Relocation Assist

Relocation Glossary: Key Terms Explained

— In short

From Anmeldung to Work Permit, this glossary defines the 40 most common terms you'll encounter when researching an international move — in plain English, with links to deeper guides.

A

AIMA
Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum, which replaced SEF in 2023. AIMA processes residency applications and renewals for foreigners moving to Portugal. Portugal guide →
Anmeldung
Germany's mandatory address registration. You must register at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. Without it, you cannot open a bank account, get a tax ID or sign most contracts. Germany guide →
Autónomo
Spain's self-employment status. Registering as autónomo means you pay monthly social security contributions and quarterly taxes on your freelance or contractor income. Spain guide →

B

Blue Card
An EU work and residence permit for highly skilled non-EU professionals. It typically requires a recognised university degree and a salary above a national threshold, and offers a fast-track to permanent residency. Visa & immigration →
BSN
The Burgerservicenummer is the Netherlands' citizen service number. You need it to work, open a bank account, register with a doctor or sign a rental contract. Netherlands guide →

C

Carte de Séjour
France's residence permit for non-EU citizens. Different categories cover work, study, family reunification and long-stay visitors, each with its own renewal rules. France guide →
Codice Fiscale
Italy's tax identification code. Required to rent a property, open a bank account, sign an employment contract or access healthcare in Italy. Italy guide →
Council Tax
A local tax on residential property in the UK that funds local services. The amount depends on the property's valuation band and the council area. UK guide →

D

D7 Visa
Portugal's residence visa for retirees and people with passive income such as pensions, rentals or dividends. Holders must spend most of the year in Portugal. Portugal D7 guide →
D8 Visa
Portugal's digital nomad visa for remote workers and freelancers earning at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage from outside Portugal. Digital nomad visas explained →
Digital Nomad Visa
A residence permit that allows remote workers to live in a country while earning income from foreign clients or employers. Income thresholds and tax treatment vary widely by country. Digital nomad relocation →

E

Empadronamiento (Padrón)
Registration with your local Spanish town hall confirming you live at a specific address. Required for healthcare, schooling, residency renewal and many bureaucratic processes. Spain guide →
Employment Pass
Singapore's main work visa for foreign professionals, managers and executives. Requires an employer sponsor and a minimum monthly salary. Singapore guide →
Express Entry
Canada's online points-based system for managing skilled-worker immigration. Candidates are scored on age, education, work experience, language and other factors. Express Entry guide →

F

Free Zone (UAE)
Designated economic areas in the UAE where foreign businesses can be 100% foreign-owned and benefit from simplified setup, customs and visa processes. UAE guide →

G

Golden Visa
A residence-by-investment programme. Several countries grant residency in exchange for property, fund or business investment above a set threshold. Many EU programmes have been restricted or closed since 2023. Golden Visa programmes →
Green Card
A US lawful permanent resident card. Holders can live and work in the United States indefinitely and apply for citizenship after a qualifying period. USA guide →

H

Healthcare Card
A document or card that proves entitlement to a country's public healthcare system. Names vary — EHIC, GHIC, tarjeta sanitaria, carte vitale — but the function is broadly similar. Healthcare abroad →
Healthcare Insurance Number
Each country issues its own social health insurance number — the German Krankenversichertennummer, Dutch BSN-linked health card, French numéro de sécurité sociale. Without one you typically pay full price for medical care. Healthcare abroad →

I

ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
The UK's permanent residence status. Most routes to ILR require five continuous years of qualifying residence, with a clean immigration record and language and life-in-the-UK tests. UK guide →

N

NHR (Non-Habitual Resident)
Portugal's former preferential tax regime for new residents, offering reduced rates on certain foreign and Portuguese income for ten years. The original NHR closed to most new applicants in 2024 and was replaced by a narrower successor regime. Portugal guide →
NHS
The United Kingdom's publicly funded National Health Service. Eligibility depends on residency status, not nationality. NHS entitlement abroad →
NIE
Spain's Número de Identidad de Extranjero — the foreigner identification number. Required to work, open a bank account, buy property or pay tax in Spain. Spain guide →
NIF
Portugal's Número de Identificação Fiscal — the tax identification number. Needed for almost every contract, purchase or registration in Portugal. Portugal guide →

P

Padrón
Common shorthand for empadronamiento in Spain — registering your address at the town hall. See Empadronamiento. Spain guide →
Pensionado Visa
A residence visa offered by some Latin American countries (notably Panama and Costa Rica) for retirees with a guaranteed lifetime pension above a set threshold. Retiring abroad →
Permanent Residency
An immigration status that grants the right to live and usually work in a country indefinitely without needing to renew a visa, but without full citizenship rights. Visa & immigration →
PPS Number
Ireland's Personal Public Service number. Required for tax, social welfare, healthcare, banking and most other state interactions. Ireland guide →
PR (Permanent Resident)
A common abbreviation for permanent residency status, used in countries such as Canada, Australia and Singapore. Visa & immigration →

R

Redomiciliation
The legal process of transferring a company's domicile from one jurisdiction to another while preserving its legal identity. Sometimes used in international relocation alongside personal moves. High-net-worth relocation →
Residency Permit
A document allowing a foreign national to live in a country legally for a defined period. Conditions vary by visa category and may include work rights and minimum stay requirements. Visa & immigration →
Right to Rent
A UK requirement that landlords check tenants' immigration status before renting to them. Not having the right to rent makes finding accommodation in England considerably harder. UK guide →

S

Schengen Area
A group of 29 European countries that have abolished passport controls at their mutual borders. Non-EU visitors can typically stay 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire area. Visa & immigration →
Skilled Worker Visa
The UK's main work visa, replacing the Tier 2 General route. Requires a sponsoring employer with a Home Office licence and a salary above the threshold for the role. UK Skilled Worker Visa →

T

Tax Residency
The country that has the primary right to tax your worldwide income. Determined by physical presence, ties tests and treaty rules — not by your passport. Tax residency explained →
Temporary Residence Permit
A residence permit issued for a defined initial period (often one to two years), usually renewable, and often a stepping stone to permanent residency. Visa & immigration →
Tier 2 Visa (legacy)
The previous name for the UK's main employer-sponsored work visa, replaced by the Skilled Worker visa in late 2020. Older guidance and contracts may still use the term. UK work visa guide →

U

UAE Residence Visa
A residence permit allowing foreign nationals to live in the United Arab Emirates. Routes include employment, investor, freelance, property and the longer-term Golden Visa. UAE residency visa options →

W

Work Permit
A general term for a government authorisation that allows a foreign national to be employed in a country. Often issued in conjunction with a residence permit. Visa & immigration →

Last reviewed: April 2026 — Relocation Assist Editorial Team