which citizens of certain countries do not need a visa for short stays, though they may still need to meet other entry conditions or complete a lighter pre-travel authorization.

Electronic Travel Authorization

A lightweight, pre-travel screening requirement — distinct from a full visa — used by several countries for visa-exempt travelers, completed online before departure.

IndoWorld resource: Canada Visitor Visa

Transit Visa

A visa allowing a traveler to pass briefly through a country’s airport or territory on the way to a different destination, rather than to visit that country itself.

Multiple-Entry Visa

A visa that allows the holder to enter and leave a country more than once during its validity period, rather than only a single trip.

Single-Entry Visa

A visa permitting only one entry into the country. Once the holder departs, the visa can no longer be used for re-entry even if its validity period has not expired.

Visitor Visa

A visa that allows travel for tourism, family visits, or short business activity, without permission to work or study long-term. Country-specific names vary — for example Canada calls it a Temporary Resident Visa, Australia issues it as Subclass 600.

IndoWorld resource: Visitor Visa Overview

Genuine Visitor

A standard used by several countries (notably the UK and Australia) to assess whether an applicant truly intends to visit temporarily and leave again, based on their overall circumstances rather than any single document.

Official source: gov.uk — Standard Visitor Visa

Purpose of Visit

The stated reason for the trip — tourism, visiting family, attending an event, short business activity — which the visa officer weighs against the rest of the application for consistency.

Temporary Intent

The expectation, built into most visitor visa categories, that the traveler intends to leave at the end of their authorized stay rather than remain permanently.

Ties

The connections — family, employment, business, property, financial — that link an applicant to their home country and support the expectation that they will return after a temporary visit.

IndoWorld resource: Evidence Integrity Framework

Home-Country Ties

The overall set of ties (family, job, assets, responsibilities) an applicant has in their own country, used by officers as one indicator of genuine temporary intent.

Family Ties

Immediate or close family remaining in the home country, often cited as one factor supporting an applicant’s intention to return after a visit.

Employment Ties

A stable job or professional role in the home country that an applicant is expected to return to, used as one indicator of genuine temporary intent.

Business Ties

Ownership or active involvement in a business in the home country, considered similarly to employment ties when assessing an applicant’s reasons to return.

Financial Ties

Assets, investments, or financial obligations in the home country that anchor an applicant there, considered alongside other forms of ties.

Travel History

An applicant’s record of previous international travel, sometimes considered supportive of genuineness, but assessed alongside current circumstances rather than in isolation.

Invitation

A request from a person or organization abroad for the applicant to visit, which supports the stated purpose of travel but does not by itself establish other requirements.

Invitation Letter

A written letter from a host, relative, or organization confirming an invitation, often submitted as supporting evidence for a visitor visa application.

Host

The person or organization the applicant plans to stay with or visit at the destination, sometimes required to provide supporting documents themselves.

Sponsor

A person, often a relative, who agrees to support an applicant financially or otherwise during the visit or application process; sponsor obligations vary significantly by country and visa type.

Accommodation

Where the applicant will stay during the visit — a hotel booking, host’s address, or rental — typically required as part of a complete application.

Itinerary

A planned outline of the trip — dates, destinations, and activities — usually requested as a reservation or plan rather than as already-purchased, non-refundable tickets.

Credibility

The overall believability of an application, formed by whether the stated purpose, evidence, and personal circumstances fit together consistently.

Consistency

Whether the details across an application — forms, documents, and any interview answers — agree with each other rather than contradicting one another.

IndoWorld resource: Document Logic Guide

Applicant

The person applying for the visa or immigration benefit. On a family application, one person is usually named as the principal applicant and others as accompanying applicants or dependants.

Principal Applicant

The main applicant on a family or group application, whose eligibility (such as points score, job offer, or admission) the application is primarily based on.

Accompanying Applicant

A family member, such as a spouse or child, included on the same application as the principal applicant, typically as a dependant.

Supporting Document

Any document — financial, employment, educational, or personal — submitted to support the claims made in a visa application.

IndoWorld resource: Document Logic Guide

Application / Reference Number

A unique number assigned to a submitted application, used to track its status and refer to it in any future correspondence.

Application Fee

The government fee charged to process a visa application. This is separate from any service fee charged by a consultancy or visa application centre, and current amounts should always be confirmed directly with the relevant official source.

Biometrics

Fingerprints and a photograph collected as part of many visa applications, used for identity verification and security checks.

Biometrics Appointment

A scheduled visit to a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of the application process.

Visa Application Centre (VAC)

A facility, often run by an external service provider on behalf of a consulate, where applicants submit documents, biometrics, and sometimes attend interviews.

Document Checklist

The official list of documents an applicant is expected to submit for a specific visa category, published by the relevant immigration authority.

Declaration

A formal statement, usually signed, in which an applicant confirms that the information provided in the application is true and complete.

Online / Electronic Application

A visa application submitted through a government’s official online portal rather than on paper, now the standard method for most visa categories.

Application Status

The current stage of a submitted application — such as received, in progress, additional documents requested, or decided — usually trackable through the relevant government portal.

Processing

The period during which an immigration authority reviews a submitted application before reaching a decision. Processing times vary and should be checked on the relevant official source rather than assumed.

Additional Document Request

A follow-up request from the immigration authority for further evidence or clarification before a decision can be made on an application.

Proof of Funds

Evidence showing an applicant has enough money to cover their trip, studies, or settlement, in whatever form the relevant program requires — bank statements, sponsor letters, or other financial documents.

IndoWorld resource: Evidence Integrity Framework

Source of Funds

Where the money shown in an application actually came from — salary, business income, sale of an asset, or a gift — which officers may examine alongside the total amount.

Financial Capacity

An applicant’s overall ability to afford their stated plans, judged on income, savings, and financial stability rather than a single number.

Bank Statement

An official record from a bank showing account activity over a period, commonly required to demonstrate available funds and financial history.

Bank Balance

The amount of money in an account at a given point in time. On its own, a bank balance is only part of the picture officers consider — its history and source usually matter too.

Savings

Accumulated funds set aside over time, often used as one form of evidence of financial capacity.

Salary / Income

Regular earnings from employment, used to demonstrate an applicant’s (or sponsor’s) ongoing financial stability.

Employment Income

Income earned specifically through a job, typically evidenced with salary slips, an employment letter, or tax records.

Business Income

Income earned through business ownership, typically evidenced with business registration documents, tax filings, and bank records rather than salary slips.

Tax Documents (ITR)

Income tax returns and related filings, often requested to independently verify declared income and financial history.

Assets

Property, investments, or other items of value an applicant owns. Assets are not always treated the same as accessible cash — some programs specifically require liquid, readily available funds.

Liabilities

Debts or financial obligations an applicant holds, which can be relevant when an authority assesses overall financial capacity.

Sponsorship

An arrangement where another person (often a relative) agrees to financially support an applicant. Sponsors are usually expected to show their own genuine capacity, not just willingness.

Unexplained / Large Deposits

Sudden, sizeable credits in a bank account without a clear explanation, which officers may scrutinise more closely than steadily accumulated funds.

Transaction / Financial History

The pattern of activity in an applicant’s accounts over time, which can matter as much as the final balance in showing genuine financial stability.

Visa Refusal / Denial

A decision by the immigration authority not to grant the visa applied for. Most countries call this a “refusal”; U.S. practice commonly uses “denial.”

IndoWorld resource: Refusal-to-Remedy Framework

Refusal Letter

The written decision an applicant receives when refused, which typically states the reason or legal ground for the refusal.

Refusal Reason / Ground

The specific basis stated for a refusal — such as insufficient funds, unclear purpose, or weak ties — which should guide any future reapplication.

Reapplication

Submitting a new visa application after a previous refusal. In most visitor, study and work categories this is possible, but the earlier refusal still needs to be disclosed and addressed.

IndoWorld resource: Previous Visa Refusal Preparation Guide

Reconsideration

A request, available for some visa categories and countries, asking the same authority to review a decision again — distinct from a formal appeal.

Appeal

A formal legal process, available for certain visa categories in certain countries, asking a separate body or tribunal to review a refusal decision.

Judicial Review

A court process, available in some jurisdictions for some decisions, examining whether a decision was made lawfully and fairly — not a re-assessment of the visa merits themselves.

Administrative Processing

Additional review time some applications go through after a visa interview or assessment, before a final decision is issued; most common in U.S. visa processing (linked to Section 221(g)).

Procedural Fairness

A principle, applied in some countries’ immigration systems, requiring that an applicant be given a fair opportunity to respond to concerns before a decision is made against them.

Misrepresentation

Providing false information or withholding material facts in an application, treated seriously by every immigration authority and capable of leading to refusal or a more significant penalty.

Insufficient Evidence

A common refusal basis where the documents submitted did not adequately support the claims made in the application, even if the underlying facts may have been true.

B1 Visa (USA)

A U.S. nonimmigrant visa for short-term business visits, such as attending meetings or conferences, without engaging in local employment.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visitor Visa

B2 Visa (USA)

A U.S. nonimmigrant visa for tourism, visiting family, or medical treatment — the standard “visitor visa” most Indian applicants apply for.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visitor Visa
IndoWorld resource: USA Visitor Visa

B1/B2 Visa (USA)

A combined visa issued for both business and tourism purposes, the most commonly issued U.S. visitor visa category.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visitor Visa
IndoWorld resource: USA B1/B2 case evidence

Nonimmigrant Visa (USA)

The broad U.S. category covering all temporary visas — visitor, student, work — for people who do not intend to immigrate permanently.

Official source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs

DS-160 (USA)

The official online nonimmigrant visa application form required for most U.S. visa categories, submitted before the visa interview.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visitor Visa

214(b) (USA)

A section of U.S. immigration law under which an applicant is refused because they did not establish, to the consular officer’s satisfaction, sufficiently strong ties to their home country and genuine temporary intent.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visa Denials
IndoWorld resource: USA Visitor Visa Refusal Reasons

221(g) (USA)

A section of U.S. immigration law used when a visa application is temporarily held for administrative processing or missing documentation, rather than outright refused.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visa Denials

Immigrant Intent (USA)

A concern, specific to U.S. nonimmigrant visa assessment, that an applicant may actually intend to remain permanently rather than return home after a temporary visit.

Official source: U.S. Dept of State — Visitor Visa

I-94 (USA)

The official U.S. arrival/departure record showing the class of admission and the authorized period of stay, issued electronically at the port of entry.

Official source: CBP — I-94 Official Website

Visa Issuance (USA)

The point at which a U.S. visa is physically or electronically issued in the applicant’s passport after approval, allowing travel to a port of entry.

Official source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs

Visa Expiration (USA)

The date after which a U.S. visa can no longer be used to seek entry; it is unrelated to how long you were actually authorized to stay on a previous trip.

Official source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) (Canada)

Canada’s official name for a visitor visa — a document placed in your passport allowing you to travel to Canada and seek entry as a visitor.

Official source: IRCC — Temporary Resident Visa
IndoWorld resource: Canada Visitor Visa

Visitor Record (Canada)

A document issued within Canada to extend or confirm a visitor’s authorized stay, separate from the TRV used to travel to Canada in the first place.

Official source: IRCC — Visit Canada

Study Permit (Canada)

The official document required to study at a designated learning institution in Canada for programs longer than six months.

Official source: IRCC — Study Permit
IndoWorld resource: Study Abroad in Canada

Work Permit (Canada)

The official document authorizing a foreign national to work in Canada, either tied to a specific employer or, in some cases, open to any employer.

Official source: IRCC — Work in Canada

Letter of Introduction (Canada)

A document IRCC issues after approving a study or work permit application, which the applicant presents to a border officer to receive the actual permit on arrival.

Official source: IRCC — Work in Canada

Restoration of Status (Canada)

A process allowing someone whose temporary status in Canada has recently lapsed to apply to restore it, within a limited window and under specific conditions.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

Maintained Status (Canada)

A rule allowing a temporary resident who applied to extend their status before it expired to continue under their existing conditions while the extension is being processed.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

Express Entry (Canada)

Canada’s main application management system for several skilled-worker permanent residence programs, ranking eligible candidates and periodically inviting the highest-ranked to apply.

Official source: IRCC — Express Entry
IndoWorld resource: Canada Permanent Residency

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) (Canada)

The points system Express Entry uses to rank candidates in the pool, based on factors such as age, education, language ability and work experience.

Official source: IRCC — Express Entry
IndoWorld resource: Express Entry CRS review case

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (Canada)

A report from an IRCC-designated organization (such as WES) confirming that a foreign degree, diploma or certificate is valid and equivalent to a completed Canadian credential. An ECA is required to claim Express Entry education points for education completed outside Canada, except for some regulated professions that use their own designated assessment body instead.

Official source: IRCC — Have Your Education Assessed
IndoWorld resource: Canada PR Documents Required

National Occupational Classification (NOC) (Canada)

Canada’s system for classifying every occupation under a numeric code. The NOC code that matches an applicant’s actual job duties determines whether foreign or Canadian work experience counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry and most other economic immigration programs.

Official source: IRCC — Find Your NOC Code
IndoWorld resource: Canada PR Eligibility

TEER Category (Canada)

Short for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities — the skill-level component attached to each NOC code, numbered 0 to 5. Express Entry’s economic programs (FSW, CEC, FST) generally require skilled work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations; not every occupation with a NOC code qualifies.

Official source: IRCC — NOC & TEER Explained
IndoWorld resource: Canada PR Eligibility

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (Canada)

The standard scale IRCC uses to describe English or French proficiency for immigration purposes. Results from approved tests — IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, PTE Core, or TEF Canada / TCF Canada for French — are converted to a CLB (or NCLC, for French) level, which then determines Express Entry language points and program eligibility.

Official source: IRCC — Language Testing for Express Entry
IndoWorld resource: CRS Points Calculator Explained

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (Canada)

A set of separate programs run by individual Canadian provinces, each with its own criteria, allowing a province to nominate candidates for permanent residence based on its own labour needs.

Official source: IRCC — Provincial Nominee Program
IndoWorld resource: Provincial nomination to PR case

Profile (Canada)

The Express Entry application a candidate submits to enter the pool, containing details used to calculate their CRS score — not itself a formal PR application.

Official source: IRCC — Express Entry

Pool (Canada)

The group of eligible Express Entry candidates ranked by CRS score, from which IRCC periodically invites top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Official source: IRCC — Express Entry

Invitation to Apply (ITA) (Canada)

A formal invitation issued to a top-ranked Express Entry candidate, opening a limited window to submit a full permanent residence application.

Official source: IRCC — Express Entry

Permanent Residence (Canada)

Status granting the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada indefinitely, and to eventually apply for citizenship, without being a Canadian citizen.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) (Canada)

The official document issued once a permanent residence application is approved, presented at a port of entry to formally become a permanent resident.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) (Canada)

A screening requirement for visa-exempt travelers flying to Canada, linked electronically to the traveler’s passport and completed online before departure.

Official source: IRCC — eTA

Medical Examination (Canada)

A health check required for certain visa categories and durations of stay, conducted by a panel physician approved by the relevant immigration authority.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

Police Certificate (Canada)

An official document from police or judicial authorities confirming an applicant’s criminal record status, often required for permanent residence and some longer-stay applications.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

PR Card (Canada)

The physical proof-of-status card issued to Canadian permanent residents, used for travel and re-entry to Canada.

Official source: IRCC — Canada.ca

Standard Visitor (UK)

The UK’s main visitor visa category, covering tourism, visiting family, and short business activity, assessed against the “genuine visitor” requirement.

Official source: gov.uk — Standard Visitor Visa
IndoWorld resource: UK Visitor Visa

Permitted Activities (UK)

The specific list of things a Standard Visitor is allowed to do in the UK, set out in the Immigration Rules — activities outside this list can put a visa at risk.

Official source: gov.uk — Immigration Rules

Immigration Rules (UK)

The detailed rules published by the UK government that set out the requirements for every visa category, updated periodically by the Home Office.

Official source: gov.uk — Immigration Rules

Financial Requirement (UK)

A specific, published income or funds threshold applied to certain UK visa categories (such as family visas); where such a requirement exists it is set out precisely in the Immigration Rules rather than left to general discretion.

Official source: gov.uk — Immigration Rules

Entry Clearance (UK)

The UK term for a visa or permission obtained before travel, granted by an entry clearance officer at a visa application centre abroad.

Official source: UK Visas and Immigration — gov.uk

Leave to Enter / Remain (UK)

The UK’s formal term for permission to be in the country, granted either at the border (leave to enter) or through a successful in-country application (leave to remain).

Official source: UK Visas and Immigration — gov.uk

Administrative Review (UK)

A process, available for some UK visa refusals, asking the Home Office to check a decision for case-working errors — distinct from a full appeal.

Official source: UK Visas and Immigration — gov.uk

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) (Australia)

Australia’s main visitor visa, covering tourism, family visits and business visitor activity, issued under several streams depending on purpose.

Official source: Home Affairs — Visitor visa (subclass 600)
IndoWorld resource: Australia Visitor Visa

Genuine Student Requirement (Australia)

The current requirement Australia uses to assess whether a student visa applicant genuinely intends to study and has a credible reason for choosing their course, introduced to replace the earlier Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement.

Official source: Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)

Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) — Historical (Australia)

The requirement previously used for Australian student visa assessment before being replaced by the Genuine Student requirement. Applicants should rely on current Genuine Student guidance, not older GTE material.

Official source: Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)

Student Visa (Subclass 500) (Australia)

Australia’s main visa for full-time study at a registered institution, requiring evidence of genuine student intent, financial capacity, and health and character requirements.

Official source: Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)
IndoWorld resource: Study Abroad in Australia

Visa Conditions (Australia)

Specific rules attached to an Australian visa grant — such as work limits or study requirements — that must be followed to remain compliant.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

Health Requirement (Australia)

A standard Australian visas apply, requiring applicants to meet certain health standards, sometimes assessed through a medical examination.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

Character Requirement (Australia)

A standard Australian visas apply, assessing an applicant’s criminal history and general character, sometimes requiring police certificates.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

ImmiAccount (Australia)

The official online account system used to lodge and track most Australian visa applications.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

Bridging Visa (Australia)

A temporary visa that keeps a person lawful in Australia while their substantive visa application, or a related process, is being finalised.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

Visa Grant (Australia)

The formal approval of an Australian visa application, usually notified electronically rather than through a physical visa label.

Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs

Visitor Visa (NZ) (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s visa for tourism, visiting family, or short business activity, requiring evidence of genuine (bona fide) intent, funds, and onward travel plans.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Visitor Visa
IndoWorld resource: New Zealand Visitor Visa

Student Visa (NZ) (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s visa for full-time study, requiring an offer of place, evidence of funds, and (for longer courses) health and character checks.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Student Visa
IndoWorld resource: Study Abroad in New Zealand

Work Visa (NZ) (New Zealand)

A general term covering New Zealand’s various temporary work visa categories, each with its own specific employer and skill requirements.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand

Temporary Entry (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s broad term for non-permanent visa categories — visitor, student, and work — as distinct from resident visas.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand

Resident Visa (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s equivalent of permanent residence, granting the right to live in the country indefinitely under a residence-class visa.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand

Bona Fide Applicant (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s expectation that an applicant genuinely intends to do what their visa allows and is not attempting to circumvent immigration requirements.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand

Health & Character Requirements (New Zealand)

Standards New Zealand applies to many visa categories, sometimes requiring a medical examination or police certificate depending on the visa type and length of stay.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand

Schengen Area (Schengen)

A group of European countries that have abolished passport checks at their shared internal borders, allowing travel between them on a single short-stay visa.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy
IndoWorld resource: Schengen Tourist Visa

Schengen Visa (Schengen)

A short-stay visa allowing travel within the Schengen Area for tourism, business, or family visits, applied for through the consulate of the main destination country.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Short-Stay Visa (Type C) (Schengen)

The formal name for the standard Schengen visa, permitting stays of up to the short-stay limit within a rolling period across the Schengen Area.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) (Schengen)

A Schengen visa restricted to one or a few specific member states rather than the whole Schengen Area, issued in particular circumstances.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Consulate (Schengen)

The diplomatic office of the destination country where a Schengen visa application is submitted and, in some cases, an interview conducted.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

External Service Provider (Schengen)

A private company contracted by a consulate to accept Schengen visa applications, collect biometrics, and forward documents, without itself deciding the application.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Travel Medical Insurance (Schengen)

Insurance covering emergency medical costs during the trip, required as a condition of most Schengen visa applications.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Proof of Accommodation (Schengen)

Evidence of where the applicant will stay during their Schengen trip — hotel bookings, host invitation, or rental confirmation.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Means of Subsistence (Schengen)

The Schengen term for sufficient funds to cover the cost of the trip, assessed against the specific member state’s own published reference amounts.

Official source: European Commission — Schengen Visa Policy

Main Destination (Schengen)

The Schengen member state where the applicant will spend the most time (or first enter, if time is equal), which determines which consulate should process the application.

Official source: Your Europe (EU) — Travel Entry Requirements

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) (Germany)

A points-based residence permit allowing qualified individuals to move to Germany to search for a job, without needing a job offer first.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card
IndoWorld resource: Germany Opportunity Card

Points System (Germany)

The scoring method used to assess Opportunity Card eligibility, based on factors such as qualifications, work experience, language skills, and age.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card

Qualification Recognition (Germany)

The process of having a foreign degree or professional qualification formally assessed as equivalent to a German qualification, often relevant to both the Opportunity Card and skilled-worker routes.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Federal Government Portal
IndoWorld resource: Vocational qualification recognition case

Skilled Worker (Germany)

Germany’s general category for foreign professionals with recognised qualifications, who can apply for work-related residence permits once specific route requirements are met.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Federal Government Portal

Job Seeker Visa (Germany)

A visa or permit, such as the Opportunity Card, allowing a person to enter and remain temporarily to search for employment, without itself granting a right to take up a job before finding one.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card
IndoWorld resource: Job Seeker Visa Overview

Residence Permit (Germany)

The general German term for the document authorizing a foreign national to stay for a specific purpose, whether job-seeking, work, or study.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Federal Government Portal

Financial Means (Blocked Account) (Germany)

Evidence of financial capacity required for German visa categories, sometimes shown through a designated blocked account; the current required arrangement and amount should be confirmed on the official source rather than assumed.

Official source: Make it in Germany — Federal Government Portal

Offer Letter

A university’s written offer of a place on a course, usually the first document needed before applying for a student visa or study permit.

Letter of Acceptance

Confirmation from an institution that an applicant has accepted an offer and secured their place, often required alongside or instead of the original offer letter.

IndoWorld resource: Study Abroad in Canada

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) (UK)

The UK-specific reference number an institution issues once a student has accepted their offer, required to apply for a UK student visa.

Official source: gov.uk — Student Visa

Tuition & Living Expenses

The two main cost categories a student visa applicant must show they can cover — course fees and day-to-day living costs — assessed against each program’s own published requirements.

Study Plan

A written explanation of why an applicant has chosen a particular course and how it fits their academic and career background, often requested to support genuine student intent.

Genuine Student Intent

The expectation, applied in various forms by most destinations, that a student visa applicant genuinely intends to study rather than using the visa mainly as an entry route for other purposes.

IndoWorld resource: Application Intelligence Framework

Academic Progression

Whether an applicant’s chosen course follows logically from their previous education and career direction, sometimes considered when assessing genuine student intent.

Designated Learning / Educational Institution

An institution officially approved by the destination country to enrol international students on a study visa — studying elsewhere generally will not support a valid application.

Dependant of a Student

A spouse or child accompanying a student visa holder, whose eligibility rules (including any work rights) vary significantly by destination and course level.

Post-Study Work

A visa or permit category, offered by several countries, allowing graduates to remain and work for a period after completing their studies — rules and eligibility differ substantially by destination.

Job Offer

A formal offer of employment from an employer abroad. Most work-visa routes require the offer to meet specific criteria — wage level, occupation, employer standing — not just be genuine.

Employer Sponsorship

A process by which an employer formally supports or files for a foreign worker’s visa, often requiring the employer itself to hold specific government authorisation.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (Canada)

A Canadian process requiring an employer to show that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the domestic labour market, required for most employer-specific Canadian work permits.

Official source: IRCC — Work in Canada

Sponsor Licence (UK)

UK authorisation an employer must hold before it can sponsor a foreign worker for a Skilled Worker visa; an offer from an unlicensed employer cannot support this visa category.

Official source: gov.uk — Skilled Worker Visa

Occupation / Skill Classification

The official category a job role is classified under for immigration purposes, used to determine eligibility for specific work-visa or points-based programs.

Employer-Specific Work Permit

A work permit tied to one named employer and role; changing jobs typically requires a new permit or authorization.

Open Work Permit

A work permit not tied to a specific employer, allowing the holder to work for most employers in that country, subject to the permit’s own conditions.

Dependant

A family member — typically a spouse, partner, or child — included on or connected to a principal applicant’s visa application, whose eligibility often depends on the principal applicant’s own status.

Spouse / Partner

A married or de facto/common-law partner who may be included as a dependant or apply separately, depending on the specific visa category and country.

Dependent Child

A child who meets a program’s specific age and dependency criteria, allowing them to be included on a parent’s application rather than applying independently.

Family Reunification

Immigration pathways that allow family members to join a relative who is already settled, studying, or working in the destination country, with rules that vary significantly by relationship and country.

Relationship Evidence

Documents — marriage certificates, photos, communication records — submitted to demonstrate that a claimed family relationship is genuine.

Passport

The core identity and travel document required for any visa application; most countries also require a minimum remaining validity period beyond the intended stay.

Passport Validity

The remaining time before a passport expires. Many countries require several months of validity beyond the planned stay — the exact requirement should be checked against the specific destination.

Employment Letter

A letter from an employer confirming an applicant’s job, salary, and length of service, commonly used to support ties and financial evidence.

Salary Slip

A monthly pay record used alongside an employment letter and bank statements to demonstrate stable income.

Business Registration

Official documentation proving a business exists and is legally registered, used to support business ties and business income claims.

Property Document

Ownership or tenancy documents for property, sometimes used as supporting evidence of ties or assets, though usually not treated as directly available funds.

Cover Letter / Letter of Explanation

A letter, written by the applicant, summarising the application and proactively explaining any unusual circumstances, such as an employment gap or a previous refusal.

Statement of Purpose

A written explanation, mainly used in study visa applications, setting out why the applicant chose their course and how it fits their academic and career goals.

Employment Contract

A signed agreement setting out the terms of a job, often required to support a work-visa application alongside the employer’s own documentation.

Experience Letter

A letter from a previous employer confirming role, responsibilities, and dates of employment, often required for points-based or skilled-worker immigration programs.

Educational Credential / Transcript

Official academic records showing courses completed and grades achieved, often required for study visas and skilled migration programs, sometimes alongside a separate credential assessment.

Degree Certificate

The formal certificate confirming completion of a qualification, often required alongside transcripts for both study and skilled-migration applications.

Medical Certificate

A document confirming the outcome of a required medical examination, used to satisfy a destination’s health requirement.

Translation

An official rendering of a document into the required language, often needing to be certified, used when original documents are not in the destination country’s accepted language.

Certified Copy / Notarization

A copy of an original document verified as accurate by an authorised person, sometimes required instead of, or alongside, the original document.

Visa Interview / Consular Interview

A meeting, required for some visa categories (notably most U.S. nonimmigrant visas), where a consular or visa officer asks questions to assess the application in person.

IndoWorld resource: Decision Intelligence Hub

Interview Appointment

The scheduled date and time for a visa interview, usually booked through the relevant consulate or visa application centre’s official system.

Interview Waiver

An exemption, available for some applicants and visa categories, allowing a visa to be processed without an in-person interview — eligibility rules are set by the specific consulate.