The essential support list for employee immigration and relocation

Moving employees to a new country is a major step — for the person moving and for the company. To make the process less stressful and more manageable, it’s important to offer a support package that helps the employee settle in and focus on their new role, while also making sure everything is handled properly from a legal and compliance perspective.

This guide breaks down the most important support services HR teams need to successfully manage for smooth employee immigration and relocation.

What is an immigration and relocation support package?

Traditionally seen as a "relocation package”, modern support for international hires is fundamentally a suite of business immigration services designed to ensure legal compliance and a smooth transition. 

While it can also involve help with things like housing or local registration, the main focus is on handling the legal side of the move. These corporate immigration services reduce the risk and administrative burden on HR teams, ensuring every aspect of the global mobility immigration process is handled correctly from the start. Done properly, these immigration support services lay the groundwork for a successful start in a new country.

What do these support services include?

While support packages can be customized to each situation, a solid program focused on immigration and visa services usually includes:

• Immigration and visa services: End-to-end management of work permits and visa applications, managed by expert immigration consultants.
• Compliance and documentation: Expert immigration advisory services to ensure all paperwork, from applications to supporting evidence, meets strict local requirements. This includes immigration document preparation services.
• Ongoing visa and permit management: Proactive tracking and handling of visa renewals to ensure continuous legal work status for the employee.
• Local registrations: Guidance through important steps like registering for tax, social security, or other required local systems.
• Family and dependent support: Specialized family visa and immigration services to manage applications for spouses and children, ensuring the entire family can move together smoothly.
• Basic settling-in services: Assistance with essentials like opening a bank account, getting access to healthcare, and registering a home address.

The role of a specialized immigration services provider

Relocating employees across borders involves much more than booking flights or shipping belongings. Employers have to deal with immigration rules, tax obligations, and registration steps, all within legal systems they may not be familiar with. This is where partnering with a specialized immigration services provider becomes critical.

Unlike general coordinators, these corporate immigration experts focus specifically on the legal and compliance aspects of global mobility. By outsourcing immigration services to a dedicated immigration consulting firm, HR teams can avoid costly mistakes and reduce the amount of internal work required.
These providers often use tools like a global mobility platform to track timelines and manage documentation efficiently, giving teams a single source of truth for every case. All in all, global immigration solutions are a smart way to stay on top of every international move while keeping things compliant and under control.

What defines a reasonable support package?

What’s considered a “reasonable” support package can vary depending on factors like the destination, how long the assignment is, and the employee’s role and seniority.
At its core, a reasonable package offers enough support to help the employee settle in without unnecessary legal or administrative stress. This includes compliant permit handling and access to essential services like healthcare and banking registration. 

A strong support package should be:

• Clear: It outlines which services are covered.
• Aligned with employee needs: Family size, career level, and location are considered.
• Supportive beyond the move: It helps employees integrate successfully.
• Compliant: All permits, taxes, and social security matters are handled correctly.

What do employees expect from global mobility support?

Employee expectations are shifting towards flexible and personalized support.
In 2025 and beyond, professionals expect:

• Flexibility: The ability to choose the support services they need most.
• Ongoing support: Help with integration and legal renewals after the initial move.
• Family inclusion: Comprehensive assistance for spouses and children.
• Digital tools: Real-time tracking of their immigration case and tasks through a single platform.
• Well-being support: Resources to manage the emotional aspects of an international move.

Make international employee moves simpler

A well-rounded support strategy shows that a company takes both compliance and employee experience seriously. With the right immigration services partner handling the legal side of things, HR teams can focus on making international moves smoother and more supportive for everyone involved.

Want to learn more about strengthening your employee immigration process? Talk to our experts.