Global Mobility glossary

An A1 certificate confirms which country’s social security legislation applies to an employee working temporarily in another country within the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. It provides evidence that the employee remains covered by the social security system of the issuing country and prevents contributions falling due in two places at once. Certificates are commonly issued for postings of up to 24 months, and requirements can apply to short trips as well as extended assignments.

Movement between the United Kingdom and the European Union is governed by the Protocol on Social Security Coordination under the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement rather than by European Union regulations. Reforms to the European Union coordination rules approved in July 2026 are expected to widen the circumstances in which a certificate is required, which increases the importance of assessing Business Travellers as well as longer-term assignees.

An international assignment in which a relocating employee moves with one or more family members, such as a spouse, partner or child. Accompanied assignments commonly require additional relocation support, including home search, school search, partner support and settling-in services. Family circumstances influence assignment cost, timing and duration, and are a recognised factor in assignment failure.

Relocation support provided to the spouse or partner of a relocating employee. Services may include career guidance, education advice, cultural support, local networking and practical help adjusting to life in the new location. Partner career interruption is one of the most frequently cited reasons for declining or curtailing an international assignment, particularly in dual-career households.

An assessment used to identify the Immigration, tax, social security and employment requirements created by work performed in another country. The assessment considers the employee’s activities, destination, travel pattern and length of stay rather than relying on trip duration alone. Activity-based assessment has become more important as economic employer principles and posted worker obligations have extended requirements to shorter trips.

The transportation of household goods or personal belongings by air as part of a domestic or international move. Air freight is commonly used for smaller, urgent or time-sensitive shipments and is often combined with sea freight so that essential items arrive ahead of the main consignment. It carries a higher cost and a higher carbon footprint than sea or road transport, which brings it within the scope of sustainable mobility decisions.

An air waybill, commonly abbreviated to AWB, is a transport document issued for goods carried by air. It records shipment information, provides evidence of the contract between the shipper and carrier and acts as a receipt for the goods accepted for transportation. Unlike a bill of lading, an air waybill is not a document of title.

A Relocation service providing transport and a personal welcome for a relocating employee and family on arrival in the host location. The service commonly includes meeting the arrival, transfer to temporary accommodation and an initial handover of local information and contacts. It is often the first point of physical contact in the destination and sets expectations for the support that follows.

The Italian national association of removals companies, representing member firms and setting industry standards for moving services in Italy. It has campaigned for formal recognition of the moving profession in Italy and works within the wider European framework through the Federation of European Movers Associations (FEDEMAC).

A payment or financial benefit provided to a relocating employee under a Global Mobility policy. Allowances may cover housing, relocation, cost of living, hardship, education, travel or other assignment-related costs and are usually administered through Compensation. Most allowances are taxable in the host location, so the associated gross-up cost forms part of assignment budgeting.

The largest business federation in the United States, representing companies of all sizes across every sector and region. It advocates on trade, tax, regulation and workforce policy at federal level and internationally. Chambers operating under the AmCham name in individual overseas markets are separate organisations with their own membership.

A United States voluntary bar association of attorneys and law professors practising and teaching immigration law, founded in 1946 with more than 15,000 members. AILA provides continuing legal education, professional services and advocacy on United States immigration policy through its chapters and national committees. Membership signals engagement with recognised professional standards in a jurisdiction where immigration advice is a regulated activity.

A membership organisation supporting Australian, New Zealand and other internationally mobile families in Singapore through community groups, sport, social activities and practical guidance for new arrivals. Organisations of this kind form part of the informal support structure relocating employees and families draw on after arrival.

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are commonly required for birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic qualifications, court records and notarised documents used in immigration applications. Where the destination country is not a party to the Convention, full consular legalisation is required instead.

Convention membership continues to expand, with China and Canada among recent accessions, and electronic apostilles are being adopted in a growing number of jurisdictions. Because status changes, the current position should be checked against the Hague Conference status table before documents are prepared.

A network of selected service providers used to deliver Global Mobility services in locations supported through external partners. Approved partners are assessed through due diligence, onboarding requirements, service standards, performance reviews and structured tender processes. The network extends geographic coverage while maintaining consistent standards across delivery.

A Relocation service that introduces a relocating employee and family to a new location, usually through a guided tour with a local consultant. Orientation commonly covers neighbourhoods, transport, amenities, healthcare and daily life, and supports decisions about where to focus home search and school search. It is also used before an assignment is accepted, to help a family assess the destination realistically.

Relocation support provided when a relocating employee or family arrives in the destination location. Services commonly include airport transfers, temporary accommodation support, local registration and practical help with the first stages of settling in. Timing is often constrained by immigration status, since local registration in many countries cannot be completed until permission to reside has been granted.

The application of artificial intelligence and automation to Global Mobility processes, including cost projection, policy guidance, compliance monitoring, case management, document handling and reporting. Industry research indicates that use has grown rapidly and is now widespread, although most of it remains informal and individual rather than embedded in structured workflows. Governance has lagged adoption, and data quality, privacy obligations and the handling of personal information relating to relocating employees remain central considerations.

A widely used industry term for an employee who works in another country under an international assignment. Assignments may be short-term, long-term, commuter, rotational or structured through another form of international work arrangement. The term describes a contractual status rather than a seniority level or a duration. At Santa Fe, relocating employee is the preferred client-facing term for assignee.

A formal agreement between an employer and a relocating employee setting out the terms and conditions of an international assignment. It commonly covers assignment duration, Compensation, benefits, immigration support, Relocation services, tax arrangements and employee responsibilities. Assignment agreement is often used interchangeably with assignment letter, although terminology varies between organisations.

An international assignment that ends earlier than planned or does not achieve its intended business, talent or employee objectives. Contributing factors commonly include family circumstances, cultural adjustment, unsuitable candidate selection, insufficient support, compliance problems or changes in business requirements. Failure is expensive relative to the cost of prevention, which is why pre-assignment assessment, family support and structured repatriation planning are treated as risk controls rather than benefits.

A formal document setting out the terms and conditions of an international assignment. Sometimes called an assignment agreement, it may cover assignment duration, Compensation, benefits, tax arrangements, relocation support, employee responsibilities and repatriation terms. Clear drafting on assignment end, repatriation obligations and the treatment of policy exceptions reduces the risk of dispute later in the assignment.

The full sequence of an international assignment, from business planning and candidate selection through preparation, Immigration, Relocation and on-assignment support to repatriation or onward transition. Viewing the assignment as a lifecycle rather than a series of separate transactions supports cost visibility, compliance continuity and consistent employee experience. Responsibility across the lifecycle is commonly shared between the employer, the relocating employee and service providers.

Assignment Management is a traditional industry term describing the coordination and administration of international employee assignments, including compliance, Compensation, policy management and relocation support. At Santa Fe, these services are grouped within Relocation as part of our broader Global Mobility framework.

A structured framework defining how an organisation manages international assignments. It commonly covers eligibility, assignment types, Compensation, allowances, tax support, Immigration, Relocation services, policy exceptions and the responsibilities of the employer and the relocating employee. Clear tiering by assignment type and a defined exception process are what keep policy operating as a governance instrument rather than a starting point for individual negotiation.

The category of international work arrangement applied to a move, determining the support, compensation structure and compliance requirements that follow. Common types include short-term, long-term, commuter, rotational, permanent transfer, local plus and virtual arrangements, alongside domestic relocations and business travel. Most organisations define assignment types within policy so that support can be applied consistently and cost can be forecast reliably.

The French national association for business travel and mobility managers, providing training, benchmarking and representation for corporate travel buyers in France. It is a founding member of BT4Europe.

The United Kingdom professional body for the relocation industry, established in the mid-1980s. The ARP provides training, professional vetting, arbitration and a code of conduct, and requires members handling property transactions to join a redress scheme and register for anti-money laundering supervision. It runs the Managing International Mobility qualification alongside the European Academy of Relocation Professionals.

The largest business network in Australia, representing member businesses through state and territory chambers and national industry associations. It advocates on workplace relations, trade, skills and regulation. Chambers operating under the Australian Chamber of Commerce name in individual overseas markets are separate organisations.

The Austrian national association representing corporate business travel buyers and managers, providing education, benchmarking and advocacy. It is a founding member of BT4Europe and a council member of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in Europe.

A method used to build the compensation package for an international assignment by comparing the cost of living, housing and tax between the home and host locations. The approach aims to keep the relocating employee in a broadly comparable financial position to the one they would hold at home, with differentials added or removed as conditions change. It remains the dominant model for long-term assignments, although its administrative demands lead some organisations towards local plus or host-based structures as populations grow.

The underlying salary paid to a relocating employee before assignment-related allowances, differentials and premiums are applied. Base salary is normally the reference point for compensation calculations, including balance sheet build-ups, hypothetical tax and cost projections. Most organisations keep base salary aligned to home country structures, since a figure inflated for assignment reasons creates difficulty at the point of repatriation.

The Belgian national association for corporate travel and mobility managers, representing buyers of business travel and providing peer exchange and professional development. It is a founding member of BT4Europe.

The Belgian national trade association for professional moving companies, operating in both language communities as the Belgische Kamer der Verhuizers and the Chambre Belge des Déménageurs. Founded in 1902, it runs the BKV Recognised Mover quality label covering legal compliance, insurance and service standards, and is a member of the Federation of European Movers Associations (FEDEMAC).

The process of comparing a Global Mobility programme, policy or service against recognised industry practice or against similar organisations. Benchmarking supports policy development, helps assess competitiveness and provides evidence when seeking approval for change. Data sources commonly include specialist providers of cost of living, hardship and housing data alongside published industry surveys.

A non-cash benefit provided to an employee that carries a value for tax purposes, such as company-provided housing, a vehicle, school fees or medical cover. Benefits in kind are frequently significant in international assignments and are reportable in most jurisdictions even when paid directly to a supplier rather than to the employee. They are among the items most often missed during compensation accumulation, which leads to underreported income and corrections at year end.

A legal shipping document issued by a carrier confirming receipt of goods for transportation. It records shipment details, provides evidence of the contract of carriage and can serve as a document of title. Bills of lading are used for international sea freight, and errors in consignee details or description commonly hold goods at port while storage and demurrage charges accrue.

A delivery structure combining Managed Services and Direct Services within the same Global Mobility programme. Some services are coordinated through a central programme management team where oversight, visibility and structure are required, while others are engaged independently according to regional requirements, programme complexity or internal capability. Blended delivery is common in practice, allowing organisations to maintain flexibility without losing consistency or accountability across the programme.

A transatlantic business organisation supporting trade and investment between the United Kingdom and the United States. Membership provides access to networks, policy briefings and events relevant to organisations moving employees between the two markets.

The United Kingdom trade association for professional moving companies, operating a code of practice approved under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute consumer codes scheme. Members are subject to inspection and financial vetting, an independent dispute resolution service applies, and the Advance Payment Guarantee protects customer deposits. Membership is one of the clearer quality signals available in the United Kingdom moving market.

The national body representing accredited chambers of commerce across the United Kingdom, supporting businesses through local chamber membership, research and policy advocacy. British Chambers of Commerce operating in individual overseas markets are separate organisations with their own membership.

The European Network of Business Travel Associations, formed in 2022 by 13 national business travel associations to represent buyers and users of business travel at European Union level. It publishes position papers on sustainability, digital transformation and the economic impact of business travel, and engages with European institutions on passenger rights, emissions and the digitalisation of travel documents.

The German federal association for furniture removals and specialist logistics, active since 1881 and organised through regional associations across Germany. It operates the geprüfter amoe:spediteur accreditation, which recognises member companies meeting its professional standards, runs an independent arbitration service for moving disputes and provides training through its academy. It is a member of the Federation of European Movers Associations (FEDEMAC).

The United Kingdom representative association for the business travel community and travel management companies, whose members account for the large majority of managed travel booked in the United Kingdom. It runs an accreditation scheme giving corporate buyers an independent basis for assessing a travel management company, alongside conferences and industry advocacy.

The processes, controls and governance used to manage the legal and regulatory obligations created by international business travel. Requirements commonly span Immigration, tax, social security, posted worker notification, duty of care and travel risk management, and many of them apply from the first day of work rather than after a threshold is crossed. Automated border systems have made day counts and travel histories far easier for authorities to verify, which raises the standard of record keeping expected of employers.

Business Travel Solution, abbreviated to BTS, is a Santa Fe service supporting the structured management of international business travel to strengthen compliance, governance and employee safety. Services commonly include pre-travel assessment, immigration support, tax and social security review, travel tracking and ongoing compliance monitoring. The service addresses the population that sits outside formal assignment structures and is therefore least visible within most Global Mobility programmes.

A technology platform used to assess, manage and monitor international business travel. Depending on the solution, it may cover immigration requirements, tax and social security exposure, posted worker notification, travel approval, day counting, compliance monitoring and reporting. The value of a tool depends on the completeness of the travel data feeding it, which is why integration with booking and expense systems is usually the determining factor.

An employee who travels internationally for business purposes without relocating or undertaking a formal international assignment. Business travellers can still create Immigration, tax, social security and compliance obligations depending on destination, activities performed and length of stay. Within the Schengen area the 90 days in any 180 day period limit applies across the whole region rather than country by country, and entry and exit records are now captured electronically rather than through passport stamps.

A visa allowing an individual to enter a country for approved business activities such as meetings, training, conferences or negotiations. A business visa does not automatically grant the right to undertake productive work, and the definition of permitted activity is narrower than most travellers assume. Delivering services to a client, performing hands-on work or filling a local role commonly falls outside business visa conditions and requires work authorisation instead.

A financial arrangement in which an employer provides a fixed payment instead of delivering specified Relocation services or benefits. A buyout gives the relocating employee flexibility over how the move is managed while transferring responsibility for arranging services to them. Calibration matters, since a payment set below the real cost in the destination leaves the employee absorbing the shortfall.

A global non-profit running the leading environmental disclosure system, covering climate change, water security and deforestation. Organisations report annually through sector questionnaires and receive a letter-graded score used by investors, regulators and corporate buyers. CDP is one of the founding partners of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The Santa Fe team providing coordination, oversight and accountability across services delivered under Managed Services or Blended Services. The team acts as the single point of coordination between the client and delivery across Immigration, Relocation, Compensation and Moving. Responsibilities commonly include programme governance, service standards, reporting, escalation and alignment between service lines.

A French professional network for international human resources and Global Mobility practitioners. It provides peer exchange, benchmarking and research for organisations managing internationally mobile employees, principally in the French market.

A document confirming which country’s social security legislation applies when an employee works internationally under a bilateral social security agreement. It performs a comparable function to an A1 certificate outside the European Union and prevents contributions falling due in two countries at once. Applications take time and generally cannot be backdated indefinitely, so they belong at the initiation stage of an assignment alongside Immigration.

An electronic record issued by a licensed sponsoring employer that supports a foreign national‘s application for a work visa, used within the United Kingdom immigration system. Each certificate records the role, salary, work location and employment dates. Issuing a certificate commits the sponsor to defined reporting and record-keeping duties for the life of the visa, and changes to any of those details commonly require notification within a set period.

A formal change to the terms of an international assignment after it has begun. Changes may cover duration, destination, Compensation, family status, role or host entity, and each commonly requires a fresh assessment of Immigration, tax and policy position. Extensions are the most frequent change and the one most likely to alter social security coverage, since posting rules are duration limited.

A cross-industry group bringing together associations across the Global Mobility sector to work on shared challenges. It was founded in 2022 as the Coalition for Greener Mobility, focused on corporate sustainability in mobility, and broadened its remit and name in 2026.

A Santa Fe service covering specialist and one-off relocations falling outside standard employee moving requirements. Commercial Projects commonly include office relocations, laboratory and technical equipment moves, fine art and high-value items, and other complex logistics requiring bespoke planning. Delivery is project based rather than governed by a standing mobility policy.

An international work arrangement in which an employee travels regularly between the home and host country without relocating. Commuter arrangements avoid family disruption and create fragmented presence across the year, which complicates tax residence, payroll and social security positions. Travel volume also raises cost and carbon impact relative to a conventional posting.

Compensation refers to the salary, allowances and financial support provided to relocating employees during an international assignment or other Global Mobility programme. It commonly covers salary administration, cost projections, allowances, payroll coordination, compensation accumulation and assignment-related payments. At Santa Fe, Compensation is the current service name for activities traditionally described as Compensation & Expenses.

A traditional industry term describing the financial administration of international assignments, covering payroll delivery, expense processing, cost projection and reporting. At Santa Fe, these activities are now grouped within Compensation.

The process of collecting every element of a relocating employee’s pay and benefits across home and host payrolls into a single complete record. Accumulation is the foundation of assignment tax compliance and supports payroll administration, reporting and reconciliation. Elements delivered outside payroll, including relocation invoices paid directly to suppliers and benefits in kind, are reportable in most jurisdictions and are the items most often missed.

The processes and controls used to meet legal, regulatory and organisational requirements associated with Global Mobility. Requirements span Immigration, tax, social security, employment law, payroll, data protection and internal policy. Compliance in mobility is distinctive because obligations sit across several functions and a decision taken in one area regularly creates a duty in another.

A structured review identifying the legal and regulatory obligations created by an international assignment, business trip or other cross-border work arrangement. Assessments commonly consider Immigration, tax, social security, employment law and corporate exposure such as permanent establishment. Carrying out the assessment before travel is approved is what makes it useful, since most obligations cannot be corrected retrospectively.

The continuing process of tracking international employee movements and obligations across the assignment lifecycle. Monitoring commonly covers visa and permit expiry, work authorisation, tax exposure, day counts, social security coverage and policy adherence. Diary-managed checks before expiry dates are what prevent a compliant arrangement lapsing part way through an assignment.

A Relocation service providing practical, personalised assistance to relocating employees and their families on matters outside the core relocation scope. Support commonly includes household setup, appointments, local recommendations, vehicle arrangements and everyday administrative tasks in an unfamiliar system. The service is typically used where an employee’s time carries a high opportunity cost or where local language presents a barrier.

The process of authenticating a public document through the embassy or consulate of the destination country, used where that country is not party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Legalisation usually involves several sequential steps through national authorities before the consular stage and takes considerably longer than an apostille. Requirements and processing times vary widely, so the step belongs at the start of an immigration timeline.

An Immigration service supporting the preparation, submission and management of applications made through embassies and consulates. Support commonly covers appointment booking, document preparation, translation, legalisation and attendance guidance. Consular requirements differ by post as well as by country, which is why local knowledge of the specific mission matters.

A Global Mobility policy combining a defined set of standard relocation benefits with a flexible allowance the employee can apply to additional services according to their circumstances. The structure balances consistency, employee choice and cost control, and it accommodates varied family situations without writing a separate policy for each. Clear definition of what sits in the core tier is what keeps the flexible element from becoming an entitlement.

An initial calculation of the expected cost of a specific relocation or service, prepared to support budgeting or approval. Estimates are commonly produced early and at less depth than a full cost projection, which models the total cost of an assignment across its duration. Both are used to compare options such as an assignment, a local hire or a remote arrangement before a commitment is made.

The planning, monitoring and control of costs across a Global Mobility programme. It commonly covers budgeting, cost projection, supplier management, expense tracking and programme reporting. Reconciling actual cost against projection is the step that gives a programme credibility with finance and the evidence to defend policy decisions.

The average cost of housing, food, transport, healthcare, education and everyday expenses in a particular location. Understanding cost of living supports compensation decisions and the calculation of allowances for relocating employees. Comparisons are made between specific locations rather than countries, since costs within a single country can vary widely.

A payment made to a relocating employee to help maintain purchasing power where living costs in the host location exceed those at home. COLA is calculated by applying a recognised index to a spendable portion of salary and moves with both price changes and exchange rates. Setting a defined review frequency and a policy on downward adjustment protects the credibility of the allowance when the index falls.

A measure of the relative cost of goods and services between locations, used to calculate cost of living allowances. Indices are produced by specialist data providers and are commonly updated at set intervals to reflect price movement and currency changes. Index selection matters, since providers differ in basket composition and in how housing is treated.

A financial estimate of the anticipated cost of an international assignment or relocation across its full duration. Projections commonly include Compensation, allowances, Immigration, tax, Moving, Relocation services and other assignment-related expenses. Producing a projection before approval exposes the true multiple of salary an assignment represents and gives the business a basis for choosing between an assignment, a local hire and a remote arrangement.

A technology tool used to model the anticipated cost of international assignments. Calculators allow organisations to compare scenarios, test locations and assess assignment types before approving a move. Output quality depends on the underlying assumptions for tax, social security and housing, so the data source behind the tool matters as much as the interface.

A summary of practical, cultural, legal and business information prepared for a relocating employee before departure. Briefings commonly cover local customs, regulations, healthcare, education, transport, security and everyday life in the destination. They are frequently combined with a tax briefing and an immigration briefing so the employee receives a single coherent picture before travel.

A Relocation service introducing a relocating employee and family to the destination country before or shortly after arrival. Orientation commonly covers practical information, local services, neighbourhoods, transport, cultural expectations and daily living. It differs from area orientation in scope, addressing the country and its systems rather than a specific locality.

A United Kingdom technology company automating cross-border compliance and operations for Global Mobility and business travel teams. Cozm Travel assesses in real time when a trip triggers posted worker, social security, tax or Immigration obligations, and completes filings including posted worker notifications, A1 certificates and certificates of coverage, with automated coverage extending to equal pay calculations and power of attorney across 28 countries. Cozm Unity automates the administration, tracking and reporting of relocations and assignments across a programme, and a third product in development brings mobility data into talent planning. Santa Fe Relocation developed its Business Travel Solution in partnership with The Cozm.

Employment in which work is performed across more than one country. Cross-border employment commonly creates Immigration, tax, payroll, social security and employment law obligations requiring coordinated Global Mobility support. Where an employee habitually works in two or more countries, the rules determining which system applies differ from those governing a single posting.

A work arrangement in which an employee performs their role remotely from a country other than that of their employing entity or usual place of work. These arrangements can create Immigration, tax, payroll, permanent establishment, employment law and data protection obligations without the governance that surrounds a formal assignment. Within Europe, a framework agreement allows habitual cross-border teleworkers to remain covered by social security in the employer’s country where remote work stays below half of total working time, but it applies only where both countries have signed, and several major economies have not. Most organisations now manage these requests through a defined approval framework with duration limits and country restrictions.

A Relocation service helping relocating employees and their families understand the cultural norms, communication styles and business practices of the destination country. Training supports integration, wellbeing and assignment success, and is commonly delivered before departure, after arrival and again ahead of repatriation. Sessions may be tailored to the individual using profiling or assessment tools.

A structured learning programme preparing relocating employees and their families for living and working in a different cultural environment. Content commonly covers communication styles, workplace expectations, social customs and practical guidance for daily life. The terms cultural training and cross-cultural training are used interchangeably across the industry.

The process of obtaining approval from customs authorities for household goods or personal belongings to enter or leave a country. Clearance commonly requires shipping documentation, a detailed inventory, declarations and payment of any applicable duties or taxes. Eligibility for duty-free import usually depends on the owner’s immigration status, which ties the shipment timeline directly to the visa timeline.

The policies, processes and legal requirements governing how personal information is collected, processed, stored, shared and transferred. Global Mobility programmes handle unusually sensitive personal data relating to relocating employees and their families, including passport details, family composition, salary and health information, and they routinely move it across borders between employers, suppliers and authorities. Lawful basis, retention limits and the terms under which data passes to suppliers in other jurisdictions are the areas that most often need attention.

A charge applied by a carrier or port when a container or shipment remains at the terminal beyond the free time allowed. Demurrage accrues daily and commonly arises when customs clearance is delayed, documentation is incomplete or the consignee is not yet in a position to receive the goods. Because clearance frequently depends on immigration status, delays in the visa timeline translate directly into storage and demurrage cost.

The final stage of an international assignment or relocation, when the relocating employee and family prepare to leave the host location. It covers the administrative, logistical and compliance activities required before returning home or moving to another destination. Departure obligations are frequently underestimated, since deregistration, tax filing and lease closure can take longer than the notice period allows.

A Relocation service supporting relocating employees and their families when leaving a host location. Services commonly include deregistration with local authorities, lease termination and inspection, utility disconnection, school deregistration, bank account closure and coordination with Moving services. Documented condition reports from the start of the tenancy are what resolve most deposit and dilapidation disputes at the end of it.

A family member who accompanies or joins a relocating employee during an international assignment or relocation. Dependants commonly include spouses, civil partners and children, although eligibility varies considerably between countries. Definitions applied by immigration authorities do not always match an organisation’s own definition of family, particularly for unmarried partners and older children.

A visa or permit allowing an eligible family member to live, and in some countries work or study, with the primary visa holder. Eligibility, permitted activities, application routes and processing times vary between jurisdictions. Dependant permission is usually tied to the principal applicant’s status, so a change to the main visa affects the whole family.

The formal process of notifying local authorities that a relocating employee and family are leaving a country, closing the registrations made on arrival. Requirements commonly cover residence registration, tax authorities, social security, healthcare and municipal services. Failure to deregister can leave continuing tax or social security obligations in the host country long after the employee has left.

A financial allowance supporting a relocating employee after arrival in the host location. It commonly covers initial living costs, settling-in expenses or location-specific requirements defined by the employer’s Global Mobility policy. Allowances of this kind are generally taxable in the host country, so the associated gross-up cost forms part of the budget.

An organisation providing local expertise and support within a destination country. Within Global Mobility, destination management companies commonly deliver orientation, local logistics, settling-in support and related relocation assistance on behalf of a provider or employer. The term is also used in the events industry with a different meaning, so context matters.

Destination Services is a traditional Global Mobility term covering services that help relocating employees and their families settle into a new location. These commonly include area orientation, home search, school search, settling-in support, cultural training and departure services. At Santa Fe, these services are grouped within Relocation as part of our broader Global Mobility framework.

An individual who works remotely while living temporarily in one or more countries outside their usual place of residence. Digital nomads may be employed, self-employed or freelance, and the arrangement can create Immigration, tax and social security obligations that neither the individual nor their employer has assessed. Where an employer is aware of the arrangement, it falls within the scope of cross-border remote working governance rather than sitting outside policy.

A temporary residence permit allowing an eligible individual to live in a country while working remotely for an employer or clients based elsewhere. More than 60 countries now operate a programme of this kind, and the field has become more regulated over time, with higher income thresholds, clearer definitions of who qualifies as a remote worker and closer attention to tax. A visa of this type resolves the immigration question but does not by itself determine tax residence, which is usually decided by presence and local rules.

An international assignment in which the relocating employee transfers directly from the home location to the host location under the employer’s Global Mobility policy. The term distinguishes a straightforward home to host move from arrangements routed through a third entity or a global employment company. Direct assignments are the most common structure and the one most policies are written around.

A payment arrangement in which relocation-related services are invoiced to the employer rather than paid by the relocating employee and reimbursed afterwards. Direct billing removes cash flow pressure from the employee and improves cost visibility for the employer. It also brings the payments within scope for compensation accumulation, since amounts paid to suppliers on an employee’s behalf are commonly reportable.

A method of settling relocation costs in which suppliers are paid by the employer or relocation provider rather than the relocating employee claiming the amount back. The approach reduces administrative burden on the employee and gives the employer earlier sight of committed spend. Tax treatment depends on the nature of the cost rather than the payment route.

A Santa Fe delivery model in which individual services are engaged independently as required, without central programme coordination. Direct Services provides access to Immigration, Relocation, Compensation or moving support as standalone engagements that integrate into existing internal structures. It is commonly used where an organisation retains its own programme management capability or needs support in specific projects, regions or markets.

Relocation benefits provided at the employer’s discretion rather than as standard policy entitlements. They are commonly approved to address exceptional business needs, individual circumstances or destination-specific requirements. Recording each approval with its rationale keeps discretion working as a controlled mechanism, since a discretionary benefit granted repeatedly is usually a signal that policy needs revising.

A work assignment taking place within the same country rather than internationally. Domestic assignments can still involve relocation support, policy administration and Moving services, and in large countries they may carry costs comparable to an international move. Tax and social security questions are simpler, although state or regional variations apply in some jurisdictions.

The relocation of household goods and personal belongings between locations within the same country. Domestic moves avoid customs formalities but still require survey, packing, transport and delivery planning. Volume and distance remain the primary cost drivers.

The planning and transportation of household goods within a single country. Services commonly include pre-move survey, packing, transport, storage, delivery and unpacking. The term is used interchangeably with domestic move across the industry.

The relocation of an employee and family within the same country. Domestic relocations commonly include Moving, temporary accommodation, home search and settling-in support, and may be supported through a lump sum or a managed service depending on policy. Housing market conditions in the destination are usually the factor that determines how much support is needed.

A legal concept describing an individual’s permanent home, distinct from both tax residency and nationality. Domicile changes slowly and requires evidence of a settled intention to remain, where tax residency can change within a single tax year.

The concept has narrowed in some jurisdictions. The United Kingdom abolished its non-domicile regime from April 2025, replacing the remittance basis with a residence-based system and moving inheritance tax from a domicile test to a long-term residence test based on years of United Kingdom tax residence. Domicile remains relevant for earlier tax years, for certain trust arrangements and in other jurisdictions that continue to apply it.

A Moving service in which the provider manages every stage of a shipment from collection at the origin residence to delivery and placement at the destination residence. The scope commonly includes survey, packing, transport, customs clearance, delivery, unpacking and removal of debris. A single point of accountability across the whole route is what distinguishes it from arrangements where the employee coordinates separate suppliers at each end.

The taxation of the same income by more than one country. Internationally mobile employees may be exposed depending on domestic legislation, treaty positions and the length and nature of their presence in each country. Relief is commonly available through a double taxation agreement, a foreign tax credit or an exemption, although the mechanism and the evidence required vary.

A treaty between two countries setting out how income is taxed where both have a claim, also known as a tax treaty. Agreements commonly address employment income, residence, permanent establishment and the relief available against double taxation. Treaty relief for short-term work can be lost where the host entity is treated as the economic employer, so the agreement alone does not settle the position.

Support provided to the spouse or partner of a relocating employee to help continue or develop their career after an international move. Services commonly include career coaching, curriculum vitae support, professional accreditation guidance, networking introductions and local employment advice. Partner career interruption is among the strongest predictors of a declined or curtailed assignment, particularly in dual-career households, which now form the majority of the assignee population.

A payroll arrangement in which a relocating employee receives salary through payroll systems in both the home and host countries. It is commonly used to meet host withholding obligations while maintaining home country benefits and social security continuity. The arrangement adds reconciliation complexity, since the full compensation picture then sits across two systems and has to be brought together for reporting.

An employer’s responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect the health, safety, security and wellbeing of employees travelling or working internationally. Within Global Mobility it commonly covers travel risk management, emergency support, compliance monitoring and knowing where employees are. The obligation extends to accompanying family members in most interpretations and applies across the whole assignment rather than the travel element alone.

The import of eligible household goods or personal belongings without payment of customs duties or import taxes, subject to the regulations of the destination country. Eligibility commonly depends on the owner’s immigration status, the age and ownership history of the goods and the timing of the shipment relative to arrival. Missing a deadline for import is a frequent cause of unexpected duty charges.

An international shipment of household goods qualifying for duty-free import under the customs regulations of the destination country. Qualification usually requires supporting documentation including a detailed inventory, proof of residence status and evidence that the goods are used personal effects. New or high-value items are commonly excluded and may be assessed separately.

A global provider of data, research and advisory services supporting international workforce management. Organisations commonly use its data to benchmark cost of living, hardship, accommodation and other assignment-related compensation elements. It is one of several specialist providers whose indices underpin allowance calculations, and provider choice affects outcomes because basket composition and housing treatment differ.

A concept applied by tax authorities to determine which organisation directs and benefits from an employee’s work, rather than which organisation formally employs and pays them. Where a host entity is treated as the economic employer, treaty relief for short-term work can fall away and withholding obligations begin from the first day rather than after a day-count threshold. The concept has been adopted by a growing number of jurisdictions and has made short assignments and Business Travellers materially more complex to administer.

A global sustainability ratings provider assessing organisations on environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. It rates more than 150,000 companies across upwards of 180 countries, and ratings are increasingly requested during tender processes, which brings them within the scope of supplier assessment for Global Mobility programmes.

A Relocation service helping relocating employees identify suitable education options for their children. Support commonly covers local and international schools, admissions processes, curricula, assessment requirements and applications. School availability and admission cycles are a genuine constraint on move timing rather than an administrative detail, and in many locations the school decision determines where a family can realistically live.

The criteria determining which employees qualify for a Global Mobility policy, assignment type, relocation benefit or immigration route. Eligibility rules vary between organisations and between countries, and the two do not always align. A candidate who meets internal policy criteria may still fail an immigration salary or qualification threshold, which is why eligibility is commonly assessed on both sides before an offer is made.

The process of moving an employee from one location to another for work, domestically or internationally. It typically brings together Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation according to the employer’s Global Mobility policy. The scope and level of support usually follow from the assignment type rather than being set case by case.

The range of services provided to assist relocating employees before, during and after a relocation or international assignment. Support commonly spans Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation alongside wellbeing resources and ongoing assignment assistance. The quality of support in the first weeks after arrival has a disproportionate effect on how the assignment is judged overall.

The physical, mental and social health of relocating employees and their families before, during and after an international assignment or relocation. Considerations commonly include cultural adjustment, family separation, isolation, workload and access to healthcare in the host location. Wellbeing forms part of an employer’s wider duty of care and is increasingly measured as part of Global Mobility programme performance.

Official permission allowing an individual to work legally in a specific country. It may be granted through a visa, a work permit, a residence permit carrying work rights or another immigration status, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. Permission to enter or reside does not automatically confer permission to work, and the two are frequently obtained through separate processes.

A legal agreement between an employer and employee setting out the terms and conditions of employment. During international assignments, the home country contract is commonly supplemented by an assignment letter or local employment documentation rather than replaced. Statutory employment rights in the host country often apply regardless of the governing law of the contract, which is a frequent source of surprise at assignment end.

Official permission granted before travel allowing an individual to seek entry to a country for an approved purpose such as work, study or family reunification. The term is used within United Kingdom immigration practice and is broadly equivalent to a visa issued in advance. Entry clearance permits an individual to present themselves at the border rather than guaranteeing admission.

Official authorisation allowing an individual to enter a country for a specified purpose. Requirements differ between countries and an entry permit may be separate from, or additional to, a visa. In some jurisdictions the permit is issued by the labour or interior ministry before a visa can be obtained, which affects sequencing in the immigration timeline.

An official record placed in a passport by border authorities showing the date and location of entry to a country. Stamps have historically been used to verify immigration status, visa validity and permitted length of stay. Within the Schengen area, passport stamping has been replaced by electronic recording under the Entry/Exit System, so travellers can no longer rely on stamps to evidence their day count.

A visa authorising an individual to enter a country for a defined purpose and period. Entry visas are commonly issued for work, business, study, family or transit, and each category carries its own permitted activities and conditions. A visa governs entry and does not necessarily confer the right to work or to remain, both of which may require separate permissions.

An automated European border system that records the entry and exit of non-European Union nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area, capturing passport data, facial image and fingerprints. It was introduced progressively from October 2025 and became fully operational in April 2026, replacing manual passport stamping. Because the system calculates permitted stay automatically and retains travel history, day counts against the 90 days in any 180 day limit are now verifiable at the border, which raises the standard of travel record keeping expected of employers managing Business Travellers.

A policy setting out how an employer applies tax equalisation to internationally mobile employees. It explains how hypothetical tax is calculated and withheld, how actual home and host liabilities are settled and what each party is responsible for. Clear treatment of personal income outside the assignment, such as investment income, is the detail most often missing and the one most likely to cause dispute.

The Dutch certification scheme and organisation for recognised professional moving companies in the Netherlands. Certification covers quality, environmental and safety standards, is verified through periodic external audit and carries a consumer guarantee arrangement. It is distinct from the Belgian scheme of the same name.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt non-European Union nationals travelling to the Schengen area for short stays. It is not a visa and is comparable to the United States ESTA or the United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation, requiring an online application before departure with an authorisation valid for up to three years or until passport expiry. Implementation has been postponed several times and the system is not yet operational, with the European Union stating that it will confirm a start date several months ahead of launch.

A European Union work and residence permit for highly qualified workers from outside the European Union. Eligibility commonly depends on a recognised qualification or equivalent professional experience, a qualifying job offer and a salary threshold set by the issuing country. Thresholds, permitted mobility between member states and routes to permanent residence vary by jurisdiction, and national work permit routes may be faster in some countries.

The professional association for the relocation industry in Europe and internationally, formed in 1998 at the initiative of the French, British and Belgian national associations. EuRA provides training, an academy and the EuRA Global Quality Seal, an independently audited accreditation covering service delivery, data protection and business practice. Membership and accreditation are widely used as procurement criteria by corporate buyers.

A United Kingdom membership organisation for Global Mobility professionals, established in 2010. It provides structured training, peer networking events and practical resources covering assignment management, compliance, Compensation and policy design.

A Netherlands based educational foundation providing accredited training and academic programmes in Global Mobility and international compensation and benefits. Teaching covers immigration law, international human resource management, international payroll, social security and tax, delivered in person and online for practitioners at all levels.

An employee living and working in a country other than their home country for a defined period. The term remains widely used across the industry, although many organisations now prefer internationally mobile employee or relocating employee. It also describes a narrowing part of the picture, since most mobility populations now include commuters, rotational workers, business travellers, remote workers and permanent transfers. At Santa Fe, relocating employee is the preferred client-facing term for expatriate.

The planning, administration and support of employees working outside their home country. It covers policy management, Immigration, Compensation, tax, Relocation and ongoing assignment support across the assignment lifecycle. The term predates the broader framing of Global Mobility and is generally used to describe the operational rather than the strategic dimension.

A policy defining the benefits, responsibilities and support provided to employees undertaking international assignments. It commonly covers Compensation, allowances, Immigration, tax, Relocation services and repatriation terms. Tiering by assignment type and an explicit exception process are what keep a policy operating consistently rather than becoming a starting point for individual negotiation.

The recording, approving, reimbursing and reporting of relocation and assignment-related expenses across locations, currencies and tax regimes. Effective expense management controls cost, supports compliance and gives the organisation visibility of committed spend. The compliance dimension matters more than the administrative one, since expenses attract different tax treatment by nature and jurisdiction, and items reimbursed without correct classification create underreported taxable income.

The repayment of approved relocation or assignment-related expenses incurred by a relocating employee. Reimbursements are processed according to the employer’s Global Mobility policy and commonly require supporting documentation to satisfy both internal control and tax reporting requirements. The taxability of a reimbursement follows the nature of the underlying cost rather than the fact that it was reimbursed.

The documents required to move household goods or personal belongings out of a country. Documentation commonly includes a detailed inventory, customs declarations, shipping documents and, in some jurisdictions, export permits for restricted items. Accuracy at export prevents the delays that otherwise appear at destination clearance, where they attract storage and demurrage charges.

Permission allowing an individual to remain in a country beyond the period originally authorised by their visa or immigration status. Applications must normally be approved before the existing permission expires, and in many jurisdictions there is no route to correct a lapse retrospectively. Extensions also warrant a fresh look at social security position, since posting rules are commonly duration limited.

Support provided to the family of a relocating employee before, during and after a relocation or international assignment. It commonly includes education guidance, partner support, cultural training, language training and settling-in services. Family circumstances are among the most frequently cited reasons for declining or curtailing an assignment, which places family assistance closer to a risk control than a discretionary benefit.

The relocation of an employee together with eligible family members such as a spouse, partner or children. Family relocations require additional planning across Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation, and they carry materially higher cost than a solo move. Dependant eligibility rules vary by country and do not always match an organisation’s own definition of family, which is a common source of policy exceptions.

The umbrella federation representing national moving associations across Europe, registered in Germany in 1995 and representing around 4,000 professional moving companies in 27 countries. FEDEMAC coordinates positions on European regulation affecting the moving industry, including transport, customs and employment matters, and supports common standards between national associations.

The quality certification held by member companies of the FIDI Global Alliance, covering operational process, insurance, financial stability, data protection and anti-bribery compliance. Certification is audited independently by EY and renewed on a defined cycle rather than granted permanently. FAIM is a common prerequisite in corporate moving tenders, and FAIM Plus denotes the higher tier of the standard.

The FIDI quality certification for companies delivering destination and Relocation services, running alongside the FIDI Accredited International Mover (FAIM) standard for moving companies. It applies the same principle of independent third-party audit to service delivery rather than physical shipment.

The quarterly magazine of the FIDI Global Alliance, published for around 30 years and distributed to affiliated members, with curated content available publicly online. It covers trends and analysis across international relocation and Global Mobility, and FIDI also publishes research including the annual Global Business Confidence Barometer.

The largest global alliance of independent quality international moving and relocation companies, with members in more than 100 countries. Membership requires certification under the FIDI quality programmes, which are audited independently by EY. FIDI is widely treated as the primary quality reference in the international moving sector.

The shipment of household goods at the conclusion of an international assignment or relocation. A final move may return the employee to the home country or take them to another destination under an onward assignment. Volume frequently differs from the outbound shipment, since families accumulate goods on assignment, and policy that caps only the outbound move leaves the return unbudgeted.

An international assignment with a defined start and end date, commonly ranging from several months to a number of years and governed by the employer’s Global Mobility policy. A defined end date supports immigration planning, social security continuity and repatriation preparation. Extensions beyond the original term frequently alter the social security position, since posting rules are duration limited.

Relocation benefits allowing a relocating employee to select from a range of approved services or allowances according to their circumstances. They are commonly delivered through a Core/Flex policy in which a defined core sits alongside a flexible element. The approach accommodates varied family situations without writing a separate policy for each.

An international assignment undertaken in a country other than the employee’s home country. The term is used broadly across the industry and covers both short-term and long-term arrangements. It carries no distinct technical meaning and is generally interchangeable with international assignment.

A provision of United States tax law allowing eligible individuals working outside the United States to exclude a portion of their foreign earned income from federal income tax. The excludable amount is indexed annually and qualification depends on meeting either a physical presence test or a bona fide residence test. The exclusion is relevant because United States citizens and permanent residents remain taxable on worldwide income regardless of where they live, which distinguishes them from most other nationalities on assignment.

The conversion of one currency into another. Foreign exchange affects Global Mobility through salary delivery, allowance calculation, expense reimbursement and cost projection, and movement between the home and host currency can change an assignment’s cost materially within a single year. Policy commonly specifies the rate source and the review frequency so that adjustments are applied consistently rather than negotiated case by case.

An individual who is not a citizen of the country in which they are living, working or applying for immigration permission. Rights to enter, reside and work follow from nationality and immigration status rather than from employment, and they differ for third country nationals whose nationality matches neither the sending nor the receiving country.

A payment recognising the disruption of an international assignment, calculated as a percentage of salary or as a fixed sum. The term is largely historical and has been widely replaced by mobility premium or removed altogether, on the argument that international experience carries value for the employee. Where it survives, it is commonly paid in instalments across the assignment rather than as a single sum at the start.

A relief mechanism allowing tax paid in one country to be offset against a liability on the same income in another, reducing double taxation. Credits are commonly limited to the amount that would have been due in the crediting country, so relief may be partial where host rates are higher. Availability and calculation depend on domestic legislation as well as any applicable double taxation agreement.

A global community and events organisation for Global Mobility and international human resources professionals. FEM runs conferences, regional summits and the EMMA awards recognising achievement across the Global Mobility industry. Its research and awards programmes are a recognised reference point for industry practice.

A specialist organisation arranging the transportation of goods between countries. Freight forwarders coordinate carriers, routing, customs documentation and logistics throughout the moving process. In household goods moving, the forwarder sits between the origin and destination agents and controls the routing and consolidation decisions that determine transit time and cost.

The coordination and management of international shipments on behalf of a customer. It commonly covers transport planning, mode selection, carrier coordination, customs documentation and shipment tracking. Mode selection is also a sustainable mobility decision, since air freight carries a considerably higher carbon impact than sea or road transport.

An employee who works in one country while residing in another and returns home regularly, commonly at least weekly. Frontier working was straightforward within the European Union under free movement and now requires specific status in some corridors, including a dedicated permit for European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens working in the United Kingdom under arrangements established before 2021. The pattern creates distinctive tax and social security questions, since presence is split across the year rather than concentrated in one location.

A relocation programme in which a provider coordinates and manages the complete process on behalf of the employer and the relocating employee. Services commonly span Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation together with ongoing assignment coordination. The model consolidates the coordination burden that would otherwise sit with the internal team, and its value depends on the depth of the supply chain and the quality of the data returned.

A Relocation service providing temporary furniture and household equipment during an international assignment or relocation. It is commonly used while awaiting the arrival of household goods, during a stay in unfurnished temporary accommodation or for short assignments where shipping a full household is not justified. Rental can reduce both shipment volume and cost, which makes it a practical alternative to moving a complete household for shorter postings.

The French national federation representing the relocation industry, formed in 2025 through the merger of the Syndicat National des Professionnels de la Relocation et de la Mobilité and the Fédération des Acteurs de la Relocation et de la Mobilité Géographique. It sets professional standards, operates a quality label and represents the sector with French public authorities. The predecessor SNPRM was one of the founders of the European Relocation Association (EuRA) and of the European Academy of Relocation Professionals.

The European Union’s data protection law governing how organisations collect, process, store and transfer personal data, including transfers outside the European Union. Within Global Mobility it applies to passport and visa data, family composition, salary information and, in some cases, health data, all of which routinely pass between employers, suppliers and authorities in several countries. The framework is being adjusted rather than replaced, with reform proposals under negotiation at European Union level and the United Kingdom having introduced its own amending legislation, so transfer mechanisms and supplier terms are worth reviewing periodically.

The umbrella organisation for Germany’s chambers of commerce and industry, representing member businesses domestically and coordinating the German chamber network abroad. Chambers provide market information, networks and practical guidance for organisations establishing or expanding operations in a market.

The largest global business travel trade organisation, representing corporate travel managers, buyers and suppliers through regional chapters and a European council of national associations. GBTA provides research, education, certification and advocacy, and runs the principal annual business travel conferences in North America and Europe.

A dedicated legal entity used to employ internationally mobile employees, centralising employment, payroll and benefits across a mobile population. The structure suits organisations with a substantial and continuing population of employees who move between countries without a natural home location. Design requires consideration of permanent establishment, social security, payroll and employment law requirements in each country of operation.

The strategic management of employees who work across international borders. It brings together Immigration, Relocation, Moving, Compensation, tax, payroll, compliance and employee support so that organisations can deploy talent internationally. Its distinguishing feature is breadth, since few other functions operate simultaneously across tax, immigration, employment law, payroll, procurement, risk and talent.

The role responsible for running an organisation’s international assignment and relocation activity. Responsibilities commonly span policy application, cost control, compliance oversight, supplier coordination and support to relocating employees and the business. The role has broadened over time from administration towards advisory work, particularly as cross-border remote working and business travel have added populations that sit outside traditional assignment structures.

A document setting out the principles, benefits, responsibilities and processes governing how an organisation manages employee mobility. Policies commonly cover assignment types, Compensation, Immigration, Relocation services, tax support, allowances, exceptions and the responsibilities of each party. Clear tiering by move type and a defined exception process are what keep policy functioning as a governance instrument.

The overall framework through which an organisation manages international assignments, relocations, business travel and other cross-border workforce activity. A programme brings together policy, delivery, suppliers, technology, data and governance rather than describing any single move. Programme-level visibility is what allows cost, compliance and policy decisions to be made on evidence.

An organisation delivering services that support employers and relocating employees across the mobility lifecycle. Services may span Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation alongside programme management and employee support. Provider models differ in the balance between directly delivered services and services delivered through an approved partner network, which affects consistency and accountability.

An annual research report produced by Santa Fe Relocation with an independent research organisation, examining how organisations are managing international assignments, compliance, cost and talent. The report is used by HR and Global Mobility teams to benchmark programmes against wider practice and to support conversations with leadership about policy and investment.

The administration of employee pay across multiple countries in line with local payroll, tax, employment and reporting requirements. For internationally mobile employees, the complexity comes from delivering pay in one country while reporting obligations arise in another, which is commonly managed through dual payroll, a payroll split or shadow payroll. Complete and timely data flow between systems is the factor that determines accuracy at year end.

Cover protecting household goods and personal belongings against loss or damage during packing, transport and storage. Cover normally depends on a valued inventory prepared by the owner, and items omitted from it are not covered. High-value or difficult-to-replace items usually need to be declared separately, which is a conversation that belongs at survey stage rather than at the point of claim.

A method in which an employer increases a payment so that, after tax and social security deductions, the employee receives the intended net amount. Gross-ups are commonly applied to relocation benefits and assignment-related payments that would otherwise leave the employee out of pocket. The cost is frequently underestimated, since in a high tax jurisdiction the gross-up on a benefit can approach the value of the benefit itself, which is why cost projections should model it explicitly.

The relocation of multiple employees or families as part of the same business initiative, such as an office relocation, project mobilisation, site closure or organisational restructuring. Group moves benefit from coordinated planning, shared orientation and consolidated supplier arrangements, and they concentrate cost and risk into a defined period. Communication planning matters more than in individual moves, since employee decisions are influenced by what colleagues are doing.

A shipping method in which household goods from several moves are consolidated into one container or load. Groupage reduces cost for smaller shipments and extends transit time, since consolidation depends on other volume travelling the same route. It suits moves where the relocating employee has temporary accommodation and no immediate need for their goods, and works poorly where delivery dates are fixed.

A relocation benefit under which an employer or provider guarantees the purchase of an employee’s home if it does not sell within agreed conditions. The benefit is principally associated with North American domestic relocation practice and is rare elsewhere. It removes a significant barrier to relocation for homeowners while transferring property market risk to the employer or provider.

An international treaty simplifying the authentication of public documents for use between participating countries. A document issued in one member country can be certified with an apostille and used in any other member country without further consular steps. Membership continues to expand, and where a destination country is not a party, full consular legalisation is required instead, which takes considerably longer.

A Relocation service providing practical assistance with small tasks in a new home, such as mounting fittings, assembling furniture, minor repairs and appliance setup. It is commonly offered alongside delivery of household goods or during the settling-in period. The service removes a set of small obstacles that are disproportionately difficult in an unfamiliar country and language.

An additional payment provided to a relocating employee assigned to a location where living or working conditions are assessed as significantly more challenging than at home. Allowances are commonly set from provider data covering security, healthcare, climate, infrastructure and isolation, and expressed as a percentage of salary. Hardship is measured relative to the home location rather than in absolute terms, so the same host city can carry different ratings for employees from different origins.

A destination assessed as presenting greater difficulty because of factors such as security, healthcare provision, climate, infrastructure or living conditions. Organisations commonly provide additional Compensation, shorter assignment durations, more frequent home leave or additional support in these locations. Ratings are reviewed on a fixed cycle, since conditions change and an outdated rating undermines the credibility of the payment attached to it.

The country in which a relocating employee normally lives and works before an international assignment or relocation. Home country designation drives the compensation build-up, social security position, benefit continuity and repatriation obligation. It becomes harder to define for employees who have completed several consecutive assignments, and that ambiguity is usually the signal to consider localisation or a different employment structure.

The process of identifying and securing suitable long-term accommodation in the destination location. It commonly covers property viewings, neighbourhood guidance, lease negotiation and support through to signature. Housing is normally the largest single line in an assignment budget, so the quality of this stage carries both a cost and an experience consequence.

Employer-funded travel allowing a relocating employee and eligible family members to return to the home country during an international assignment. It maintains family and professional connections that make repatriation work, and it is commonly provided at a defined frequency set by policy. Home leave attracts tax consequences in many jurisdictions, and clear rules on frequency, class of travel and unused entitlement prevent comparison disputes between assignees.

A relocation benefit supporting an employee with the sale of a property before relocating for work. Assistance may include marketing support, valuation, agent coordination or financial contribution, depending on policy. The benefit is most common in markets where home ownership rates are high and property sale is a genuine barrier to accepting a move.

A structured programme assisting relocating employees with selling a home before an employer-sponsored move. Programmes vary considerably between organisations and countries and are most established in North American practice. They range from marketing assistance through to a guaranteed home sale, which transfers property market risk to the employer or provider.

A Relocation service helping a relocating employee identify suitable long-term accommodation in the destination. It commonly includes property viewings, neighbourhood guidance, lease support and local market advice. Consultants who know the local market negotiate terms and identify tenancy risks that an employee working alone in an unfamiliar rental system would not see.

A relocation professional supporting a relocating employee through the housing search. Responsibilities commonly include shortlisting properties, arranging viewings, explaining local tenancy practice, negotiating terms and assisting at lease signature. Local market knowledge is the element that cannot be substituted, since rental practice, deposit conventions and documentation requirements are specific to the city rather than the country.

A Moving service managing every stage of a move from the origin residence to the destination residence under a single point of accountability. Scope commonly covers pre-move survey, packing, transport, customs clearance, delivery, unpacking and removal of packing materials. Coordinating the whole route through one provider removes the gaps that appear where separate suppliers are engaged at each end.

The country to which a relocating employee is assigned or relocated for work. Host country requirements determine immigration status, tax withholding, registration duties and local employment protections. Statutory rights in the host country frequently apply to assignees regardless of the governing law of their contract, which is a common source of surprise at assignment end.

The organisation, business unit or legal entity in the destination country that receives and manages a relocating employee during an international assignment or transfer. The host entity’s role affects the economic employer analysis, host country withholding obligations and, in some structures, permanent establishment exposure. Cost recharge arrangements between the home and host entity commonly follow from the same analysis.

The city, region or country where a relocating employee lives and works during an international assignment or relocation. Cost of living, housing, hardship and schooling assessments are made at location level rather than country level, since conditions within a single country vary widely.

Personal possessions, furniture and domestic items transported during a domestic or international move. Shipments may travel by air, sea or road depending on destination, timing and policy, and volume is the primary cost driver alongside mode and distance. Policy that sets an allowance by volume or weight controls cost more effectively than one reimbursing the shipment as invoiced.

The transportation of household goods from one location to another as part of a domestic or international move. A shipment commonly includes survey, packing, transport, customs clearance and delivery, with storage where the destination residence is not yet available. Eligibility for duty-free import usually depends on the owner’s immigration status, which links the shipment timeline to the visa timeline.

A detailed list of household goods prepared before packing and shipment, recording each item and its condition. It supports customs clearance, insurance cover and any claim for loss or damage. The inventory is checked at both collection and delivery, and discrepancies are far harder to resolve once delivery is complete.

A payment helping a relocating employee meet accommodation costs in the host location, provided either in full or as the amount above a contribution the employee retains. The retained contribution, sometimes called a housing norm, reflects what the employee would have spent at home and preserves the logic of the balance sheet. Setting a clear ceiling by location, reviewed annually, avoids negotiation on each individual case.

The portion of housing cost a relocating employee is expected to bear personally, based on what they would have spent on accommodation in the home country. The norm is deducted before the housing allowance is calculated, so the employer funds the difference rather than the whole cost. Norms are commonly derived from salary and family size using provider data.

Assistance provided to a relocating employee in securing suitable accommodation. It commonly covers home search, lease negotiation, tenancy advice, deposit guidance and local housing market information. Support continues beyond signature in many programmes, through tenancy management and lease renewal.

A notional deduction applied to a relocating employee’s pay representing the tax they would have paid had they remained in the home country. It is the mechanism through which tax equalisation operates, with the employer assuming responsibility for actual home and host liabilities. Hypothetical tax is a deduction rather than a payment to any tax authority, and it is administered through Compensation rather than through a payroll remittance.

The process of obtaining and maintaining the legal permission required for individuals to enter, live and work in another country. Immigration services commonly include visa and work permit applications, residence permits, dependant applications, renewals, compliance advice and case management. Permission to enter, permission to reside and permission to work are frequently separate and obtained through different processes, so a visa alone rarely settles the position.

The United Kingdom regulator of the immigration advice sector, with statutory powers under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. It was known as the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner until January 2025, when it was renamed without any change to its remit or to existing registrations. Providing immigration advice or services in the United Kingdom is unlawful unless the adviser is registered with the IAA or regulated by another approved body such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board, and the Authority maintains the register, sets the Code of Standards and handles complaints.

A structured review of an organisation’s immigration records, processes and controls, carried out internally or by the authorities. Audits commonly examine right to work checks, sponsorship records, reporting duties, salary and role accuracy, and document retention. Where a sponsor licence is held, the outcome affects the licence itself rather than individual permissions, which makes audit readiness a business continuity matter.

The coordination, monitoring and administration of immigration cases from initiation to completion. It commonly covers document collection, milestone tracking, authority liaison, status reporting and renewal scheduling. Structured case ownership matters because immigration timelines drive shipment, housing and employment start dates across the rest of the move.

The processes and controls used to meet the legal requirements governing the employment and movement of international workers. Requirements commonly include work authorisation, right to work verification, sponsorship duties, reporting obligations, permit validity and record keeping. Compliance continues after a visa is granted, and failures typically surface as a licence or corporate issue rather than an individual one.

A professional providing guidance on immigration processes, visa requirements and work authorisation. Consultants help organisations and relocating employees understand country requirements, assess eligibility, prepare applications and maintain compliance. Regulation of who may give immigration advice varies by country, and in several jurisdictions it is a restricted activity.

An official document used to support or evidence an individual’s immigration status. Documents commonly include passports, visas, residence permits, work permits, identity cards and supporting civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates. Civil documents frequently require an apostille or consular legalisation before an authority will accept them, which adds weeks to the timeline.

A United Kingdom professional association and registered charity whose members are barristers, solicitors, advocates and regulated advisers practising in immigration, asylum and nationality law, founded in 1984. ILPA provides training and technical resources and gives evidence to parliamentary and official inquiries. It is not a regulator, and requires members giving immigration advice to be regulated by the appropriate professional body.

An organisation’s defined approach to managing immigration requirements for relocating employees and international business travellers. Policies commonly set out responsibilities, approved routes, eligibility, cost treatment, dependant support and the position on business travel. A clear policy is what prevents immigration decisions being taken case by case under time pressure.

The structured framework through which an organisation manages Immigration services for its internationally mobile population. It commonly covers case management, compliance monitoring, supplier arrangements, reporting and escalation. Programme-level data is what allows an organisation to see permit expiries, renewal volumes and processing risk before they become urgent.

An organisation delivering specialist advice and services to help employers and relocating employees manage immigration requirements. Services commonly include visa and work permit applications, compliance advice, case management and reporting across multiple jurisdictions. Coverage models differ, with some requirements handled directly and others through local counsel or an approved partner network.

An evaluation of the immigration risks associated with an international assignment, business trip or other cross-border work arrangement. Assessments consider nationality, destination, activities, duration and travel pattern, and they identify the permissions required before travel takes place. Assessing activity rather than trip length is what catches arrangements that fall outside business visitor conditions.

The professional services supporting employees and organisations with international immigration requirements. Services commonly include visa applications, work and residence permits, dependant applications, renewals, cancellations, consular support, compliance advice and posted worker notification. Delivery is coordinated with Relocation and Moving because permissions determine when registration, housing and shipment can proceed.

An individual’s legal permission to enter, remain, work or study in a country. Status determines the conditions, duration and rights attached to a person’s presence, including the ability to change employer, bring dependants or apply for permanent residence. Status also affects eligibility for duty-free import of household goods and for local registration.

The practical assistance provided throughout the immigration process. Support commonly includes document preparation, application guidance, appointment coordination, compliance advice, case tracking and updates for both the employer and the relocating employee. Keeping the employee informed of progress matters, since immigration timelines determine when a family can plan the rest of the move.

The assistance provided to a relocating employee after arrival in the destination country. Support commonly covers practical guidance, local information, service coordination, administrative help and ongoing assistance during the assignment. The first weeks after arrival carry a disproportionate influence on how the assignment is judged, since this is when the employee is least productive and most exposed.

An international assignment in which an employee is received into a country from elsewhere in the organisation. The term is used from the perspective of the receiving location and covers the host country obligations that follow, including work authorisation, registration, payroll reporting and local support. The same move is an outbound assignment viewed from the sending location.

A form of permanent immigration status in the United Kingdom allowing eligible individuals to live and work without time restriction. Eligibility is determined by the immigration route held, continuous residence, absences, English language ability and knowledge of life in the United Kingdom.

Settlement policy is under reform. The government has confirmed its intention to move to an earned settlement model with a longer baseline qualifying period and criteria based on contribution, integration and compliance. The existing routes remain in force until the revised Immigration Rules take effect, so both the current and proposed positions are relevant to assignment planning.

The statutory professional body regulating human resource practice in Kenya. IHRM sets professional standards, provides certification and maintains the register of practising human resource professionals. Practising certification is a legal requirement for certain human resource roles in Kenya.

The leading body for business travel in the United Kingdom and Ireland, representing corporate travel buyers alongside suppliers. ITM provides events, education, research and advocacy, and is the buyer-side counterpart to the Business Travel Association (BTA), which represents travel management companies.

The European moving and relocation business established in Germany in 1959 and acquired by Santa Fe in 2012, forming the basis of the EMEA operation and the global headquarters for relocation management. Interdean was rebranded to Santa Fe in 2015 as part of the consolidation to a single global brand. The name still appears in older contracts, supplier records and industry references.

The trade association representing the world’s airlines, setting standards covering air transport operations, safety, cargo handling and dangerous goods. IATA accreditation is relevant to air freight shipments, and its dangerous goods regulations govern what may be carried and how it must be declared and packed.

An employee undertaking an international assignment in another country on behalf of their employer. At Santa Fe, relocating employee is the preferred client-facing term for international assignee.

The temporary transfer of an employee to work in another country on behalf of their employer. Assignments may be short-term, long-term, commuter, rotational, virtual or structured through another arrangement, each carrying different Compensation, Immigration and compliance requirements. The defining feature is that the employee is expected to return or move on rather than settle permanently, which distinguishes it from a permanent transfer.

A global trade association representing moving, forwarding and relocation companies, founded in 1962 and covering more than 2,000 members across upwards of 170 countries. IAM provides industry networking, advocacy, a code of ethics and dispute resolution, and administers the IAM Trusted Moving Company certification. Its annual meeting is one of the principal trade events in the international moving sector.

The global federation representing national freight forwarding associations. FIATA issues the standard transport documents used across international freight and provides training and representation on trade facilitation and customs matters.

A long-running publication for international human resources professionals, covering Global Mobility, international assignment management, tax, Immigration and expatriate support. It publishes quarterly and runs events for practitioners in the United Kingdom and internationally.

The relocation of household goods and personal belongings between countries. It commonly involves survey, packing, transport by sea, air or road, customs clearance, delivery and unpacking. Timing is tied to immigration status, since eligibility for duty-free import usually depends on the owner holding the right permission.

The planning, coordination and transportation of household goods across international borders. Services commonly include pre-move survey, packing, freight forwarding, customs clearance, storage, delivery and unpacking. Mode selection determines both cost and transit time and is increasingly assessed for carbon impact as part of sustainable mobility.

The relocation of an employee from one country to another for work. It commonly brings together Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation according to the employer’s Global Mobility policy. The scope of support usually follows from the assignment type rather than being negotiated individually.

An arrangement in which an employee performs their role remotely from another country while remaining employed by their organisation. It can create Immigration, tax, payroll, permanent establishment, employment law and data protection obligations without the governance that surrounds a formal assignment. Most organisations manage these requests through an approval framework with duration limits and country restrictions rather than case by case.

The movement of an employee from one country to another within the same organisation. Transfers may be permanent or temporary and are commonly supported through Immigration, Relocation and Moving services. A permanent transfer normally ends the home country employment relationship, which changes the benefit, pension and social security position.

An immigration route allowing a multinational organisation to move an existing employee to a group entity in another country. Routes commonly require a qualifying period of prior employment with the group and a role meeting defined skill or salary thresholds. They are often more predictable than general work routes, although they may restrict switching to other immigration categories or applying for permanent residence.

A detailed list of household goods prepared before packing and shipment, recording each item and its condition. Inventories support customs clearance, insurance cover and any claim for loss or damage during domestic and international moves. The document is checked at both collection and delivery, and discrepancies become considerably harder to resolve once delivery is complete.

A relocation required by the employer for business reasons rather than chosen by the employee. Support is provided according to the organisation’s Global Mobility policy and commonly extends further than for a voluntary move, since the employee has not initiated the change. Communication and consultation requirements may also apply under local employment law.

The International Organization for Standardization, which develops and publishes voluntary international standards across quality, environmental, information security and occupational health and safety management. Certification is granted against a specific standard by an accredited external body following audit, and maintained through surveillance audits rather than granted permanently. Santa Fe Relocation holds ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for health and safety management and ISO 27001 for data security.

The Japanese national association representing companies providing international moving services. It sets standards for member firms and represents the sector in a market with distinctive customs, packing and residential access requirements.

The process of moving an internationally mobile employee from assignment terms onto local employment terms and conditions in the host country. It commonly involves ending assignment allowances, transferring to the host payroll and aligning benefits with local practice. The term is used interchangeably with localisation, and the change in net position can be substantial, which is why most organisations phase it over two to three years.

A formal document issued by an employer offering employment to a candidate. For internationally mobile employees, the offer letter frequently supports an immigration application and must align with the role, salary and location stated in that application. Discrepancies between the offer, the contract and the immigration filing are a common cause of refusal or delay.

The process of confirming that an employee’s job title is consistent across employment contracts, immigration applications, payroll records and internal systems. immigration authorities commonly assess a role against an approved occupation code and salary threshold, so an internal title that differs from the filed role creates risk. Alignment is checked at the point of application and again on any change of role during the assignment.

An arrangement in which more than one organisation shares, or may be treated as sharing, legal responsibilities for an employee. It can arise where an employee works for a host entity while remaining employed by a home entity, and it affects employment rights, liability and the economic employer analysis. Structures of this kind need review against local employment law, since the treatment varies considerably between jurisdictions.

A tax return submitted by two eligible individuals, typically spouses, combining income and certain liabilities. Eligibility, benefit and the treatment of foreign income vary by country, and a filing status advantageous in the home country may not be available in the host country. Filing position is one of the areas covered in a tax briefing before departure.

The verification of official documents through judicial authorities before they are recognised in another country. It is commonly required for court records, powers of attorney and notarised documents used in Immigration or civil applications. The step sits within the wider legalisation chain and precedes any consular stage.

The formal authentication of official documents through judicial or government authorities for use in a country that does not accept an apostille. The process usually runs through several sequential authorities before reaching the destination country’s embassy or consulate. It takes considerably longer than apostille certification, so it belongs at the front of the immigration timeline.

The legal authority or territory within which specific laws, regulations and government bodies apply. Global Mobility programmes operate across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, and requirements for Immigration, tax, social security, employment law and data protection can each be set at a different level. Federal countries add a further layer, since state or provincial rules may govern registration, licensing or tax alongside national law.

An international assignment supporting a significant business objective such as leadership development, market entry, business expansion or a critical project. These assignments commonly receive closer planning attention and, in some organisations, a distinct approval route. Defining what qualifies is what prevents the category becoming a means of accessing a richer package.

An individual whose skills, knowledge or leadership are considered critical to an organisation’s operations or strategy. Key employee status can affect assignment selection, retention planning and the level of support provided during a move. Some immigration routes also apply concessions to senior or specialist roles, which can shorten processing.

A measurable value used to assess the performance of a Global Mobility programme, a service or a supplier. Common indicators include initiation to arrival times, immigration approval rates, exception volumes, cost against projection, assignment completion and employee satisfaction. Indicators are most useful where they are defined jointly with suppliers at implementation rather than imposed afterwards.

A visa category used by some countries to facilitate entry for workers in roles considered essential to the economy or to public services. Definitions of essential work vary and are commonly reviewed in response to labour market conditions. Routes of this kind may carry concessions on salary thresholds, processing times or the labour market test.

The planned sharing of skills, experience and expertise between employees or teams. It is a frequent objective of international assignments and is the stated purpose of a knowledge-based assignment. Capturing what was transferred is also relevant at repatriation, since experience gained abroad is commonly lost when the returning employee has no defined role that uses it.

An international assignment undertaken primarily to transfer technical expertise, specialist knowledge or organisational capability. Assignments of this type are commonly shorter than a full posting and are measured against a defined transfer objective rather than a role. Success depends on identifying who receives the knowledge as clearly as who provides it.

An organisation recognised by aviation security authorities as meeting specified security requirements for air cargo. Known shipper status allows cargo to be accepted for carriage without additional screening measures that would otherwise apply. It affects transit times for air freight shipments of household goods.

The French national trade organisation representing professional moving companies. It sets industry standards for members and represents the sector in negotiations on French transport and employment regulation.

A requirement to demonstrate that no suitable local candidate is available before a role can be filled by a foreign national. Where it applies, the test adds time to the immigration timeline and imposes evidential requirements covering advertising, recruitment records and candidate assessment. Requirements vary between countries and some jurisdictions exempt defined roles, salary levels or immigration routes.

A Relocation service helping relocating employees and their families develop the language skills needed to live and work in the destination country. Training is commonly offered before departure and continued after arrival, and it is frequently extended to partners and children. Language capability affects daily independence, workplace effectiveness and the speed at which a family settles.

The regional trade association for international moving companies across Latin America and the Caribbean, founded in 1969 and based in Panama, with more than 190 member companies across upwards of 50 countries. It is the Latin American association represented within FIDI, maintains its own affiliation criteria, runs a training institute and operates a claims assistance and payment guarantee programme between members.

A legally binding contract between a landlord and tenant setting out the terms for renting a property. Lease terms, notice periods, deposit levels and break clauses vary considerably between countries and are frequently unfamiliar to a relocating employee. Reviewing the agreement before signature is what prevents commitments that outlast the assignment.

A Relocation service supporting a relocating employee through negotiation of residential lease terms. It commonly covers reviewing the agreement, negotiating rent, deposit and diplomatic or break clauses, and confirming what the landlord is responsible for. A clause allowing early termination if the assignment ends is among the most valuable provisions to secure.

The extension of an existing residential lease beyond its original term. Renewal is commonly supported as part of ongoing tenancy management and is an opportunity to renegotiate rent and terms rather than accept an automatic increase. Notice periods for renewal or termination are frequently longer than employees expect.

The process of authenticating official documents so they are recognised in another country. It may take the form of an apostille where both countries are party to the Hague Convention, or consular legalisation where they are not. Requirements apply to civil documents such as birth, marriage and academic certificates used in immigration applications, and processing can take several weeks.

Another term for an assignment letter, setting out the terms and conditions of an international assignment. It commonly covers duration, Compensation, benefits, tax arrangements, relocation support and repatriation terms. Terminology varies between organisations, and the same document may also be called an assignment agreement.

Salary and benefits determined according to employment conditions in the host country rather than the employee’s home country. Local compensation is applied to local hires, permanent transfers and employees who have been through localisation. It removes the comparability issues created by expatriate packages while introducing a different question, which is how to attract an employee to a location where local pay is lower than at home.

An employee recruited directly under local employment terms in the country where they will work, rather than transferred under an assignment structure. Local hires may still require immigration support and, in some cases, relocation assistance, particularly where recruited from another country. The distinction from an assignment is contractual rather than practical, since the employee’s circumstances on arrival may be identical.

A Compensation approach in which a relocating employee is placed on host country terms with a limited number of assignment-related benefits retained, commonly housing, education or annual home travel. It sits between a full expatriate package and a local hire and has grown as organisations look to support more moves at lower cost. Clear definition of which benefits apply, and for how long, is what keeps it from becoming individually negotiated.

The process of transferring an internationally mobile employee from assignment terms to local employment terms in the host country. Localisation reduces cost and ends the assignment structure, and it carries retention risk because the change in net position can be significant once housing and education support fall away. Most organisations phase the transition over two to three years and communicate it at the start of the assignment rather than at the point of change.

A policy setting out how an organisation manages the transition of internationally mobile employees from assignment terms to local employment. It commonly defines triggers, phasing, which benefits are withdrawn and over what period, and the treatment of pension and social security continuity. Setting the expectation of localisation at the outset of an assignment is what makes the policy workable in practice.

An international assignment typically lasting between one and five years, commonly with family accompanying and a defined return to the home country. It carries the fullest support package and the highest cost per move, and it is the structure most policy is written around. Long-term assignments represent a shrinking share of activity in many programmes as organisations use shorter and more flexible arrangements.

The storage of household goods for an extended period, commonly while an employee is on assignment and their property at home is let or their destination housing cannot accommodate a full shipment. It is an alternative to shipping a complete household and can reduce both move cost and carbon impact. Policy usually caps the funded duration, and the cap is worth setting against realistic assignment lengths rather than a single global figure.

A fixed payment provided to a relocating employee in place of specific relocation benefits or reimbursed expenses. Lump sums reduce administration and give employees flexibility over how the move is managed, while transferring risk to them. Calibration matters, since a payment set below real cost in the destination leaves the employee absorbing the shortfall, and that shows up in engagement and early attrition.

An employer-sponsored relocation in which services are coordinated by a dedicated provider on behalf of the organisation and the relocating employee. The model gives a single point of accountability across Immigration, Relocation and Moving, and it removes the coordination burden that would otherwise sit with the internal team. It differs from arrangements where the employee receives a lump sum and organises the move themselves.

A Santa Fe delivery model in which Immigration, Relocation, Compensation and Moving are coordinated through a central programme management team acting as a single point of coordination for the client. It provides consistent standards across locations, programme-level oversight and connected delivery between service lines. Managed Services suits organisations seeking coordinated governance across a Global Mobility programme rather than separate service relationships.

The professional association for Australian registered migration agents and immigration lawyers. The MIA provides continuing professional development, professional standards and advocacy on Australian migration policy. It previously performed the statutory registration function itself, which passed to the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) in 2009.

The parent company of Santa Fe Relocation. Founded in France in 1974 by Isaac and Sarah Taïeb as a Paris removals business, MOBILITAS is a family-owned mid-market group now led by the third generation of the Taïeb and Castro families. It operates across four sectors: removals, relocation, physical and digital records management, and heritage preservation and conservation. The group operates across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, and is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. Santa Fe Relocation joined the group in 2024.

A payment supporting costs associated with an international assignment or relocation. Allowances vary between organisations in what they cover and are commonly used for general relocation costs rather than a specific defined expense. They differ from a mobility premium, which recognises disruption rather than covering a cost.

An evaluation of the practical, legal and financial considerations attached to relocating an employee internationally. Assessments commonly cover immigration eligibility, tax and social security position, family circumstances, cost and timing. Carrying out the assessment before an offer is made avoids commitments that cannot be delivered within the required timeframe.

Advisory services supporting organisations to define, review and improve their Global Mobility policy, programme design and operating model. Work commonly covers policy benchmarking, cost analysis, process review, supplier structure, technology selection and governance. It is distinct from service delivery, since the output is a set of decisions and documents rather than a set of moves.

The publication of the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (Worldwide ERC), covering workforce mobility policy, practice, research and industry developments. It is one of the principal sources of published analysis for the corporate mobility profession.

A policy defining how an organisation manages employee mobility across domestic and international locations. It commonly covers eligibility, assignment types, Compensation, allowances, Immigration, Relocation services, tax support and exceptions. Policy does more governance work than any other document in a programme, and a defined exception process is what stops it becoming a starting point for negotiation.

A payment recognising the disruption of relocating, provided as a percentage of salary or as a fixed sum. It is distinct from allowances tied to a specific cost such as housing or cost of living. Many organisations have reduced or removed premiums on the argument that international experience carries value for the employee, and where they are retained they are commonly paid in instalments across the assignment rather than at the start.

The structured framework through which an organisation manages relocations, international assignments and other cross-border workforce activity. A programme brings together policy, delivery, suppliers, technology, data and governance rather than describing any individual move. The term is used interchangeably with Global Mobility programme.

An organisation delivering services that support employers and relocating employees across the mobility lifecycle. Services may span Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation alongside programme management and reporting. Provider models differ in the balance between directly delivered services and services delivered through an approved partner network.

An organisation’s long-term approach to managing international workforce mobility in support of business, talent and workforce objectives. Strategy addresses which moves the organisation should make and why, where policy addresses how a move is supported once decided. It commonly considers the balance between assignments, local hiring, remote arrangements and business travel as alternative means to the same end.

The planning, coordination and administration of household goods shipments during a domestic or international move. Services commonly include pre-move survey, supplier selection, packing, transport, customs coordination, delivery and claims handling. A single point of coordination allows quotes and supplier performance to be compared consistently rather than assessed move by move.

A moving professional responsible for coordinating the transportation of household goods throughout a relocation. Responsibilities commonly include survey coordination, booking, documentation, tracking, delivery scheduling and resolving issues in transit. The role links the shipment timeline to immigration status and destination housing readiness, which are the two dependencies that most often shift dates.

An independent monthly magazine for the global moving and storage industry, published in the United Kingdom and read internationally. Founded as The Mover, it is unusual in the sector for being independent of any company or association, which means it operates without the editorial restrictions that apply to association publications. It is free to read and available digitally.

The planning, coordination and transportation of household goods and personal belongings during a domestic or international relocation. Moving services commonly include survey, packing, transport by sea, air or road, customs clearance, storage, delivery and unpacking. Volume, mode and distance are the primary cost drivers, and mode selection is also the main lever for reducing the carbon impact of a move.

The national body representing household goods moving companies, industry suppliers and state moving associations in the United States, operating within the American Trucking Associations. It was established in 2020 when the American Moving and Storage Association joined the ATA federation, and it continues to administer the ProMover consumer protection and certification programme. The former AMSA name still appears in older supplier records and accreditation listings.

The professional services provided to transport household goods and personal belongings during a domestic or international relocation. Services commonly cover pre-move survey, packing, crating, transport, customs documentation, shipment protection, storage, delivery and unpacking. Scope is normally defined by policy through a volume or weight allowance rather than reimbursed as invoiced.

The administration of salary payments across more than one country’s payroll system. It is commonly used for internationally mobile employees where reporting obligations arise in one country while payment is delivered in another. Accuracy depends on complete data flowing between systems, and gaps are the usual cause of corrections at year end.

An organisation operating in more than one country through subsidiaries, branches or other entities. Multinational structures create the host entity relationships, cost recharge arrangements and intra-company transfer routes that underpin most international assignment activity. They also create permanent establishment questions where activity in a country grows beyond what the existing entity structure supports.

A visa allowing an individual to enter and leave a country several times during its validity period, subject to the conditions set by the issuing authority. It is commonly used by Business Travellers and commuters who cross a border repeatedly. Validity of the visa is separate from permitted length of stay on each entry, and exceeding the stay limit remains a breach even where the visa is still valid.

A unique personal identification number issued by a government authority. Numbers of this kind are commonly required for immigration applications, payroll registration, tax filing, social security, banking and access to healthcare. Obtaining one is frequently dependent on completing local registration after arrival, which links it to housing and therefore to home finding.

An individual’s legal citizenship or status as recognised by a particular country. Nationality determines immigration requirements, visa eligibility, permitted routes and, in some cases, treaty and social security entitlements. It is assessed independently of where a person lives or is employed, which is why third country nationals frequently face different requirements from colleagues on the same assignment.

A structured review carried out at the start of a case to establish what a relocating employee and family require and which services apply. It commonly covers immigration eligibility, family composition, housing and schooling requirements, timing constraints and policy entitlement. Completing it before services begin prevents scope being added later at higher cost and under time pressure.

The amount of salary an employee receives after tax, social security contributions and other deductions. Assignees assess a package on net position rather than gross, and package changes that appear modest in gross terms can produce significant net movement across jurisdictions. Net comparisons therefore belong in the conversation at the point an assignment is offered.

The measured volume of household goods to be shipped, excluding packing materials and crating. Net volume is established at pre-move survey and forms the basis of quotations, policy allowances and cost comparison between suppliers. Gross volume, which includes packing, is what determines container and transport requirements, so quotations should state which measure they use.

A comparison of an employee’s estimated net income in the home and host countries, used to support compensation planning for an international assignment. It shows what the employee will actually receive in each location once tax and social security are applied. The calculation is commonly used where a package is built on host country terms, such as local plus, rather than through a balance sheet.

The Dutch national association for corporate travel managers, providing benchmarking, education and representation for buyers of business travel. It is a founding member of BT4Europe and a council member of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in Europe.

The New Zealand professional association for immigration advisers, lawyers and related service providers, established in 1989. It provides professional development and a code of ethics for members, and works with government bodies on migrant settlement matters including employment and housing.

An official document confirming that a government authority, employer or other organisation has no objection to an individual undertaking a specified activity. It is commonly required in some jurisdictions for changing employer, obtaining a visa, exiting the country or transferring sponsorship. Where required, obtaining it can be a practical constraint on an employee’s ability to leave an assignment or move to another role.

A visa category available in some countries for individuals nominated by a government authority, employer or regional programme. Eligibility, application routes and the obligations attached to the nomination vary considerably between jurisdictions. Routes of this kind commonly tie the individual to a specific region, employer or occupation for a defined period.

A failure to meet legal, regulatory or organisational requirements relating to Global Mobility. It may arise across Immigration, tax, social security, payroll, employment law or internal policy, and it is frequently unintentional, resulting from a business travel pattern or a remote work arrangement that was never assessed. Consequences commonly fall on the organisation as well as the individual, including penalties, licence risk and reputational exposure.

An individual who does not meet the legal criteria for residence in a country for tax, Immigration or other regulatory purposes. Definitions differ between these areas, so a person can be resident for one purpose and non-resident for another in the same country. Tax residence is commonly determined by presence, ties and, in some jurisdictions, a statutory test rather than by immigration status.

The tax rules applying to individuals who are not tax residents of the country in which income is earned. Internationally mobile employees may be taxable as non-residents on employment income relating to workdays in that country, even where their stay is short. Relief may be available under a double taxation agreement, although it can be lost where the host entity is treated as the economic employer.

The national business travel associations of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, being DBTA, FBTA, NBTA and SBTA. Each represents corporate travel buyers in its own market, and all four are founding members of BT4Europe. They collaborate on the annual Nordic Business Travel Summit alongside Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) events in Europe.

The length of time an employee or employer must give before ending employment or an international assignment. Notice periods affect relocation planning, since shipment, lease termination, school withdrawal and deregistration all take time that runs concurrently. Host country statutory notice may apply alongside the terms of the home country contract.

The formal process of informing relevant internal stakeholders or external authorities that an employee will undertake an international assignment. Internally it triggers Immigration, payroll, Compensation and relocation activity, and externally it may satisfy a notification requirement in the host country. Late notification is the most common cause of compressed timelines across the rest of the move.

A legal obligation to notify a government authority before or during an employee’s cross-border work activity. Requirements commonly cover posted worker notification, registration of presence, social security filings and sector-specific reporting. Many apply from the first day of work rather than after a threshold, and they frequently attach to short trips that would otherwise attract little attention.

The structured process of supporting an employee’s departure from an organisation or the completion of an international assignment. Within Global Mobility it commonly covers departure services, deregistration, lease closure, final shipment, tax filing obligations and the cancellation of immigration status. Cancellation matters as much as issuance, since permits left active can leave continuing employer obligations in the host country.

The relocation of a workplace, including furniture, equipment, records and technology, from one premises to another. It differs from residential moving in scale, sequencing and the need to minimise operational downtime, and it commonly runs to a phased plan agreed with the business. Office moves frequently coincide with a group move of employees, which places both workstreams on the same timeline.

The Australian government authority that registers migration agents and regulates the profession, established in 2009 and operating within the Department of Home Affairs. Registration is a legal requirement for providing Australian immigration assistance, and the Office maintains the register of more than 7,000 agents, sets the code of conduct and handles complaints.

The services provided to a relocating employee throughout an international assignment. Support commonly includes Immigration renewals, tenancy management, payroll and Compensation administration, tax filing assistance, family support and a point of contact for issues that arise. The middle period of an assignment receives the least attention in most programmes, which is where quiet compliance lapses tend to occur.

The process of supporting a relocating employee as they begin employment or an international assignment in a new location. Within Global Mobility it commonly covers arrival services, local registration, banking, healthcare enrolment, workplace introduction and practical orientation. Compressing the administrative burden of arrival into a few supported days returns the employee to productive work considerably sooner.

An international assignment beginning immediately after the completion of a previous one, with the employee transferring directly to another host location rather than returning home. Consecutive assignments complicate the home country designation, social security continuity and repatriation planning. Employees on long sequences of assignments are the population most likely to require localisation or a global employment company structure.

The relocation of an employee and their household goods from one host location directly to another as part of consecutive assignments. It avoids the cost of returning goods to the home country and introduces customs questions, since eligibility for duty-free import in the new destination depends on the goods’ history as well as the employee’s status. Shipment volume also tends to have grown since the original move.

A structured introduction to the destination location provided to a relocating employee and family, commonly delivered as a guided tour with a local consultant. It typically covers neighbourhoods, transport, amenities, healthcare and daily life, and supports decisions on where to focus home search and school search. Orientation is also used before an assignment is accepted, so that a family can assess the destination realistically.

The country from which a relocating employee begins an international assignment or relocation. The term is used across Immigration, customs and Moving documentation, and it is not always the same as the employee’s home country or nationality. Customs eligibility and document legalisation requirements commonly follow from the origin country rather than from citizenship.

Relocation services provided before a relocating employee leaves the home location. Services commonly include departure planning, pre-move survey, packing, collection, export documentation, home sale or letting support and property closure. Quality at origin determines much of what happens later, since accurate surveying sets the volume estimate driving cost and correct documentation prevents delays at destination clearance.

An international assignment in which an employee is transferred from their home country to work in another country on behalf of their employer. The term is used from the perspective of the sending location and covers the home country obligations that follow, including social security coverage, payroll treatment and continuity of benefits. The same move is an inbound assignment viewed from the receiving location.

The relocation of an employee from their home country to another country for work. It commonly brings together Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation according to the employer’s Global Mobility policy. Planning sequence matters, since immigration approval usually gates registration, housing and the timing of the household goods shipment.

Another term for an international assignment in which an employee works outside their home country for a defined period. The term carries no distinct technical meaning and is used interchangeably across the industry. Support and compliance requirements follow from the assignment type rather than from the terminology used to describe it.

Another term for an international move involving the transportation of household goods and personal belongings between countries. It covers survey, packing, transport by sea, air or road, customs clearance and delivery. Timing is tied to immigration status, since eligibility for duty-free entry usually depends on the owner holding the correct permission.

A cooperative group of international relocation and household goods removal companies, founded in 1988 and headquartered in the United Kingdom. Members are market leaders in their own countries who join to provide reciprocal coverage for corporate customers, and membership is restricted rather than open.

A not-for-profit membership association promoting the responsible development of travel and tourism across the Asia Pacific region, founded in 1951 and headquartered in Bangkok. PATA publishes research, runs events and provides advocacy and sustainability guidance for the regional travel economy.

The professional preparation of household goods and personal belongings for transport during a domestic or international move. It commonly includes dismantling, wrapping, crating of fragile or high-value items and preparation of the inventory that supports customs and insurance. Items identified at pre-move survey are packed at origin and reassembled at destination, and the condition record made at packing is what supports any later claim.

A trade association representing international moving and relocation companies across the Americas and beyond, founded in 1985. PAIMA provides networking, industry standards and a forum for members handling shipments within and between the American markets.

The adjustment of payroll calculations so that internationally mobile employees receive consistent salary payments while tax and social security positions differ between locations. It is closely related to tax equalisation, which addresses the tax outcome, where payroll equalisation addresses how pay is delivered. Both depend on accurate hypothetical tax and compensation accumulation data.

A structured instruction issued to a client or third-party payroll setting out what should be paid, withheld and reported for a relocating employee in a given period. Instructions commonly cover salary, allowances, hypothetical tax, benefits in kind and items delivered outside payroll that remain reportable. Accuracy and timing matter, since payroll cut-off dates rarely align with the point at which assignment data becomes available.

An arrangement in which a relocating employee’s pay is delivered partly through the home payroll and partly through the host payroll. Splits are used to satisfy host withholding obligations while maintaining home country benefits and social security continuity. They add reconciliation complexity, since the full compensation picture then sits across two systems and has to be brought together for reporting.

The deduction of tax, social security contributions or other statutory amounts from salary before payment. For internationally mobile employees, withholding may be required in the host country from the first workday where the host entity is treated as the economic employer, even though pay is delivered elsewhere. Where payment remains on the home payroll, host obligations are commonly met through shadow payroll.

A fixed daily payment covering meals and incidental costs, commonly provided during temporary accommodation, business travel or the early stages of a relocation. Rates are often aligned to published government or benchmark figures, which gives them a defensible basis. Amounts paid above accepted rates may be treated as taxable income in the host country.

An international transfer in which an employee relocates indefinitely to another country under local employment terms rather than assignment terms. The arrangement removes the repatriation obligation and the continuing cost of allowances, and it changes the benefit, pension and social security position. Support commonly focuses on the move itself and initial settlement rather than ongoing assignment benefits.

A taxable presence created in a country by the activities of an employee or the operations of a foreign entity, giving that country the right to tax a portion of business profits. Risk can arise from ordinary activities such as negotiating or concluding contracts, maintaining a fixed place of business or acting with authority on behalf of an entity. It is a corporate exposure rather than an individual one, and it is the risk most often overlooked in cross-border remote working and business travel arrangements.

The long-term relocation of an employee to another location with no planned return to the original one. It is commonly supported through Immigration, Moving and initial settlement services rather than continuing allowances. Because there is no safety net of a home country role to return to, the profile of employees who accept these moves differs from those who accept assignments.

An immigration status allowing an individual to live and, in most cases, work indefinitely in a country without being a citizen. Qualifying periods, conditions and the effect of absences vary considerably, and some assignment-based routes do not lead to settlement at all. Permanent residence is distinct from citizenship and can commonly be lost through extended absence.

An official authorisation issued by a government authority allowing an individual to undertake a specific activity such as working, residing or studying. Permits are commonly tied to a defined employer, role, location and period, so changes to any of these during an assignment usually require an amendment or a fresh application. A permit is frequently separate from the visa used to enter the country.

An international not-for-profit initiative advocating automatic work authorisation for the spouses and partners of highly skilled internationally mobile employees. It publishes comparative research on dependant work access by country and lobbies governments for reform. Its focus addresses one of the strongest predictors of a declined or curtailed assignment, which is partner career interruption.

The household goods and personal belongings transported during a domestic or international move. The term appears throughout customs documentation, where eligibility for duty-free import depends on the goods being used personal effects owned for a qualifying period rather than newly purchased items. New or high-value items are commonly assessed separately and may attract duty.

The transport of domestic animals as part of a relocation, covering documentation, vaccination, microchipping, health certification, approved routes and any quarantine requirement. Requirements are set by the destination country and are frequently the longest lead-time item in a move, since some vaccinations must be given a defined number of months before travel. Pets are a common reason for a family declining or delaying an assignment, which makes early assessment worthwhile.

An approved departure from an organisation’s Global Mobility policy to address specific business or employee circumstances. Exceptions are not a failure of policy in themselves, but untracked exceptions are. Recording each with its rationale and approver gives the programme evidence to identify patterns, and a category of exception that recurs regularly usually indicates the policy needs revising.

The development, maintenance, review and administration of Global Mobility policies. It covers version control, communication, application and the handling of exceptions across a population that may span many countries. Consistent application is what gives policy authority, since a policy widely departed from in practice provides neither cost control nor a defence.

The formal evaluation of a Global Mobility policy against business, legal and operational requirements. Reviews commonly examine cost, competitiveness, exception volumes, employee feedback, supplier performance and changes in regulation. Exception data is the most useful input, since it shows where the written policy and actual practice have diverged.

The official location at which an individual enters a country and is inspected by Immigration or border authorities. Ports of entry include airports, land crossings and seaports, and the officer at the border makes the final decision on admission regardless of a visa held in advance. Within the Schengen area, entry and exit are now recorded electronically through the Entry/Exit System.

An employee temporarily sent by their employer to work in another country while remaining employed by the sending organisation. Within the European Union, posted workers are entitled to core host country employment conditions including minimum pay, working time and holiday, with fuller host labour law applying after an extended posting. The concept applies to short assignments and project work that would otherwise attract little attention, which is why it is a frequent source of unintended non-compliance.

European Union legislation governing the employment conditions of workers temporarily posted to another member state, together with the revisions and enforcement measures that accompany it. It establishes the principle that posted workers receive core host country terms, and it is implemented and enforced through national legislation and labour inspectorates rather than centrally. Requirements including prior notification, document retention, local representation and language of documents therefore differ by country, and enforcement is markedly stricter in some member states than others.

The formal declaration submitted to the relevant authority before or during a posting where required. Each country operates its own portal and rules on timing, content, supporting documents and retention, and notification is commonly required before work begins rather than within a grace period. Employers outside the European Union, including those in the United Kingdom, remain within scope when posting workers into member states.

An evaluation carried out before an international assignment is approved. Assessments commonly consider immigration eligibility, tax and social security position, cost, family circumstances and destination conditions. Carrying this out before an offer is made avoids commitments that cannot be delivered within the required timescale, and it is one of the more effective controls against assignment failure.

A briefing preparing a relocating employee and family for an assignment before departure. It commonly covers immigration requirements, tax obligations, Compensation and allowances, Relocation services, destination conditions and what to expect on arrival. Delivering it as a single coordinated session rather than separate conversations gives the family one coherent picture to plan against.

Relocation services provided before a relocating employee leaves the home location. Services commonly include departure planning, pre-move survey, property closure or letting support, school withdrawal, utility disconnection and briefings. Work completed here determines how smoothly the arrival phase runs.

An inspection of a residence to establish the volume of household goods to be shipped and to identify items needing special handling, crating or declaration. Surveys may be carried out in person or remotely by video, and the resulting estimate drives quotations, policy allowance checks and mode selection. An inaccurate survey is the most common cause of cost variance between quotation and final invoice.

An evaluation of the Immigration, tax, social security and compliance implications of an international business trip before travel takes place. Assessment considers the activities to be performed rather than the length of the trip alone, since permitted business visitor activity is narrower than most travellers assume. It is the control that catches trips crossing into work requiring work authorisation or triggering a notification requirement.

A Relocation service supporting an employee with a residential property they own during an international assignment, commonly a home retained in the origin country. Services may include tenant sourcing, rent collection, maintenance, inspections and compliance with landlord obligations. Letting a home rather than selling it carries tax consequences in both countries that are worth understanding before the arrangement begins.

A Relocation service supporting an employee purchasing a property in the destination location. Support may include market guidance, agent introductions, negotiation, survey coordination and referrals for legal and mortgage advice. Property purchase is unusual on assignment and more common with permanent relocation, since it commits the employee to a market they may need to exit at short notice.

The process through which a professional qualification or academic credential is formally recognised in another country. Recognition is commonly required for regulated professions including medicine, law, engineering, teaching and accountancy, and it may involve assessment, examination or supervised practice. It affects both assignees taking up regulated roles and accompanying partners seeking to continue their careers.

An official examination of household goods, personal belongings or other imported items to confirm compliance with biosecurity requirements. Inspections commonly focus on timber, plant material, food, outdoor equipment and anything carrying soil or organic residue. Where treatment or cleaning is required, the cost and the delay fall to the shipment, which is why high-risk items are identified at pre-move survey.

Government rules controlling the import of household goods, personal belongings, food, plants, animals and other items to protect agriculture, biosecurity and public health. Requirements are strictest in countries with isolated ecosystems, and they apply to pets as well as to shipments. Non-compliant items may be treated, held or destroyed at the owner’s cost.

immigration programmes limiting the number of visas, work permits or residence permits issued within a defined period. Quotas may apply nationally, by category, by sector or by nationality, and they are commonly allocated by application window, ballot or first come basis. Where a quota applies, timing rather than eligibility determines the outcome, so hiring and assignment plans need to be built around the allocation cycle.

A United Kingdom based publisher and information service for human resources, Global Mobility and international management, producing Relocate magazine alongside news, factsheets, directories and the Relocate Awards. It covers international assignments, Immigration, education, property, remote working and the mobility industry itself.

An employee moving to a new location for work, internationally or domestically, under an assignment structure or as a permanent transfer. The term covers the full range of arrangements without implying a particular contractual status, which is why it has been adopted in place of narrower language. At Santa Fe, relocating employee is the preferred client-facing term for assignee, expatriate and international assignee.

The coordinated support provided to employees and their families moving to a new location for work. It covers area orientation, home search, school search, temporary accommodation, settling-in support, tenancy management and departure services, together with the coordination of an international assignment across its lifecycle. Relocation is delivered through Managed Services, Direct Services or Blended Services depending on the client’s operating model. At Santa Fe, Relocation is the current service name for activities traditionally described as Destination Services and Assignment Management.

A payment helping to cover costs associated with relocating for work. Allowances may support travel, temporary accommodation, incidental expenses or general settling-in costs, and they are commonly set by policy according to family size and destination. Most are taxable in the host country, so the gross-up cost forms part of the assignment budget.

The financial assistance and professional services provided to support a relocating employee and family. Benefits are commonly tiered by assignment type, with a defined core and, in some policies, a flexible element the employee can direct. Tiering is what allows an organisation to support varied circumstances without negotiating each move individually.

A professional supporting relocating employees and families through the relocation process. Responsibilities commonly include coordinating services, arranging home search and school search, explaining local practice and acting as a single point of contact through the move. Local knowledge is the element that cannot be substituted, since registration processes, tenancy practice and school admission cycles are specific to the city rather than the country.

The planning and management of relocation services across a move. Coordination commonly covers sequencing between Immigration, Moving and destination services, supplier instruction, milestone tracking and communication with the employee and the business. Sequencing matters because immigration approval usually gates local registration, housing and the timing of the household goods shipment.

The coordination and administration of employee relocations on behalf of an organisation. It commonly includes policy application, supplier management, cost tracking, compliance oversight and reporting across a population rather than a single move. Programme-level data is what allows cost and policy decisions to be made on evidence.

An organisation delivering professional relocation services to employers and relocating employees, coordinating suppliers, service delivery, cost and reporting through a single point of accountability. The model consolidates coordination that would otherwise sit with the internal team. Its value depends on the depth of the underlying supply chain and the quality of the data returned, since visibility across the programme is what makes cost and policy decisions possible.

The combination of financial assistance and professional services provided to support an employee’s relocation. Packages are commonly defined by policy according to assignment type, seniority, family size and destination. Employees assess a package on net position rather than gross, so net comparisons belong in the conversation at the point a move is offered.

A policy defining the benefits, responsibilities and processes applying when employees relocate for work. It commonly covers eligibility, service scope, allowances, tax treatment, exceptions and the responsibilities of each party. A defined exception process is what keeps policy functioning as a governance instrument rather than a starting point for negotiation.

The structured framework through which an organisation manages employee relocations. Programmes commonly define service scope, supplier arrangements, technology, reporting, cost control and governance. The distinction from policy is that policy sets what is provided while the programme determines how it is delivered and measured.

An organisation delivering services supporting employers and relocating employees across the relocation lifecycle. Services may span Immigration, Relocation, Moving and Compensation together with programme management. Provider models differ in the balance between directly delivered services and services delivered through an approved partner network, which affects consistency and accountability.

The professional services supporting relocating employees and families before, during and after a move. Services commonly include area orientation, home search, school search, temporary accommodation, settling-in support, tenancy management, language and cultural training, and departure services. Delivery is coordinated with Immigration and Moving, since permissions and shipment timing determine when each stage can proceed.

An organisation’s long-term approach to managing employee relocations in support of business, workforce and talent objectives. Strategy addresses which moves the organisation should make and why, where policy addresses how a move is supported once decided. It commonly weighs assignments against local hiring, remote arrangements and business travel as alternative routes to the same outcome.

The practical assistance provided to relocating employees and families throughout the process. Support commonly includes guidance, coordination, local information and a point of contact for issues as they arise. The first weeks after arrival carry disproportionate influence on how the move is judged, since this is when the employee is least productive and most exposed.

Specialist advice and support relating to the tax implications of relocations and international assignments. Services commonly include tax briefings, residence and treaty analysis, hypothetical tax calculation, filing assistance and year-end reconciliation. Briefings before departure and after arrival prevent most of the individual tax problems that otherwise surface later and end up funded by the employer.

The planned sequence of activities and milestones associated with a relocation. Timelines commonly run from initiation and immigration filing through survey, packing, travel, arrival, registration and settling in. immigration processing and school admission cycles are the two items most likely to determine the critical path, and both are outside the employer’s control.

A specialist supplier delivering services within a relocation programme, such as home search, moving, temporary accommodation, language training or tax support. Vendors may be engaged directly by the employer or coordinated by a relocation management company. Consistent service standards, defined escalation routes and comparable data across suppliers are what make a multi-vendor programme manageable.

A work arrangement in which an employee performs their duties away from the employer’s premises. Where the work is undertaken from another country, it becomes cross-border remote working and can create Immigration, tax, payroll, permanent establishment and employment law obligations. Domestic remote working raises none of these, which is why the distinction is worth stating explicitly in policy.

The return of a relocating employee and family to the home country or another agreed location at the end of an international assignment. It covers the physical move, resumption of home country terms and reintegration into the organisation. Repatriation is the most consistently underinvested stage of the assignment lifecycle, and attrition in the year following return remains high, largely because employees arrive home without a defined role that uses the experience gained.

A policy defining the support provided when an employee returns from an international assignment. It commonly covers the return shipment, travel, temporary accommodation, the end of allowances, tax reconciliation and role planning. Role planning that begins six to nine months before the return date addresses the main cause of post-assignment attrition.

An independent global community of in-house Global Mobility and international human resources professionals. Membership is restricted to practitioners working within organisations rather than suppliers, which shapes the character of its research and peer exchange. The RES Forum publishes an annual report drawing on member data across international assignment practice.

Official permission allowing an individual to reside legally in a country for a specified period or indefinitely. Issuance frequently depends on local registration completed after arrival, which ties the permit to housing and makes home finding part of the immigration timeline. A residence permit does not always confer the right to work, which may require separate employment authorisation.

An individual’s legal or tax residence status in a country. Residency for tax purposes is determined by presence, ties and, in some jurisdictions, a statutory test, and it can differ from immigration status in the same country. An individual can be tax resident somewhere they hold no residence permit, and hold a permit somewhere they are not tax resident.

Another term for a residence permit, used in some jurisdictions. Terminology varies between countries and between translations of official documents, and the underlying permission is the same.

Another term used in some jurisdictions for a residence permit. The variation is a matter of terminology rather than of the permission granted.

The transport of household goods back to the home country or another destination at the end of an international assignment. Volume frequently exceeds the outbound shipment, since families accumulate goods on assignment, and policy that caps only the outbound move leaves the return unbudgeted. Customs treatment on return depends on ownership history and the length of time abroad.

Employer-funded travel provided when a relocating employee returns to the home country at assignment end or travels home during an assignment. It commonly covers the employee and accompanying family, with class of travel and frequency set by policy. Travel taken during an assignment is usually treated as home leave and carries tax consequences in many jurisdictions.

An individual’s legal authorisation to undertake employment in a particular country. It follows from immigration status rather than from the employment relationship, and it may be restricted by employer, role, location or hours. Permission to enter or reside does not automatically include the right to work, and the two are frequently granted through separate processes.

The employer’s verification that an individual holds valid permission to work, carried out before employment begins and repeated where permission is time limited. The check is a defined procedure rather than a general enquiry, and the protection it offers depends on following that procedure precisely and retaining evidence of it. Verification has moved substantially online in several countries, with digital immigration status replacing physical documents in the United Kingdom, so processes built around inspecting cards need updating. Diary-managed repeat checks before expiry are what stop a compliant hire becoming an illegal working case later.

A structured evaluation of the legal, operational and employee-related risks associated with an international assignment, business trip or cross-border work arrangement. Assessments commonly cover Immigration, tax, social security, security, health and duty of care considerations. Assessing the activities to be performed rather than the duration alone is what catches arrangements falling outside permitted business visitor conditions.

An arrangement in which an employee works in another country for defined periods, alternating with time at home on a repeating cycle. Rotational structures are common in energy, mining, construction and offshore work. They create distinctive tax and social security questions because presence is fragmented across the year, and travel and duty of care arrangements have to be built around the rotation cycle.

A group of European countries that have removed internal border controls and apply shared rules on entry and permitted stay. Short stays are commonly limited to 90 days within any 180 day period, calculated across the whole area rather than country by country. Entry and exit are now recorded electronically through the Entry/Exit System, so the day count is calculated automatically and travel history is retained, which matters for Business Travellers moving frequently across Europe.

A Relocation service helping relocating employees identify suitable education for their children. It commonly covers local and international school options, admissions processes, curriculum continuity, assessment requirements and application support. School availability is a genuine constraint on move timing rather than an administrative detail, and in many locations the school decision determines where a family can realistically live.

A global initiative helping organisations set greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, founded in 2015 by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and WWF. Targets are validated independently against published criteria covering near-term and net-zero commitments. More than 10,000 companies have set or committed to setting validated targets.

The transportation of household goods by sea, commonly in a dedicated container or as part of a consolidated load. Sea freight is the standard mode for full household shipments over long distances, carrying the lowest cost per unit of volume and the longest transit time. It also has a considerably lower carbon impact than air freight, which makes mode selection a sustainable mobility decision as well as a cost one.

The temporary assignment of an employee to another organisation, business unit or location while remaining employed by the original employer. Secondments to a third party raise questions about who directs the work, which affects the economic employer analysis and, in some jurisdictions, employment law liability. The distinction from an assignment is that the receiving party is frequently outside the employing group.

A refundable payment made by a tenant to a landlord at the start of a tenancy. Deposit levels, protection requirements and the grounds for deduction vary considerably between countries, and in some markets the amount is several months of rent. Deposit recovery at the end of a tenancy is a common friction point, and a documented condition report at check-in is what resolves it.

A move arranged by an employee without employer sponsorship or support from a Global Mobility programme. Self-initiated moves may still create obligations for an employer who becomes aware of them, particularly where the employee continues working for the same organisation from the new country. Arrangements of this kind are the most common origin of unassessed cross-border remote working exposure.

A formal agreement defining expected standards of service between a client and a provider. Agreements commonly cover response times, case initiation, escalation routes, reporting frequency and remedies for underperformance. They are most useful where the measures are defined jointly at implementation and reviewed against actual programme data rather than agreed once and filed.

An organisation delivering specialist services supporting Global Mobility programmes. Providers may deliver Immigration, Relocation, Moving or Compensation services directly or through an approved partner network. Consistent standards, defined escalation routes and comparable data across providers are what make a multi-supplier programme manageable.

Furnished accommodation provided with facilities and services such as cleaning, utilities and internet included, used for temporary stays during a relocation. It gives a family independence and space that hotel accommodation does not, which matters where children are involved or the temporary period extends beyond a few weeks. Cost per night is higher than long-term rental, so policy commonly caps the funded duration and links it to a home finding timeline.

A form of permanent immigration status in the United Kingdom granted under the EU Settlement Scheme to eligible European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens and their family members. It carries no expiry and provides a route to citizenship, where pre-settled status is time limited and held while the qualifying period is completed.

The scheme remains open for late applications on reasonable grounds and for joining family members. Conversion from pre-settled to settled status has been substantially automated using a presence test drawn from tax and benefit records, and the authorities have also begun removing pre-settled status where continuous residence appears to have been broken, assessed from travel data.

A Relocation service helping relocating employees and families become established in the destination location. Services commonly include local registration, banking, utilities, transport, healthcare enrolment, mobile and internet connection and practical orientation. Compressing the administrative burden of arrival into a few supported days returns the employee to productive work considerably sooner than leaving them to navigate unfamiliar systems alone.

A parallel payroll record maintained in a host country to report income and calculate withholding where a relocating employee continues to be paid through the home payroll. It satisfies host reporting obligations without moving the actual payment. Accuracy depends entirely on complete and timely compensation accumulation, including items delivered outside payroll such as Relocation services paid directly to suppliers and benefits in kind.

The transport of household goods or personal belongings from one location to another as part of a domestic or international move. A shipment is defined by its volume, mode and route, and it may travel as a dedicated load or as groupage consolidated with other moves. Timing is commonly tied to immigration status, since customs eligibility depends on the owner holding the correct permission.

A Moving service providing financial protection for household goods and personal belongings during transport and storage. Cover is normally based on replacement value at destination and depends on a valued inventory prepared by the owner, so items omitted from it are not covered. High-value and difficult-to-replace items usually need separate declaration, which is a conversation that belongs at pre-move survey rather than at the point of claim.

The monitoring of the location and progress of household goods during transport. Tracking gives the relocating employee visibility of when goods will arrive and gives the employer data on supplier performance across a programme. Arrival dates influence temporary accommodation duration, so accurate tracking has a direct cost consequence.

An international assignment typically lasting from a few weeks to less than one year, commonly unaccompanied and with a narrower support package than a long-term posting. Short-term assignments are frequently assumed to be simpler than they are. Tax residence, economic employer treatment and posted worker obligations can all be triggered well within the period, and treating them as extended business travel is a common source of exposure.

A delivery principle under which one team or contact holds responsibility for coordinating activity across multiple services and suppliers. It reduces the administrative burden carried by internal Global Mobility and HR teams and supports consistent tracking of progress across a case or a programme. It is a defining feature of Managed Services.

The government system of mandatory contributions and benefits covering pensions, healthcare, unemployment and related entitlements. For internationally mobile employees, the central question is which country’s system applies, since contributing in the wrong place can mean paying twice with limited recovery. Coverage is commonly determined by a social security agreement, an A1 certificate or a certificate of coverage, each with duration limits.

An agreement between two countries coordinating social security contributions and benefits for people moving between them. Agreements prevent duplicate contributions and, in many cases, allow periods of coverage in each country to be combined when assessing benefit eligibility. Where no agreement exists, an employee may contribute in both locations with no route to recovery, which is a cost belonging in the cost projection before an assignment is approved.

Accommodation occupied exclusively by the relocating employee or their family rather than shared with others. The distinction is relevant to policy entitlement, tax treatment of employer-provided housing and, in some jurisdictions, to Immigration or registration requirements. Some countries also apply minimum space standards to accommodation supporting a residence application.

The regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, setting the standards for entry to the profession and the rules firms must follow. Regulated firms are subject to authorisation, supervision and enforcement, and clients are protected by compulsory professional indemnity insurance and a compensation fund. Solicitors regulated by the SRA are among the approved categories permitted to give Immigration advice in the United Kingdom without separate registration with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

The professional association for reward and Compensation practitioners in South Africa. SARA provides professional development, benchmarking and standards for the reward profession, including practice relating to internationally mobile employees.

Authorisation held by an employer permitting it to sponsor foreign nationals for work visas, used within the United Kingdom and comparable immigration systems. A licence carries continuing duties covering record keeping, reporting, cooperation with the authorities and the accuracy of role, salary and location details, and it is subject to audit. Suspension or revocation affects every sponsored employee at once, which makes licence governance a business continuity matter rather than an administrative one.

Support provided to the spouse or partner of a relocating employee throughout an international assignment or relocation. Services commonly include career guidance, language training, cultural orientation, networking introductions and practical assistance settling in. Partner career interruption is among the strongest predictors of a declined or curtailed assignment, particularly in dual-career households.

The secure holding of household goods before, during or after a domestic or international move. It is commonly required where destination housing is not yet available, where immigration status is still pending or where the employee is retaining goods at home during an assignment. Policy usually caps the funded period, and the cap is worth setting against realistic home finding timelines in the destination rather than a single global figure.

The temporary storage of household goods between collection and final delivery during a relocation. It is used where arrival dates and housing availability do not align, which is common when immigration processing determines when a family can travel. Extended storage adds cost and delays the point at which a family settles, so the funded period is normally defined by policy.

The planned use of Global Mobility to support business growth, workforce planning, leadership development and capability building. It addresses which moves an organisation should make and why, where policy addresses how a move is supported once decided. Programmes operating strategically commonly weigh assignments against local hiring, remote arrangements and business travel as alternative routes to the same outcome.

A payment helping to cover everyday living expenses during an international assignment or business travel, commonly provided while an employee is in temporary accommodation without cooking facilities. It is closely related to per diem and is frequently aligned to published benchmark rates, which gives it a defensible basis. Amounts above accepted rates may be treated as taxable income.

The selection, monitoring and management of organisations delivering services within a Global Mobility programme. It commonly covers due diligence, onboarding, service standards, performance review, data protection terms and structured tender processes. Comparable performance data across suppliers is what allows quality differences by location to be identified before they surface as complaints.

An international assignment in which the employer provides structured Global Mobility support and relocation services rather than leaving arrangements to the employee. The term distinguishes managed arrangements from self-initiated relocation and from moves supported only by a lump sum. Support level is normally set by assignment type rather than negotiated individually.

The assessment of household goods before a move to establish shipment volume, handling requirements and services needed. Surveys may be conducted in person or remotely by video, and the resulting estimate drives quotations, policy allowance checks and mode selection. An inaccurate survey is the most common cause of variance between quotation and final invoice.

A moving professional who assesses household goods before shipment. Surveyors establish volume, identify items needing crating, dismantling or special handling, and flag restricted or high-value items requiring declaration. Their assessment sets the cost baseline for the move, so accuracy at this stage carries through the whole shipment.

The management of international assignments and relocations in a way that reduces environmental impact while meeting business and talent objectives. Practical measures commonly include shipment mode selection, shipment volume, air travel reduction, supplier standards and emissions measurement at programme or individual move level. Measuring emissions at the point of approval makes the trade-offs visible when decisions are made rather than reported annually after the fact.

The use of international assignments and relocations as a deliberate instrument of workforce development, succession planning and capability building. It starts from a different question than operational mobility, asking which moves will build the capability an organisation needs rather than how to move a person already selected. That framing changes who is assigned, where and for how long.

Professional guidance helping organisations and internationally mobile employees understand the tax implications of assignments, relocations and cross-border work. Advice commonly covers residence, treaty position, payroll withholding, reporting obligations and filing requirements in both countries. Regulation of who may provide tax advice varies by jurisdiction, and employer-funded advice for the employee is itself frequently a taxable benefit.

A meeting between a relocating employee and a tax adviser covering their personal tax position, obligations and filing requirements in the home and host countries. Briefings are commonly delivered before departure and again after arrival, once the employee’s circumstances in the host location are settled. They prevent most of the individual tax problems that otherwise surface later and end up funded by the employer.

Meeting the legal tax obligations arising from international assignments, relocations and business travel. Obligations sit with both the employer and the employee, covering withholding, reporting, filing and payment in each country with a claim. Completeness of compensation accumulation is the practical foundation, since income delivered outside payroll is reportable and is the item most often missed.

A meeting between a tax adviser and an employee or employer to discuss the tax implications of an international assignment or relocation. Consultations may address residence position, treaty relief, equalisation arrangements, filing obligations or a specific transaction such as a property sale. The term is used interchangeably with tax briefing in many programmes.

A policy under which a relocating employee pays broadly the same tax as they would have paid at home, with the employer assuming responsibility for actual home and host liabilities. It removes tax as a factor in accepting an assignment and keeps a population comparable across locations. Equalisation is administratively demanding, requiring hypothetical tax withholding, annual settlement calculations and provider coordination, and it carries open-ended employer cost in high tax locations.

The process of increasing a payment so that, after tax deductions, the relocating employee receives the intended net amount. It is commonly applied to relocation benefits and allowances that would otherwise leave the employee out of pocket. In a high tax jurisdiction the gross-up can approach the value of the benefit itself, which is why cost projections should model it explicitly rather than treating it as an adjustment.

A policy under which a relocating employee pays their own tax and the employer reimburses any amount above the home country liability, allowing the employee to keep any saving. It is simpler to administer than tax equalisation and produces uneven outcomes, since employees in low tax locations benefit and those in high tax locations do not. Organisations tend to choose it where the population is small and destinations are consistent.

The comparison of estimated and actual tax liabilities at the end of a tax year or an international assignment. Reconciliation determines what remains payable or refundable under tax equalisation or tax protection, and it commonly runs months after the tax year ends because filings in both countries have to complete first. Delays in settlement are a frequent source of employee frustration, so setting expectations on timing at the outset matters.

The country in which an individual is considered resident for tax purposes. Residency determines how worldwide income is taxed and is established by presence, ties and, in some jurisdictions, a statutory test rather than by immigration status. An individual can be tax resident in a country where they hold no residence permit, and can be resident in two countries at once until a treaty tie-breaker applies.

An agreement between two or more countries setting out how income is taxed where more than one has a claim, also known as a double taxation agreement. Treaties commonly address employment income, residence, permanent establishment and the relief available against double taxation. Relief for short-term work can be lost where the host entity is treated as the economic employer, so a treaty alone does not settle the position.

A Relocation service providing short-term housing for relocating employees and families before permanent accommodation is secured. It is normally capped by policy and works best when tied to a home finding programme with a defined timeline. Open-ended temporary accommodation is expensive and delays the point at which a family settles, so the cap serves both cost and experience.

An international work arrangement undertaken for a limited period to meet a specific business need. Temporary assignments cover short-term postings, project work and cover arrangements, and they carry the same Immigration, tax and social security questions as longer assignments even where the period is brief. Duration alone does not determine the obligations, since many apply from the first day of work.

Short-term accommodation provided before permanent housing is secured. It may take the form of serviced accommodation, an aparthotel or a furnished short-term let, with the choice usually driven by family size and expected duration. The term is used interchangeably with temporary accommodation.

The secure storage of household goods for a limited period before final delivery. It is commonly needed where destination housing is not ready or where immigration clearance is still pending, and it is closely related to storage in transit. Funded duration is normally defined by policy and set against realistic home finding timelines.

A legally binding contract between a landlord and tenant setting out the terms for renting a property. Terms, notice periods, deposit levels and renewal provisions vary considerably between countries and are frequently unfamiliar to a relocating employee. Securing a clause permitting early termination if the assignment ends is among the most valuable provisions to negotiate.

A Relocation service supporting a relocating employee throughout a tenancy. It commonly covers lease administration, renewals, rent reviews, landlord liaison, maintenance issues, deposit protection and the end of tenancy inspection. Deposit recovery and dilapidation disputes at lease end are the most common friction point, and documented condition reports at check-in are what resolve them.

A publication and membership community focused on global leadership, talent mobility and international education, founded by the editor-in-chief of Relocate magazine and operating as its sister title. It publishes a quarterly magazine alongside events and awards.

An employee who is a national of neither the home country of the assigning entity nor the host country of the assignment. immigration eligibility, treaty benefits and social security coverage are assessed against the individual’s nationality rather than the structure of the organisation. These moves commonly follow different requirements from those applying to home country nationals on comparable assignments.

The complete value of an employee’s salary, allowances, bonuses, benefits and other financial rewards. For internationally mobile employees, total compensation includes assignment-related elements such as housing, education and cost of living support, which materially exceed the base salary in many packages. It is also the figure that has to be captured in full for compensation accumulation and host country reporting.

A social security agreement preventing duplicate contributions and allowing periods of coverage in each country to be combined when assessing benefit eligibility. The term is used particularly in United States practice and is equivalent in function to the bilateral agreements used elsewhere. Combining coverage periods matters for long-serving mobile employees whose contributions are otherwise split across systems with no single qualifying period.

The registration of a relocating employee and family with the local municipal authority in the destination, required in many countries within a set period after arrival. Registration is commonly the step that gives access to a national identification number, tax registration, healthcare access, banking and utility connection, so much of settling in depends on completing it. It usually requires a residential address, which links it to home finding and can therefore be blocked while a family remains in temporary accommodation.

A formal document confirming an employee’s transfer to another location, business unit or country. It may support immigration applications, payroll changes and internal approvals, and it commonly accompanies or replaces an assignment letter where the move is permanent. Consistency between the transfer letter, employment contract and immigration filing is checked by authorities.

Practical assistance provided to relocating employees and families during significant stages of a move, including departure, arrival, changes in assignment and return. It commonly covers coordination, briefings, family support and administrative help at points where circumstances change quickly. The stages either side of a move are where support has most effect, since these are the periods of greatest disruption.

The translation and, where required, certification of documents for use in another country. Immigration, civil and academic documents commonly require translation by an approved or sworn translator, and requirements differ on who may certify and in what form. Translation is frequently needed alongside legalisation or an apostille, and both steps take time that belongs at the front of the immigration timeline.

An organisation’s rules and procedures governing business travel. Within Global Mobility, travel policy connects to compliance as well as cost, since booking data is commonly the only complete record of who is working where. Aligning travel approval with pre-trip assessment is what allows immigration and tax exposure to be caught before travel rather than after.

An evaluation of the health, security, compliance and operational risks associated with international business travel. Assessments commonly consider destination conditions, traveller profile, activities and duration, and they support the employer’s duty of care obligations. Knowing where employees are at any time is the practical foundation, which is why assessment and travel tracking are treated together.

The monitoring of employee travel to support duty of care, business travel compliance and operational visibility. Tracking data underpins several separate obligations, since day counts drive tax residence and treaty positions, location data supports emergency response, and travel patterns reveal business travellers who have crossed from permitted activity into work requiring work authorisation. Data completeness matters more than sophistication, which is why integration with booking and expense systems is usually the determining factor.

An international assignment in which the relocating employee moves without their spouse, partner or children. These structures cost less and carry a different risk profile, since separation over an extended period affects wellbeing and assignment completion. Packages commonly include funded home leave at a defined frequency to address the separation.

The transport of household goods or personal belongings separately from the relocating employee, commonly by air freight so that essential items arrive close to the employee’s own arrival date. It is frequently combined with a larger sea freight consignment following later. Defining what qualifies for the unaccompanied portion within policy prevents it becoming a second full shipment at air freight cost.

A voluntary corporate sustainability initiative asking participating organisations to align with ten principles covering human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to report annually through a Communication on Progress. It is one of the founding partners of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and participation is increasingly referenced in supplier assessment and tender documentation.

The removal of household goods from packing materials following delivery at the destination residence, including placement of items and removal of debris. It is commonly included within a door-to-door moving scope and may be limited by policy to a defined number of hours or to specific rooms. Unpacking at the point of delivery also allows condition to be checked while the crew is present, which matters for any claim.

An international assignment undertaken without the full range of employer-sponsored Global Mobility services, commonly with a lump sum or a limited set of benefits. The approach reduces cost and administration and transfers risk to the employee, so calibration of the payment matters. It differs from self-initiated relocation, since the move is still requested and approved by the employer.

The identification of Immigration, tax, payroll and other compliance obligations before an employee travels or an assignment begins, rather than after the fact. It is the practical answer to the problem that most cross-border obligations cannot be corrected retrospectively. Building assessment into travel approval and assignment initiation is what makes it work, since obligations identified after departure are already breaches.

A Relocation service supporting employees with arranging essential household utilities at the destination residence, including electricity, gas, water, internet and telephone. Connection commonly requires local identification, a bank account and proof of address, which links it to townhall registration and creates a sequence that can stall if any step is delayed.

A Relocation service arranging the closure or transfer of utility accounts when a relocating employee leaves a residence. It commonly forms part of departure services alongside lease termination and deregistration. Accounts left open after departure continue to generate liability and can affect credit standing in the country.

The process of confirming that documents provided in support of an immigration application or international assignment are genuine, complete and correctly certified. It commonly covers checking issuing authority, translation, apostille or legalisation status and consistency with other records. Validating early prevents applications being rejected weeks into a process for a defect that could have been corrected at the start.

Additional services extending a Global Mobility programme beyond core relocation support. Examples commonly include cultural and language training, partner career support, education consultancy, concierge services and wellbeing provision. These services are frequently the elements that determine an employee’s experience of a move even though they sit outside the core scope.

A Moving service arranging the shipment of a car, motorcycle or other vehicle as part of a relocation. Requirements are set by the destination country and commonly include emissions and safety standards, registration, taxes and duties, and in some cases an outright prohibition on importing certain vehicles. Duty and modification costs can exceed the value of the vehicle, so assessment before commitment is worthwhile.

The selection, management and review of suppliers delivering services within a Global Mobility programme. It covers due diligence, onboarding, service standards, performance review, data protection terms and structured tender processes. Consistent standards, defined escalation routes and comparable data across suppliers are what keep quality from varying by location without the central team noticing.

The German business travel association, representing corporate travel and mobility managers in Germany through research, training, certification and advocacy. It publishes an annual analysis of German business travel spend and is a founding member of BT4Europe.

An arrangement in which an employee takes responsibility for a role or business activity in another country while remaining physically based at home, travelling periodically rather than relocating. It avoids relocation cost and family disruption while introducing different questions, including permanent establishment risk from the travel pattern and the effectiveness of leading a team across time zones. Travel volume is frequently underestimated when these arrangements are approved.

The remote assessment of household goods by video before a domestic or international move. Virtual surveys shorten lead times, reduce the need for a visit and work well for straightforward households. Complex or high-value contents commonly still warrant an in-person survey, since volume accuracy sets the cost baseline for the whole move.

Official permission granted by a government allowing an individual to enter, remain or undertake specified activities in a country. A visa governs entry and does not always confer the right to work or reside, both of which may require separate permissions. Treating the visa as the end of the immigration process is a frequent cause of problems after arrival.

The formal process of applying for permission to enter, remain or work in another country. Requirements commonly include supporting documents, biometrics, fees, health or police certificates and evidence of the qualifying relationship or role. Documents frequently need translation, an apostille or consular legalisation first, which is where most timelines are lost.

A scheduled meeting at an embassy, consulate or visa application centre to submit documents, provide biometrics or attend an interview. Appointment availability is a common constraint on assignment timing, since capacity varies by post and by season and cannot be accelerated in most cases. Booking as early as the process allows is the practical control.

Meeting the legal conditions attached to a visa throughout its validity. Conditions commonly cover permitted activities, employer, location, working hours and length of stay, and breaching any of them can affect status even where the visa remains valid. Monitoring expiry dates and renewal lead times is part of wider immigration compliance.

The formal process of applying to remain in a country beyond the period originally authorised. Approval is normally required before the existing permission expires, and in many jurisdictions there is no route to correct a lapse retrospectively. Extensions also warrant a review of social security position, since posting rules are commonly duration limited.

The process through which an employer or other eligible organisation supports an individual’s application for a visa or work permit. Sponsorship commonly carries continuing duties covering record keeping, reporting changes and cooperation with the authorities, and in some systems it requires a sponsor licence held in advance. Sponsorship obligations attach to the organisation rather than the individual.

An enterprise climate platform used to measure, report and reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions across scopes one, two and three. It draws data directly from business systems, including travel and expense platforms, which makes it applicable to the emissions generated by Global Mobility activity. Watershed is an accredited CDP gold software solutions provider.

A Relocation service supporting employees and families through the first stages of settling into the destination, commonly including arrival meeting, an orientation to the immediate area and an introduction to local practicalities. It is frequently the first physical contact in the destination and sets expectations for the support that follows.

Official permission allowing an individual to undertake employment in a specific country. It may be granted through a visa, a work permit, a residence permit carrying work rights or another status, and it is commonly restricted by employer, role and location. Permission to enter or reside does not automatically include it.

Official permission allowing an individual to work legally in another country. Eligibility, application requirements and processing times vary by jurisdiction, and permits are typically tied to a specific employer, role and location. Changes to any of these during an assignment usually require an amendment or a fresh application, and working outside the permit terms affects both the individual’s status and the employer’s compliance record.

The formal process of applying for permission to work in another country. Applications commonly require evidence of qualifications, a job offer or contract, salary meeting a defined threshold and, where applicable, a completed labour market test. Sequencing matters, since in some countries the permit must be issued before a visa can be applied for.

The extension of an existing work permit before it expires. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and commonly include evidence of continuing employment, salary at the required level and continued compliance with the original conditions. Renewal lead times are frequently longer than expected, so diary-managed reminders well ahead of expiry are what prevent a lapse in work authorisation.

The movement of employees between locations, business units or countries in support of organisational objectives. The term covers domestic and international movement and is broader than Global Mobility, which focuses on cross-border activity. It is commonly used where mobility is discussed alongside workforce planning and internal talent markets.

The global professional association for workforce mobility, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Washington DC with offices in London and Shanghai. Worldwide ERC provides research, education and industry standards, and administers the Certified Relocation Professional and Global Mobility Specialist designations. It is one of the principal sources of benchmarking data in the mobility profession.

All income earned by an individual regardless of where it is generated. Tax residents are commonly taxable on worldwide income in their country of residence, with relief for foreign tax through a credit or exemption. United States citizens and permanent residents remain taxable on worldwide income wherever they live, which is why their assignment cases differ from most other nationalities.

The comparison of estimated and actual tax liabilities at the end of a tax year for internationally mobile employees. It determines what remains payable or refundable under tax equalisation or tax protection and commonly completes months after the year ends, since filings in both countries must finish first. Setting expectations on timing at the start of an assignment avoids the frustration this delay otherwise causes.

The preparation and submission of tax information required at the end of a tax year. Reporting obligations vary between jurisdictions and commonly cover employment income, benefits in kind, allowances and amounts paid to third parties on the employee’s behalf. Completeness depends on compensation accumulation through the year rather than on activity at year end.

A payment provided to employees working in designated geographical areas where living or working conditions differ from standard locations. Eligibility, the zones defined and the amounts payable vary between organisations and assignment policies. The concept overlaps with hardship allowance, though zone-based structures are commonly set by area rather than assessed location by location.