Work & ResidenceIndependent permit guidance

Source and Evidence Standards

Trust standard

Source and evidence standards

These standards govern which sources can support work-permit and residence-route claims and how conflicts are handled.

Last updated: 11 July 2026
Default evidenceCurrent official source
Conflict ruleSeparate by stage and jurisdiction
Private summariesContext only

Source hierarchy

The preferred source is the current official page responsible for the exact country, Region, route, process stage, document or authority instruction. A submission portal is used for submission instructions. A regional authority is used for regional work-side rules. A federal source is used for federal residence-side handling. A municipality or diplomatic post is used for its local stage.

Primary official ownerThe authority responsible for the exact instruction or stage.
Official supporting sourceA second public body that confirms a connected part of the process.
Primary law or official publicationUsed when the legal text is necessary to resolve wording or scope.
Secondary explanationUsed for context only and never to override the responsible official source.

How sources are selected

  • The source must match the exact jurisdiction and administrative stage.
  • The page must be current enough for the claim being made.
  • Regional wording is not borrowed for another Region without an explicit comparison.
  • A portal action is not treated as proof of approval or permission to work.
  • Private summaries may explain terminology but do not replace the responsible official source.

Source conflicts

When official pages appear to disagree, the conflict is separated by stage, date, jurisdiction and authority responsibility. The page does not silently merge incompatible wording. Where the conflict cannot be resolved confidently, the uncertainty is stated and the reader is routed to the current responsible authority.

Citation and link placement

Official links are placed close to the claim they support. Source lists do not replace inline attribution. Link wording describes the destination and stage instead of using vague text such as click here.

Verification record

Maintenance-sensitive pages should record the responsible authority, Region covered, date checked, update frequency, known conflict, scope warning and claims that must not be made.