Okuzeka
Immigration & Visas vocabulary · Residence & Legal Status

Residence permit

Meaning in immigration & visas, with examples

nounCore term

In immigration & visas, residence permit means: An official document that allows a foreign citizen to live in a country for a set period, usually longer than a tourist visit.

In Turkish: oturma izni, ikamet izni, oturum

How it is used

In the EU it is usually a plastic card with your photo and biometric data. It may be temporary or permanent and is often linked to a purpose such as work, study or family. People apply for, receive, renew and carry their residence permit, and sometimes call it a residence card.

Example sentences

  1. Once you arrive, you have to apply for a residence permit at the local immigration office.

  2. Her residence permit expires next month, so she has already booked a renewal appointment.

Common collocations

  • apply for a residence permit
  • renew a residence permit
  • temporary residence permit
  • residence card
  • residence permit holder
  • permanent residenceThe right to live in a country without a time limit, usually also with the right to work, even though you are not a citizen.
  • renewTo make a document such as a passport, visa or permit valid for a further period, usually by applying again before it expires.
  • immigration statusYour legal position in a country as a non-citizen, which decides how long you can stay and whether you can work, study or use public services.
  • visa extensionPermission to stay in a country longer than your current visa allows, applied for while you are still inside the country.
  • work permitOfficial permission from a government that allows a foreign citizen to take a job in that country, often with a named employer.

More terms: Residence & Legal Status

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.