Permanent residence
A status that generally allows a person to live in a country indefinitely while remaining a citizen of another country. Rights and renewal rules vary.
Glossary
Immigration terms, plainly defined.
Short, country-agnostic explanations for terms used throughout the pathway database.
Exact legal meanings and requirements vary by country and program. Confirm them with the linked official source.
Residence permit
An authorization to live in a country for a stated purpose and period. It may be temporary or permanent.
Citizenship pathway
A possible sequence from a current status toward citizenship. Eligibility usually depends on separate residence, language, conduct, and application rules.
Direct permanent residence
A pathway whose successful outcome is permanent residence rather than a temporary permit that may later support another application.
Temporary residence
Permission to live in a country for a limited period, normally tied to stated conditions such as work, study, family, or remote income.
Employer sponsorship
A process in which an eligible employer supports, nominates, or petitions for a worker under a specific immigration program.
Job offer
An offer of employment from an employer. Immigration programs may impose rules on the employer, occupation, pay, hours, or offer duration.
Nomination
Formal support from an authorized government, region, employer, or other body. A nomination is not necessarily the final immigration approval.
Points threshold
A minimum score used by a points-based system. Meeting the minimum may permit entry to a pool without guaranteeing selection.
Proof of funds
Evidence that an applicant has accessible money for settlement, study, travel, or living costs. Accepted evidence and required amounts vary.
Credential assessment
An evaluation comparing an education credential with the destination country's standards. It does not itself grant admission, licensing, or immigration status.
Language benchmark
A standardized proficiency level used to compare language-test results. The accepted tests and minimum levels depend on the program.
Dependent
A family member who may be included in or linked to an applicant's immigration case. Eligible relationships and rights vary.
Digital nomad visa
A commonly used label for temporary routes aimed at people working remotely, usually with income from outside the destination country.
Remote-work visa
A temporary authorization associated with remote employment or self-employment. It may differ from local work authorization and may not lead to permanent residence.
Study-to-work pathway
A sequence in which eligible study may support a later work authorization application. Progression is not automatic unless the rules explicitly say so.
Settlement pathway
A route designed for permanent residence or one that may support a separate permanent-residence application after meeting additional rules.
Processing time
The time an authority takes to decide an application. Published figures are usually estimates or recent-case statistics, not guarantees.
Official source
A government, public authority, or officially designated program page used as evidence for a pathway requirement or status.
Last checked
The date when a source or record was most recently reviewed. It is a freshness signal, not a promise that no change occurred afterward.