Summary:
- People travel abroad for several reasons: visit, work, study, and residence.
- Visas are travel documents which allow you to enter a particular country.
- There are two types of visa: immigrant and non-immigrant.
- An immigrant visa is known as a residence permit or a green card. ...
What is the difference between a residence permit and a visa?
A residence permit confirms the right of a foreigner to live in the territory of the country. Often the person will prove their identity to enter the country. The permit looks different in different countries: like a plastic card in the European Union and in Russia, like a passport. A residence permit incomparably gives more rights than a visa.
What is an immigrant visa?
An immigrant visa is otherwise known as a residence permit. This type of visa is for people who have the intention of having a permanent residence in another country. You may have heard the term “green card.” This is also the residence permit.
What is a residence permit for the UK?
This residence permit is for foreigners having legally lived in UK for 10 continuous years, allowing them to permanently live and be active in the UK without restriction. The period of stay counted for settlement permit is the day of arrival to the UK or the day having been issued a UK entry visa (if you’re a visa national).
Do you need a visa to become a permanent resident?
But before you are able to acquire a permanent residence, you need to comply with its strict rules and requirements. The processing of this immigrant visa is often long and expensive. A non-immigrant visa, or simply visa permit, is granted according to the purpose of your travel. It can either be a visit, study, or work.
Is residence permit and visa the same thing?
A residence permit is not a visa In fact, this is a permit to enter a country for a specific purpose: for study, work, recreation or medical treatment. As a rule, this is a sticker on the passport page. In some countries, the visa looks like a stamp, insert, or a separate document.
Is a residency card a visa?
Green cards are technically a type of visa that allows for permanent residence. Green cards are issued after arrival in the United States. To qualify for a green card, the applicant must have an immigrant visa already, and applications are made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Do you need visa if you have residence permit?
You do not need a visa if you have a residence document (national residence permit) issued under national rules by a Schengen country and you are travelling to a Schengen country.
Is residence permit a Visa UK?
The UK permanent residence permit is for foreigners who having lived in the UK consecutively for certain years without breaking visa or other rules or UK laws. Also known as “Indefinite Leave to Remain” such residence title empowers foreigners to stay and be active in the UK without any limitation.
What is a resident permit card?
A residence permit (less commonly residency permit) is a document or card required in some regions, allowing a foreign national to reside in a country for a fixed or indefinite length of time. These may be permits for temporary residency, or permanent residency. The exact rules vary between regions.
Is residence permit same as visa in Germany?
A tourist visa allows you to stay in Germany for about 90 days and explore the country and all it has to offer. Staying beyond the permitted 90 days is not possible though without a residence permit. A German residence permit allows you to stay in Germany for a more extended period than only 90 days.
What is the difference between visa and permit?
1. A visa is something that tells about your immigration status to a certain nation (when you are outside the country of destination). 2. A permit is something that tells about your immigration status while you're physically in the foreign country.
Can I travel with my residence permit?
Please note the biometric residence permit is not a travel document on its own and therefore will need to be shown alongside a passport at the border. However, the document is acceptable as a standalone document when demonstrating immigration status, identity, right to work and access to public benefits.
How long does a residence permit last?
10 yearsBiometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are usually valid for a period of 10 years, but if you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain at some point within the past few years, then you may have been given a biometric residence permit that expires on 31st December 2024.
Is BRP a temporary visa?
You have temporary permission to stay in the UK ('leave to remain') You can apply online if you have leave to remain. It costs £161. You'll get a decision within 8 weeks.
What is the difference between UK residence card and residence permit?
A UK residence card or BRC is different from a 'biometric residence permit' (BRP). You might have a BRP if you have a visa for more than 6 months, indefinite leave to remain or certain Home Office travel documents. BRPs say 'residence permit' on them.
What is a visa UK?
A UK visa is the authorizing document that gives worldwide citizens the right to enter, stay temporarily or live forever in the territory of the UK. A visa is usually either a stamp you receive in your passport or a document given by a UK consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
What is the difference between a visa and a green card?
The key difference between the two is that US visas allow the bearer to enter the country and stay for a certain period of time for a specific purpose, while a Green Card is a permit for immigrants that grants permanent residency in the United States.
What visa classification is a green card?
Immigrant Visa CategoriesImmediate Relative & Family SponsoredVisa CategoryIntercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. CitizensIR3, IH3, IR4, IH4Certain Family Members of U.S. CitizensIR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent ResidentsF2A, F2BEmployer Sponsored – Employment11 more rows
What is a residence permit and what rights does it give?
A residence permit is a document that permits a foreign citizen to reside in the country for a long time. The document also serves as an identity...
What is the difference between permanent residence and residence permit and citizenship?
A residence permit is a temporary residence permit issued to a foreigner for a specified period of usually one to two years. It needs to be renewe...
How can you get a residence permit in an EU country?
Residence permits in EU countries can be obtained in different ways : through marriage, upon admission to a university, under an employment contrac...
What do you need and how much to invest to get a residence permit or permanent residency in the EU?
The countries of the European Union offer various investment options for obtaining a residence permit. The investment amount depends on the option...
How quickly can you get a residence permit for investment?
According to the experience of Immigrant Invest, it takes an average of three to six months to obtain a residence permit under an investment progra...
What is the difference between a temporary visa and a temporary residence permit?
Here’s the difference: a visa is usually your entry permission – i.e. it means you can cross the border and enter a country. a temporary residence permit is your ticket to staying in the country and is usually given for a specific purpose (work , study or retirement/living from investments) If you’re going to live in a new country most ...
What about visa-free?
A lot of us benefit from visa-free access to many countries, just with your regular passport.
How to qualify for a visa?
To qualify, you’ll often need to demonstrate your skills, capabilities, clients, employment record, and other evidence of your status. Sometimes you have to prove that you have clients in the country where you want the visa and normally have to prove residency there.
What is family visa?
A family visa is a scheme to reunite immediate and extended family members. An example may be a person granted permanent residency through a professional visa. The visa holder may be able to apply to have family members join them. The visa may apply only to immediate family, meaning spouse and dependent children. In addition, other countries are more flexible with family visas available to siblings, parents, and others.
What is a spouse visa?
Spouse or Marriage Visas. A spouse visa is a family visa that applies only to your spouse.
What is the difference between a retirement visa and a non-lucrative visa?
Above all, the difference is that these retirement visas have age limits. You need to be older than a specified age to access the visa.
How long can you stay in a country on a tourist visa?
These visas are usually time-based. They will have a limit on the total time you can spend in the country over a more extended period. For example, the visa might be for a maximum of 30 days at a time. Additionally, you might only be able to visit for a maximum of 90 days in 1 year.
How many categories of visas are there?
We’ll group visa types into five broad categories.
What is an au pair visa?
An au-pair visa is generally issued as a part of a program. Mostly you’ll need to have a concrete offer of employment from an approved family. The visa is usually time-limited, and there are restrictions on partaking in other employment.
Preparing your application
Please compile the documents you need to submit with your application. If documents or supporting documents are missing, your application may be rejected. We have prepared a checklist for each type of visa:
Submitting your application
Please schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the competent German Mission in the U.S. Please make sure you have your documents prepared and in order as per the checklist.
Have a good trip!
After the application has been approved by the Aliens' Authority and – if applicable - by the Work Office (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), the German Mission in the U.S. will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa, which will include the authorization to work in Germany.
What Is a German Residence Permit?
If your only goal is to visit Germany for touristic purposes, you don’t have to fret about a residence permit. A tourist visa allows you to stay in Germany for about 90 days and explore the country and all it has to offer. Staying beyond the permitted 90 days is not possible though without a residence permit.
How long can you stay in Germany with a residence permit?
A German residence permit allows you to stay in Germany for a more extended period than only 90 days. During that time, you can study, work, or engage in other activities in the country.
How long does it take to get a residence permit in Germany?
Many foreign nationals will have to apply for the residence permit for Germany from their home countries or get a Schengen visa to enter Germany for 90 days. For some countries, though, it is possible to enter Germany without a visa during those first 90 days and apply for the residence permit from inside the country.
What happens if you don't register your address in Germany?
If you don’t register your address, you could get fined, and your permit might be denied. After you complete this requirement, you will get a certificate which you can attach to your documents .
What is the background for EU Blue Card?
Those who are more likely to get the EU Blue Card have an IT or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) background.
Can a single person get a residence permit in Germany?
There is no single German residence permit through marriage, but this means that you will get your permit to stay in the country for family union purposes. Same-sex couples are also accepted in Germany and are eligible to obtain residence permits after they get married.
What is a French residence permit?
VLS-TS. A France residence permit is a document that allows its holder to stay in France, and is mandatory for every foreigner that comes to France with the purpose of staying more than three months. Without a French residence permit, one will not only be considered as an illegal resident in France, ...
Who is exempt from obtaining a French residence permit?
Exempt from the requirement of obtaining a French residence permit are only the nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area Member States and Switzerland, who still need to register with the authorities if they intend to remain in France more than six months. On the other hand, they too are suggested to obtain a residence permit, ...
How long do you have to apply for a French visa?
Differently from when applying for a French visa for which you apply from your country of residence, you will have to apply within France when it comes to a French residence permit. If your France long-stay visa is marked with the words “ carte de séjour à solliciter ” then you will have to apply within two months of your arrival in France at the local authorities. Whereas, if your France visa is marked with the words “CESEDA R.311-3”, you will need to contact the Office Francais de I‘Immigration et de I‘Integration (OFFI) as soon as you arrive in France.
What is a Carte de séjour?
Carte de Séjour is a residence permit for those who are coming to France under a French long-stay visa, and will have to either: will have to apply for a residence permit within their three months of arrival in France. For the Carte de Resident, you will also have to apply at the French prefecture or sub-prefecture in your country.
How to send a passport to the OFII?
Complete the form and send it through email to the OFII of the city where you are staying. Attach scanned pages of your passport where the identification information and entry stamp is shown.
What is a copy of passport?
a copy of the important pages of your passport (including the pages with your details and the pages with visa stickers and stamps)
What is the proof of residence in France?
Proof of residence, which can be an electricity bill, statement of domicile, rent receipt etc. Proof of income: if employed – work contract and latest payment slips. if self-employed – proof on their status. retired or unemployed: proof on having the adequate financial means to live in France. Medical Insurance.
What is a UK residence permit?
The United Kingdom’s residence permits are immigration authorizations showing foreigners’ entitlement to live, be active, use public funds and services, and/or to settle, or become British citizens in the UK. Applications for residence permits should be done from the UK.
What is a temporary residence permit in the UK?
This UK temporary residence permit is for non-EEA citizens to confirm their rights to remain in the UK, after having lost their sponsorship from an EEA relative. This applies if the EEA relative has died or left the UK or the marriage/civil partnership with them has ended officially.
What is a permanent residence in the UK?
The UK permanent residence permit is for foreigners who having lived in the UK consecutively for certain years without breaking visa or other rules or UK laws. Also known as “Indefinite Leave to Remain” such residence title empowers foreigners to stay and be active in the UK without any limitation.
What is a settled and pre settled permit?
Settled and pre-settled permits are for the EU citizens (except for Irish citizens) to confirm their eligibility to permanently live and be active in the UK after the Brexit. There is an unclear situation about the immigration status of the citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland after such occasion.
What is a settlement permit?
Settlement permit for a Widowed Partner. This residence permit is for foreigners in the UK through a marriage/civil partnership/durable relationship with a British citizen, or a holder of settlement permit, if such partner has deceased by now. You must have been living with your deceased partner in the same house, ...
What is a registration certificate after 5 years of continuous residence?
Registration certificate after 5-year of continuous residence is for the EU and Swiss citizens, to confirm their right to permanent residence, if they have been qualified persons in the UK. It’s required to apply for naturalization as a British citizen, or to sponsor your foreign partner on their UK visa application.
What is the period of stay counted for settlement permit?
The period of stay counted for settlement permit is the day of arrival to the UK or the day having been issued a UK entry visa (if you’re a visa national).
Family Types of Visas
Work Visa and Professional Types of Visas
- Au-Pair Visas
An au-pair visa is generally issued as a part of a program. Mostly you’ll need to have a concrete offer of employment from an approved family. The visa is usually time-limited, and there are restrictions on partaking in other employment. - Digital Nomads
Currently, no government offers a specific Digital Nomad visa category. The Estonian government has been working on the release of the first Digital Nomad visa. Several other visa classes are commonly used by Digital Nomads to live and work in countries around the world. See our blog …
Tourist Types of Visas
- A tourist visa or travel visa is issued for you to visit a country for recreation. You should not generally carry out any work activities. These visas are usually time-based. They will have a limit on the total time you can spend in the country over a more extended period. For example, the visa might be for a maximum of 30 days at a time. Additionally, you might only be able to visit for a …
Financial Situation Visa Types
- Non-Lucrative Visa / Passive Income Visa / Person of Independent Means Visas
If you can show you have a source of income to support yourself, some countries will issue you a visa. The source of income varies, but it needs to be something that is not your direct work. Examples of this are: 1. rental income 2. dividends 3. interest payments 4. annuity payments 5. t… - Retirement Visa
The retirement visa category is similar to the non-lucrative visa class above. You need to show you can support your self in your new country of choice. Above all, the difference is that these retirement visas have age limits. You need to be older than a specified age to access the visa. S…
International Treaty Visa Types
- Cross-Country Agreement Visas
Some countries have agreements with other countries that allow visa access across multiple borders. An excellent example of this is the SCHENGENarea. A visa granted by any of the 26 member states is valid in all member states. An example would be a 90-day tourist visa issued b… - Right of Abode
Right of abode is not strictly a visa type, but we felt it was worth mentioning. Countries have agreements that let their citizens live and work in other countries without a visa or immigration control. For example, the MERCOSURregion of South America. Importantly, this bloc allows all ci…
What Types of Visa Or Permit Could You get?
- The world is full of opportunities. However, navigating the many types of visas and permits can be very difficult. If you have an idea of counties that may appeal to you, a great place to start is the wherecani.live country pages. In particular, you can see all the visas and permits that are available. Alternatively, check out our blogs to find more information by visa category, or by cou…