Term

Explanation

ZAV / Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis / Employer Declaration

The form is to be submitted to the competent foreign mission or immigration authority within Germany, to apply for a visa/residence title for the purpose of employment. Localyze does this on your behalf. 😊 Another term that is used for this form and the submission of it is "labour market approval request" and "labour market approval form".

Registration or Anmeldung des Wohnsitzes

As soon as you know the date of your arrival in Germany, or after your arrival in Germany at the latest, an appointment for the city registration can be booked. Many processes are dependent on you receive the registration conformation (Meldebescheinigung). The rule of thumb allows a person to register within two weeks after arrival.

Anabin/ZAB

Anabin is a GERMAN database in which you can check for your degree and whether it is recognized by the ZAB.

ZAB (Zentrale für ausländisches Bildungswesen) one the official authority in Germany that recognises degrees.

Term

Explanation

TIE

TIE stands for Tarjeta de identitad de Extranjero. Your physical identity card and proof of legal residency.

NIE

NIE stands for Número de identitad de extranjero. Your permanent Spanish foreigner identification number.

Trámite

Process/procedure. The most common bureaucratic "trámites" relevant to foreigners include toma de huellas, applying for autorización de regreso, and applying for prórroga de estancia.

Toma de Huellas

Fingerprinting. This is the name of the type of cita that you must reserve and then attend in order to apply for a TIE. It is called this because after you submit your paperwork they take your fingerprints.

SSN

Número de afiliación de la seguridad social. The social security number is a number your employer provides you that grants access to the social security services and healthcare in Spain. Social security is generally paid for by the employer.

Oficina de Extranjería

Foreigners' Office

Comisaría

Police Station (Depending on the autonomous community handles the toma de huellas trámite)

Cita Previa or Cita

Appointment

Confirmación de Cita

Appointment confirmation. Whenever you make a cita online, you should always download it from the cita website after you make your cita or print out the email you get afterwards, so that you can show it to security upon arrival as proof that you've got a pre-scheduled cita.

Número de justificante de cita

Appointment confirmation number

Tasa

Fee or tax. You or your employer will have to pay a tasa in order to get your TIE, among other tramites.

Certificado de empadronamiento

To empadronarse is to register yourself and your home address with your local town hall; serves as a census. Your receive a certificate (certificado) afterwards as proof of having done so.

Foto de carnet

Small photo for identification purposes (carnet=ID card). You will need one for your toma de huellas cita. In Spain, fotos de carnet are a specific siye that's most likely different from passport photos in your home country, so it's best to get your photo taken here.

Resguardo

Appointment receipt that serves as proof of your successful appointment. You need to present this piece of paper along with your passport when you go to pick up your newly printed TIE. You need this for a regreso. It is always a good idea to keep it as proof you are renewing.

Lote

Batch. It can refer to a particular batch of TIES.

Autorización de Regreso or Regreso

Literally called "authorization to return", this document is for those in process of renewing their TIE, or those traveling and returning after their visas expire. You must get it to legally re-enter the country as a resident. They are valid for 90 days.

Apostille of the Hague

"Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, court orders or any other documents issued by a public authority so that they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty."
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This is NOT the same as getting something notarized. A notary authenticates documents at a US level, but Apostilles authenticate them for foreign countries. If you are asked for an Apostille, you MUST get an Apostille (although your documents may need to be notarized first).

Prórroga

This means extension. It's what you do when you apply to renew your TIE.

Term

Explanation

Home Office / HO

The Home Office is the UK Ministerial government department which overlooks many other sub-departments including, immigration, security, law and order.

UKVI - UK Visas and Immigration

The term UKVI is known as United Kingdom Visas and Immigration. This is the internal department within the Home Office which processes visa and immigration applications.

EC Stamp

EC stands for Entry Clearance, this is also known in generic terms as the 'visa stamp'. This will be a sticker on your passport when you receive back with your decision on your visa application.

ECO

ECO is the short form for Entry Clearance Officer. The ECO will be the person in the UKVI department who will be processing your visa application once it has been submitted and you have attended your biometrics.

Immigration Rules

Immigration Rules are the rulings which must be met for the visa route you are applying for. Our expert case managers are well aware and are up to date with the newest rules.

Policy Guidance

Policy guidance is a published guide from UKVI for each specific route. This usually comes in handy for caseworkers when dealing with complexities arising in a case.

Online application form

The online application form allows you to initiate your application and start answering questions. It will always be saved and you can come back to the form as you go along. There is no time limit on when you have to submit after initiating your form.

Biometric Appointment

The biometric appointment is the final step to validate your visa application. You will usually book this once your application has been submitted. You will be redirected to book an appointment or given instructions at submission of your application either at a local consulate, via VFS Global or TLS contact centre.

VFS Global

Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) is an outsourcing and technology services company which provides the ultimate care and takes responsibility for delivering your visa application and supporting documents to the UKVI department in the UK for assessment.

TLS

TLS Visa contact centre is a teleperformance company and is usually approved by the Home Office as a trusted partner to provide a third party delivery service of documents. TLS assists and mainly manages government contracts around the world to ensure the safe delivery of documents to the government department.

IHS

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is the payment every applicant will make when coming to the UK. This is a mandatory payment alongside your visa application fee and allows you

to access the UK's Health Care service also known as the NHS.

Notary letter

In some cases you may be required to provide a notarised statement from a legal representative from your home country. This must be signed and stamped by a person of legal standing who is allowed to practise in the Country.

Visa Letter / Entry Clearance Grant Letter

This is the letter which is usually given with your Entry Clearance visa stamp at time of visa being granted. The letter will give you information in detail about what the next steps you need to take and how to prepare for your arrival in the UK.

BRP card

This is your Biometric Residence Permit. This card will be used to prove your immigration status in the UK and should be kept safe at all times. This will usually have an issue date and an expiry date. You must reapply at least 28 days before your visa expires in order to

not overstay in the UK.

IO / Border Force

IO stands for Immigration Officer, this will usually be someone from the Border Force department and will allow you to enter the UK upon your arrival. Border Force is a sub department of the Home Office which operates on all of the UK’s entry points.

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker is a route under which you are allowed to come to the UK and work for your employer. Your employer would have usually submitted a sponsorship request to the Home Office to ensure that you have been approved as a worker.

ICT visa

The Intra Company transfer visa is a route which allows you to come to the UK and continue working for your current employer abroad. You are in essence, moving to the UK with your current job and are being sent to work for your employer’s UK operations.

CoS

A Certificate of Sponsorship is a notice given from your employer to the Home Office that they are willing to hire you. They must endorse your application and provide you with a CoS reference number which will also be added into your application. On the Skilled Worker or ICT route this is the most important mandatory document in order for your application to be approved.

Police Registration

Registering with police may sometimes be endorsed on your Entry Clearance stamp and alongside your visa approval letter. If this is the case, you will usually need to attend a police station in your local area within 7 days of arriving in the UK and present your passport.

NI Number / National Insurance No. / NINO

The national Insurance no. is your tax identity in the UK. It can be used for Right to Work Checks with your employer and will be endorsed on your payslip. The NI Number allows HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs) to ensure that every working person in the UK is subject to the correct Tax and National Insurance contributions. The number is usually given to your employer to ensure they can put you on the PAYE (Pay as you earn) payroll of your company.