Civil partner: |
Same sex couples whose relationship has a legal status. They are treated in the same way as spouses in UK immigration law. |
Common Travel Area: |
The CTA comprises England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. There is no immigration control at the borders between these places. |
| DATV: |
Direct Airside Transit Visitor - someone who needs to apply for a visa even if they are merely touching down in the UK as part of a journey elsewhere, and who do not intend to go through immigration control or leave the airport. DATVs will always be 'visa nationals'. (Different from Transit Visitor) |
| Entry Clearance: |
A document issued by a British post which states that the holder is eligible to be admitted to the UK even though they are not a British national - most commonly a visa. |
| Entry Clearance Officer: |
The Entry Clearance Officer or ECO is the official at a UK post who is responsible for dealing with applications to enter the UK made at that post - also called a Visa Officer. |
| Entry Clearance Manager: |
An officer of senior rank who manages the ECOs. |
| Family visit/visitor: |
A visit/visitor to the UK to see close family members. |
| HSMP: |
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, a point based system which allows people who qualify to apply to come to the UK for economic reasons. |
| Immigration Employment Document: |
A document issued by the Home Office granting permission for the holder to work in the UK, or confirming that the holder meets the requirements of a special scheme such as the HSMP. A work permit is an IED. |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain: |
When there is no time limit on a person's stay in the UK, and they may live and work in the UK without needing any further permission from any government department. Though the correct term is Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, people commonly call this permanent residence or settlement. Someone who has ILR is still subject to immigration control. |
| Leave to enter: |
Permission given at a UK port by an official for a person to enter the UK. This usually takes the form of a stamp on the passport, and will set out the time for which a person may remain in the UK. |
| Limited leave: |
Permission to enter or remain in the UK which is subject to a time restriction. There may also be other conditions attached to such leave. |
| Marriage visitor: |
A person who comes to the UK to get married, but does not intend to live here. |
| Non visa nationals: |
The UK government does not require the citizens of some countries to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK if they intend to remain here for less than six months. Such people are called non-visa nationals. |
| Overstayer: |
A foreign national who remains in the UK for longer than the time allowed. |
| Public funds: |
UK welfare benefits which applicants for visas have to show that they will not need to draw upon to maintain themselves whilst in the UK. |
| Returning Resident: |
A person who has ILR and who is returning to the UK within two years of leaving it. |
| Right of abode: |
The right to live in the UK without being subject to any immigration control. |
| Settled: |
Someone who is ordinarily resident in the UK and who has no restrictions on the time they are permitted to remain here. |
| Sponsor: |
Someone in the UK who supports the application of a person abroad to come to the UK, and who may in some cases be willing to provide that person with accommodation or maintenance whilst they are in the UK. A sponsor could be a relative, friend, or someone else. |
| Transit Visitor: |
A foreign national who breaks journey in the UK for a maximum of 48 hours. Visa nationals need to apply for a transit visa before travel. |
| Unmarried partners: |
Couples of the same or opposite sex who have been together for two or more years in a relationship 'akin to marriage'. They are treated the same way as spouses in the immigration rules. |
| Visa nationals: |
The UK government requires the citizens of certain countries to apply for a visa for all visits to the UK, no matter how short. Such people are commonly called 'visa nationals'. |
| Working holidaymaker: |
A person aged between 17 - 30 who is a citizen of certain specified countries who travels to the UK for up to two years as part of a working holiday. |
