Basic Concepts Related to Migration – 1

For those interested in migration, a command of the field’s terminology is important in order to prevent confusion that may arise later. Because in order to grasp something and encompass it, one must first master the “concepts”.

In this article we will discuss the most frequently used basic concepts and definitions in the field of migration. We will explain the meanings of terms such as migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, irregular migrant, expat and stateless person and their equivalents in international law, and we will also touch on their use in the Turkish legal system.

The correct use of concepts is critical for avoiding misunderstandings during the advisory process.

Migration Consultant

A migration consultant is a professional who guides migrants on visa applications, residence permits, work and education procedures, recognition of diplomas and integration.

Knowing their clients’ legal rights and obligations, migration consultants develop the most appropriate application strategies, and they also provide support with interview preparation, document checks and cultural adaptation.

For example, a person who wants to settle in the Netherlands can, through a migration consultant, find out which documents are required for a residence permit, receive guidance in the job search and obtain information about social integration courses. This profession helps the process move forward more safely and quickly by making the complex procedures migrants face understandable. At the same time, consultants should be able to act as guides not only in the application process but also in “cultural mediation” (for example, referring clients to integration courses or helping them access municipal social assistance).

Country of Origin

This is the country to which individuals are bound by citizenship, or in which they reside, before they migrate.

This country represents the starting point of the migration process and plays an important role in understanding the causes of migration. Factors that trigger migration from countries of origin may include unemployment, low living standards, political instability, inadequate education or human rights violations.

For example, for a person who migrates from Turkey to Germany in search of work, Turkey is the country of origin. Those involved with migration should be able to understand the characteristics of the country of origin and the needs of those who migrate from it.

Transit Country

This is the country in which migrants reside temporarily, or obtain an official residence permit, before reaching their country of destination.

Transit countries are usually chosen because of their geographical location, the ease of obtaining visas or residence permits, and their strategic position on the travel route.

For example, if a person who wants to go from Turkey to Germany first obtains a residence permit in Poland and moves on to Germany from there, Poland is the transit country. In migration processes, transit countries involve critical stages both legally and practically; poorly managed transit stages can, because of the EU rules determining the responsible state (the Dublin procedure), mean that an asylum application lodged in the country of destination is not examined on its merits there and that the migrant is transferred to another member state. The Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR), which replaced Dublin III on 12 June 2026, largely preserves this basic principle.

Country of Destination (Receiving Country)

This is the country in which migrants aim to settle, work, study or obtain permanent residence in the long term.

In migration processes, individuals choose their countries of destination on the basis of different factors such as economic opportunities, the level of social welfare, educational opportunities, legal safeguards or cultural ties.

For example, if a person from Turkey plans to migrate to Germany for employment opportunities, Germany is that person’s country of destination. Just like the country of origin, correctly identifying the country of destination is critically important for the sound management of the needs and application procedures of those who wish to migrate.

Brain Drain

This is the phenomenon of highly educated, qualified and specialised workers (doctors, engineers, academics, etc.) migrating from their own country to developed countries for better jobs, living conditions or political freedoms. This causes the country of origin to lose human capital and to face difficulties in its development.

Brain Gain

This refers to individuals who have studied or gained experience abroad returning to their countries with new knowledge, skills and networks, or cooperating with their countries. This process contributes positively to the development of the country of origin, to an increase in its capacity for innovation and to the strengthening of its international connections.

Return Migration

Return migration refers to migrants returning permanently or temporarily to their countries of origin after living or working in a foreign country for some time.

This return may be voluntary (for example, a migrant who wants to invest in their country after building up sufficient savings), or it may be compulsory for legal reasons (for example, when a residence permit is not renewed). The International Organization for Migration (IOM) runs “Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR)” programmes to support the return process.

For countries of origin, return migration is of strategic importance both for regaining lost labour and for the transfer of the knowledge, skills and capital migrants have acquired.

NOTE: This article draws on the article “Migration: Legal Status and Conceptual Confusion”, previously published on the PUGAT platform.