Record sent back about unknown foreign resident (5)
I believe the answer is:
expat
'foreign resident' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'record sent back about unknown' is the wordplay.
'record' becomes 'tape' (taping record is a kind of recording).
'sent back' is a reversal indicator.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'unknown' becomes 'x' (algebra).
'tape' in reverse letter order is 'epat'.
'epat' placed around 'x' is 'EXPAT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for expat that I've seen before include "who now uses overseas address?" , "one working abroad" , "Exile, in short" , "One living in foreign country" , "one settled abroad" .)