• Country of origin – The country that is a source of migratory flows (regular or irregular).
• Emigration – The act of departing or exiting from one state with a view to settling in another
• Freedom of movement – a human right comprising three basic elements: freedom of movement within the territory of a country, the right to leave any country and the right to return to his or her own country. Immigration – a process by which non-nationals move into a country for the purpose of settlement.
• Irregular migration – This is the movement of persons that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries. There is no clear or universally accepted definition of irregular migration. From the perspective of destination countries it is entry, stay or work in a country without the necessary authorization or documents required under immigration regulations. From the perspective of the sending country, the irregularity is seen, for example, in cases in which a person crosses an international border without a valid passport or travel document or does not fulfil the administrative requirements for leaving the country. There is, however, a tendency to restrict the use of the term “illegal migration” to cases of smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. It is also preferred to use the term irregular migrant or undocumented migrant to describe a migrant without the appropriate permission to reside.
• Labour migration – The movement of persons from one state to another, or within their own country of residence, for the purpose of employment. Labour migration is addressed by most states in their migration laws. In addition, some states take an active role in regulating outward labour migration and seeking opportunities for their nationals abroad.
• Migrant – The International Organization for Migration defines a migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from her/his habitual place of residence, regardless of (1) the person’s legal status; (2) whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary; (3) what the causes for the movement are; or (4) what the length of the stay is.
• Migration – The movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international border or within a state. It is a population movement encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes. It includes the migration of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants and persons moving for other purposes, including family reunification.
• Receiving country – The country of destination or a third country. In the case of return or repatriation, the receiving country is also the country of origin. It is also a country that has accepted to receive a certain number of refugees and migrants on a yearly basis by presidential, ministerial or parliamentary decision.