EU INTRA-CORPORATE
TRANSFER VISA

To put it simply, this is a work permit option for non-EU nationals who work for a company established outside the EU and are being transferred to an EU branch within the same company. As an example, an individual working in company headquarters in Morocco needs to work on a project in their French branch for 2 years, in such cases they would be eligible for an ICT permit providing they meet all other conditions.

There are certain requirements which must be met when assessing eligibility under this route. The below are general considerations, please note that eligibility requirements are subjective to every member state:

• The individual needs to fall within one of the 3 capacities, either as managers, specialists or trainee employees.
• Specific salary thresholds apply, the income requirements vary depending on the member state. Although it is often the case that ICT permit holders should earn a salary similar to what a local hire in the same role/function is earning.
• Requirement of minimum prior employment for ICT permit, in most cases this will be 6 months for trainees and 9-12 months for managers and specialists.
• The employee resides outside the EU or resides in EU member state on an ICT.
• The employee is transferred within same company to an establishment in the receiving country.
• The employee has the right qualifications and experience for the job they will be doing.

The ICT Card is always issued in the EU Member State in which the longest total residence for intra-corporate transfer is planned. For this reason, the application process and required fees may vary slightly depending on the country you are applying with.

For detailed information on the application process and documents required for your chosen EU secondment destination, please speak to the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters.

Processing times can sometimes depend on whether the company is a recognised sponsor or not. This means that some countries have a ‘fast-track’ option available.

Most applications are processed within 3 – 15 weeks of the date of submission, but this varies from one member state to the other. For this reason, applications must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

ICT permits can be issued with a validity of between 90 days and 3 years, depending on the circumstances such as the length of the assignment. The validity of the permit issued may also depend on the role the individual will be undertaking.

In many EU countries, an ICT permit cannot be extended without a cooling off period. As a general rule, once an individual has reached the maximum duration of stay on their ICT permit, they must leave the country for at least 3 months before being eligible to apply for a new permit, although some member states require longer cooling off periods of up to 6 months.

Exceptions to this general rule do apply. Please speak to Smith Stone Walters for more information.