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Visa glossary
Every acronym you will meet in a visa application, in one line each.
- Biometrics
- Fingerprints and a photo taken at a visa application centre; required for most sticker visas.
- CAS
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies — the UK university reference you need before a Student visa.
- CoE
- Confirmation of Enrolment issued by Australian institutions for the Subclass 500 visa.
- CRS
- Comprehensive Ranking System: the points score used in Canada's Express Entry draws.
- ETA / ETIAS
- Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers (Canada, Australia; ETIAS for Schengen).
- E-visa
- A visa issued electronically and linked to your passport number; no sticker, printed or shown on a phone.
- I-20
- The US form issued by a school that lets you apply for an F-1 student visa.
- LMIA
- Labour Market Impact Assessment — the Canadian employer's proof that no local worker was available.
- Proof of funds
- Bank statements or letters showing you can cover the trip, tuition or settlement costs.
- Schengen
- 26 European countries with one short-stay visa: 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Sponsor licence
- The UK Home Office permission an employer needs before sponsoring a Skilled Worker.
- Sticker visa
- A visa physically affixed to a passport page after an appointment at a consulate or VAC.
- Subclass
- Australia's numbering for visa types, e.g. 482 (skilled work), 500 (student), 600 (visitor).
- VAC
- Visa Application Centre run by VFS, TLScontact or BLS on behalf of a government.
- Validity vs stay
- Validity is how long the visa can be used; the permitted stay is how long each visit may last.