Difference Between Relocation and Visa Sponsorship

The terms ""offers relocation"" and ""offers visa sponsorship"" refer to two different types of assistance provided by employers to international job candidates. Here’s how they differ:

1. Offers Relocation:

• Definition: This means the employer is willing to help the employee physically move to the country or location where the job is based. It usually covers logistical and financial support to make the move smoother.

• What It Includes:

o Assistance with finding housing.

o Payment for moving expenses (shipping personal belongings, airfare).

o Temporary accommodation or housing allowance.

o Help with settling in (e.g., arranging utilities, school enrollment for children, etc.).

• Relocation vs. Sponsorship: Offering relocation does not necessarily mean the company will handle your work visa. It focuses on the physical move and settling into the new country or region.

2. Offers Visa Sponsorship:

• Definition: Visa sponsorship means the employer is willing to support your legal right to work in the country. The company sponsors your work visa, which is a crucial legal requirement for foreigners to be employed.

• What It Includes:

o Filing paperwork with the country’s immigration authorities to sponsor a work visa.

o Covering visa application fees.

o Providing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or related documents.

o Ensuring compliance with immigration laws to employ foreign workers.

• Focus on Legal Employment: This offer focuses on the legal permission to work in the country, not on the physical aspects of moving.

Key Differences:

• Relocation: Deals with moving and settling into the new location.

• Visa Sponsorship: Deals with obtaining the legal right to work in the country through employer-backed immigration processes.

Example:

• A company may offer relocation assistance to help you move to their city but may expect you to handle your visa application on your own if they don’t provide sponsorship.

• Conversely, an employer offering visa sponsorship will take care of the legal work visa, but they may or may not help with relocation logistics. Some companies provide both.

Understanding these distinctions is important when evaluating job offers, especially if you're an international candidate looking to work abroad.