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Privacy Policy

Last updated: 12 November 2026

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This Privacy Policy explains what personal information AZ Sterling International collects, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights you have. It applies to our website, our enquiry and assessment forms, WhatsApp, phone and email communication, and the consultancy services we provide.

1. Who we are

AZ Sterling International (“we”, “us”, “our”) is a private consultancy providing travel, immigration, study, manpower and business setup support. For the purposes of this policy we are the organisation responsible for (the “controller” of) the personal information you share with us.

We are an independent firm. We are not a government department, embassy, consulate or immigration authority, and we are not affiliated with any of them.

AZ Sterling International
Registered address: [REGISTERED ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTRY]
Email: [EMAIL]
Phone / WhatsApp: [PHONE]
Office hours: [HOURS]

2. Information we collect

We collect only the information we need to answer your enquiry and deliver the service you ask for. Depending on the service, this may include:

  • Identity and contact details: full name, date of birth, nationality, phone / WhatsApp number, email and postal address.
  • Travel and immigration information: passport details and copies, travel history, previous visa applications and refusals, intended destination and travel dates.
  • Education and employment: qualifications, transcripts, CV, employment letters, experience certificates, language test results and skills assessments.
  • Financial information: bank statements, income evidence, sponsorship documents and proof of funds where an application requires them.
  • Family information: details of a spouse, children or other dependants who are included in an application.
  • Business information: company details, shareholder and director information and documents needed for licence or company formation.
  • Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited and similar data collected automatically when you use our website (see our Cookie Policy).
  • Communication records: messages, emails, call notes and form submissions you send us.

Some documents you give us may contain sensitive information, such as health information for medical examinations or police clearance records. We ask for this only when an authority requires it for your application, and we handle it with extra care.

3. How we collect information

  • Directly from you, when you fill in a form on our website, call, message or email us, visit our office or send us documents.
  • From people acting for you, such as a family member, sponsor or employer, where you have authorised them.
  • From third parties involved in your case, such as embassies, visa application centres, education providers, employers or testing bodies, where needed to progress your application.
  • Automatically, through cookies and similar technologies when you browse our website.

4. How we use your information

We use your personal information to:

  • respond to your enquiry and carry out a free or paid assessment of your options;
  • prepare, review and submit applications, forms and supporting documents on your instructions;
  • book appointments, biometrics, tests or travel arrangements you have asked for;
  • communicate with you about your case, including updates, reminders and requests for documents;
  • issue quotes, invoices and receipts and keep accounting records;
  • improve our website and services and keep them secure;
  • send you news or service updates, only where you have agreed to receive them; and
  • meet our legal, regulatory, tax and record-keeping obligations, and establish or defend legal claims.

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information.

6. Who we share information with

We share your information only when it is needed to deliver your service or when the law requires it. Recipients may include:

  • embassies, consulates, high commissions, immigration and government authorities and their appointed visa application centres;
  • universities, colleges and other education providers;
  • prospective employers and licensed recruitment partners (for work permit and manpower services);
  • translators, document attestation services, courier companies, insurers, airlines and travel providers;
  • trusted service providers who support our business, such as website hosting, email, cloud storage and IT support, under confidentiality obligations; and
  • professional advisers, auditors, law enforcement or courts where required by law.

Each recipient is given only the information they need for their part of the work.

7. International transfers

Because our work involves foreign authorities and institutions, your information will often be sent outside the country where you live, for example to an embassy or a university abroad. Our website and email providers may also store data on servers in other countries. When we transfer information we take reasonable steps to make sure it is protected and used only for the purpose it was shared.

8. How long we keep information

We keep your information only for as long as we need it:

  • Enquiries that do not become a case: up to 24 months from our last contact;
  • Client files: for the length of our engagement and then for up to [6] years, to meet accounting, tax and legal requirements and to support any future application you ask us to help with;
  • Website analytics data: according to the settings described in our Cookie Policy.

Original documents are returned to you when the service is complete. When information is no longer needed we delete it securely or anonymise it.

9. How we protect your information

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. These include restricted staff access on a need-to-know basis, password-protected systems, secure storage of physical documents and encrypted website connections (HTTPS).

No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. Please avoid sending passport or bank documents through public or shared devices, and contact us if you would like a more secure way to send files.

10. Your rights

Subject to the law that applies to you, you have the right to:

  • ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
  • ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;
  • ask us to delete your information where we no longer have a reason to keep it;
  • object to, or ask us to restrict, certain uses of your information;
  • withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting anything done before; and
  • opt out of marketing messages at any time.

To use any of these rights, contact us at [EMAIL]. We may need to confirm your identity first. We aim to respond within 30 days. Please note that deleting information connected to an active application may stop us from continuing with that application.

11. Marketing messages

We will only send you updates about new programmes, offers or events if you have agreed to receive them. Every marketing email includes a way to unsubscribe, and you can reply “STOP” to any WhatsApp or SMS message from us.

12. Children's information

Our website is not intended for children. Information about a child under 18 is collected only from a parent or legal guardian and only when the child is included in a family, study or visit application.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services or the law. The latest version will always be published on this page with the date it was last updated. Significant changes will be communicated to active clients directly.

15. Contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your information, or wish to make a complaint, please contact us:

AZ Sterling International
Registered address: [REGISTERED ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTRY]
Email: [EMAIL]
Phone / WhatsApp: [PHONE]
Office hours: [HOURS]

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to complain to the data protection authority in your country.