Glossary
The acronyms you'll meet along the way, in plain words.
- Biometrics
- Fingerprints and a photo taken at a visa application centre (VFS in Kathmandu) as part of your application. Read guide →
- Bond🇦🇺 Australia
- A rental security deposit, which should be lodged with the state's bond authority. Read guide →
- CoEConfirmation of Enrolment🇦🇺 Australia
- Issued by your Australian provider after you accept an offer and pay the deposit. You need it to apply for the visa. Read guide →
- CRICOSCommonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students🇦🇺 Australia
- The official register of courses international students can take on a student visa. Read guide →
- DLIDesignated Learning Institution🇨🇦 Canada
- A school approved by a provincial government to host international students. Your LOA must come from a DLI. Read guide →
- ELICOSEnglish Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students🇦🇺 Australia
- English courses you can take before your main program, often packaged with it.
- Express Entry🇨🇦 Canada
- Canada's main online system for skilled permanent residence applications. Read guide →
- GCMS notes🇨🇦 Canada
- The officer's notes on your IRCC file. Useful for understanding a refusal. Read guide →
- GICGuaranteed Investment Certificate🇨🇦 Canada
- A deposit with a participating Canadian bank that shows living funds and pays them out to you in instalments. Read guide →
- GSGenuine Student requirement🇦🇺 Australia
- Questions in the visa form assessing whether you genuinely intend to study. Replaced GTE in 2024. Read guide →
- ImmiAccount🇦🇺 Australia
- The Department of Home Affairs online portal where you lodge and track visa applications. Read guide →
- IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada🇨🇦 Canada
- The Canadian government department that decides study permit applications.
- LOALetter of Acceptance🇨🇦 Canada
- Your official offer from a Canadian DLI. Read guide →
- NOCNo Objection Certificate🇳🇵 Nepal
- Issued by Nepal's Ministry of Education. Banks require it before sending study money abroad. Read guide →
- OSHCOverseas Student Health Cover🇦🇺 Australia
- Compulsory health insurance for student visa holders, for the entire stay. Read guide →
- PAL / TALProvincial / Territorial Attestation Letter🇨🇦 Canada
- A letter confirming you fit within a province's study permit allocation. Needed by most students; master's and PhD students at public DLIs are exempt from 2026. Read guide →
- Panel physician
- A doctor approved by the immigration department to do your immigration medical exam.
- PGWPPost-Graduation Work Permit🇨🇦 Canada
- An open work permit for eligible graduates of eligible Canadian programs. Read guide →
- PNPProvincial Nominee Program🇨🇦 Canada
- Province-run pathways to permanent residence. Read guide →
- POE letterPort of Entry letter of introduction🇨🇦 Canada
- Your approval letter. Show it at the Canadian airport to be issued your study permit. Read guide →
- RCICRegulated Canadian Immigration Consultant🇨🇦 Canada
- A licensed immigration consultant. Only licensed professionals may charge for Canadian immigration advice. Read guide →
- Registered migration agent🇦🇺 Australia
- A person registered to give Australian immigration assistance for a fee. Read guide →
- SDSStudent Direct Stream🇨🇦 Canada
- A fast-track study permit stream for certain countries that ended in November 2024. Nepal was never eligible.
- SINSocial Insurance Number🇨🇦 Canada
- Required before you can work in Canada. Read guide →
- Subclass 485Temporary Graduate visa🇦🇺 Australia
- Australia's post-study work visa. Read guide →
- Subclass 500Student visa🇦🇺 Australia
- Australia's student visa. Read guide →
- TFNTax File Number🇦🇺 Australia
- Your Australian tax number. Get one before you start working. Read guide →