Immigration Vocabulary Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on immigration and migration vocabulary: asylum seeker, refugee, visa, deportation, naturalisation, leave to remain and border control. B2 level.
This quiz focuses on how the target vocabulary for Immigration is actually used in context at B2 level, rather than testing bare definitions. Correct answers you will need to identify include terms such as asylum, refugee, emigration, naturalisation and deportation, each embedded in a full example sentence so you have to judge meaning from context, not just recognise an isolated word.
Working through all 12 questions and checking the explanations in the FAQ below is a quick way to spot any terms you are still unsure of. Revisiting the quiz again after a day or two, rather than only once, is one of the most reliable ways to move new vocabulary from passive recognition into words you can use confidently yourself in speaking and writing.
Keep building your immigration vocabulary.
Immigration Vocabulary — FAQ
What is the difference between a 'refugee' and an 'asylum seeker'?
An asylum seeker has applied for protection but whose application has not yet been decided. A refugee has been officially recognised as needing protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, meaning they face a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a social group.
What is the difference between 'immigration' and 'emigration'?
Immigration means entering a country that is not your own to settle there. Emigration means leaving your own country to settle elsewhere. The same person is both an emigrant (from the country they leave) and an immigrant (in the country they arrive in).
What is 'naturalisation'?
Naturalisation is the legal process by which a foreign national acquires citizenship of a new country. In the UK, applicants typically need to have lived in the UK for a number of years, have settled status, meet language requirements and pass the 'Life in the UK' test.
What is 'deportation'?
Deportation is the formal removal of a person from a country because they have no legal right to be there or have committed a serious crime. It differs from voluntary return, where a person chooses to go back to their home country.
What is a 'visa'?
A visa is an official endorsement in a passport permitting the holder to enter, stay in or leave a specific country for a defined purpose and period. Types include tourist, student, work and family visas. The UK uses a points-based system for non-UK nationals wishing to work or study.
What does 'leave to remain' mean?
Leave to remain is the legal permission for a non-UK national to stay in the UK. It can be limited (for a fixed period) or indefinite (ILR — permanent residence). ILR is often a step towards applying for British citizenship through naturalisation.
What is a 'points-based immigration system'?
A points-based system awards points for specific criteria such as job offer, salary, English language skills and qualifications. Applicants must score enough points to qualify for a visa. The UK introduced this system in 2021 for both EU and non-EU citizens.
What is 'undocumented migration'?
Undocumented (or irregular) migration refers to movement across borders that does not comply with the destination country's laws, including entering without permission, overstaying a visa or working without the right to do so.
What is the '1951 Refugee Convention'?
The 1951 Refugee Convention is a United Nations treaty defining who is a refugee and their rights. Its core principle is 'non-refoulement' — a refugee must not be returned to a country where they face serious threats. The UK is a signatory and is bound by its provisions.
What is a 'diaspora'?
A diaspora is a community of people who have spread from their original homeland to live in other parts of the world, while maintaining a shared identity, culture or connection to their country of origin. Examples include the Irish, Polish and South Asian diasporas.