ICT (Intra-Company Transfer)

An intra-company transfer visa allows multinational corporations to temporarily assign employees from one country office to another, facilitating global workforce mobility for managers, specialists, and executives. ICT visas exist globally under different frameworks and names, each with distinct requirements and pathways. In the United States, the L-1 visa category serves this function, split into L-1A for managers and executives and L-1B for specialists with specialised knowledge. L-1 visas require the employee to have worked for the overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary, or branch for at least one year in the preceding three years. The European Union operates the ICT Directive (Council Directive 2014/66/EU), which streamlines intra-company transfers within the EU for Intra-Corporate Transferee cards. EU ICT transfers similarly require a minimum prior employment period, typically one year within the same corporate group. The United Kingdom transitioned from its former ICT visa category to the Senior or Specialist Worker visa route (introduced November 2024), designed for senior managers and skilled personnel transferred by multinational employers. UK Specialist Worker visa holders must meet a minimum salary threshold and are subject to a points-based assessment; the route does not lead to permanent residency or settlement, remaining strictly temporary. Across all jurisdictions, intra-company transfer visas typically carry a fundamental limitation: they do not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency, citizenship, or indefinite stay. Dependants of ICT visa holders may be eligible to accompany the primary visa holder, though dependent visa requirements vary by jurisdiction—the US allows L-2 derivative status for spouses and children; the EU and UK impose similar family reunion provisions. Employment must be maintained with the sponsoring company throughout the visa period. Duration varies: US L-1 visas grant initial admission for three years (managers) or two years (specialists) with renewal possible; EU and UK routes typically allow multi-year stays with renewal contingent on continued employment and compliance with visa conditions. ICT visas remain fundamentally employment-dependent, non-settlement visas designed for temporary business mobility rather than permanent relocation.