The Inter Company Transfer (ICT) to Spain is a special residence and work permit designed for foreign employees who are temporarily relocating to Spain within the same company or corporate group. It allows companies to transfer executives, managers, specialists, or trainees from offices abroad to a branch or affiliate based in Spain. This permit supports both EU and non-EU transfers, depending on the employee’s role and the organization’s structure.

The ICT permit offers an efficient way for international companies to move key personnel across borders without needing a traditional work visa. It applies to employees with existing contracts and experience within the company and helps ensure continuity in global business operations.

This guide will explain the Inter Company Transfer Spain permit, who qualifies for it, the eligibility criteria, the application process, what documents are required, and other key information you need to know. This is what we will cover:

What is the Inter company Transfer Visa Spain?

The Inter-Company Transfer Spain is a residence and work permit that allows foreign nationals to relocate to Spain temporarily. It applies when someone is transferred from a foreign company to a company or group of companies based in Spain. This transfer can occur under an employment contract, a professional assignment, or a vocational training arrangement.

There are two types of permits, depending on the type of transfer:

ICT-EU Intra-Company Transfer Authorization: This permit is for executives, specialists, and trainees who are being transferred within the same company or group of companies. It falls under the EU’s framework for intra-company transfers and is specifically for:

  • Executive-level staff
  • <Employees with specialized knowledge
  • Trainees participating in structured training programs

National Intra-Company Transfer Authorization: This permit applies in other situations, such as when employees are transferred to carry out a contract between a Spanish company and a foreign company. When the transfer is based on a professional relationship that does not fit the EU ICT criteria.

What is the difference between the two permits?

The EU ICT (Intra-Corporate Transferee) residence permit allows holders to live and work in other EU Member States, provided they notify or apply to the relevant authorities as required by each country under Directive 2014/66/EU. Employees with a valid EU ICT permit issued by another EU country can be transferred to Spain if the Spanish authorities are notified correctly in advance.

The residence permit is initially valid for up to three years and can be renewed for an additional two years, as long as the eligibility requirements are still met. However, there is a maximum duration for intra-company transfers, which may limit the total time the permit can be held.

Who is eligible for the Intra Company Transfer Visa Spain?

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old
  • You must be from non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss countries
  • A clean criminal record check is required
  • You must be in good health
  • Be part of the company’s staff who are transferred from outside the European Union to a company within the same group to work as an executive, specialist, or trainee employee.

Included Family members in the ICT visa

One of the key advantages of the Inter Company Transfer Visa is that it allows you to bring your close family members with you when relocating to Spain.

  • Spouse or Unmarried Partner: Your partner can join you whether you are married or in a stable, long-term relationship. They can receive their own residence and work permit, allowing them to live and work in Spain during their assignment.
  • Children: You can also bring your children, including adult children who are financially dependent on you.
  • Other Dependent Relatives: If you care for other family members, such as your parents or your partner’s parents, and can prove they rely on you financially or personally, they may also be eligible to move with you under this visa.

Benefits of the Spain ICT Visa

  • People working with their laptops open and headphones on. Legal Right to Live and Work: Those with an ICT residence permit are legally permitted to work in Spain.
  • Mobility and Flexibility: This visa provides prolonged stays, allowing applicants to travel to other nations without frequently renewing their visas.
  • Schengen Access: Spend 90 days of 180 days traveling freely throughout the Schengen Area.
  • EES and ETIAS exemption status: The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will take effect on November 10, but does not apply to ICT visa holders exempt from this requirement.
  • Validity period: The visa for intra-company transfer is valid for the length of the transfer, typically no more than two years, though managers and specialists may have their visas extended for up to three years, and trainee personnel for up to one year.
  • Family members: The employee’s spouse, unmarried partner, children, and adult dependent children may also be granted visas to travel to Spain with them.
  • Path to EU citizenship after ten years of residency: EU citizenship is possible after ten years of legal residency in Spain.

Required documents for the Spain Inter-Company Transfer Visa

Verify that documents are apostilled or legalized and that they are translated into Spanish. However, for the most recent details on the application procedure and necessary paperwork, contact the Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country.

  • Application Form: A completed and signed residence permit application form.
  • Valid Passport: A copy of your valid passport. Include copies of any previous visas as well.
  • Criminal Record Certificate: An official certificate proving you have no criminal record in your home country and any country where you’ve lived for more than six months in the past five years.
  • Company Certification: Proof that the company has real and ongoing business activity.
  • Employment Contract or Posting Letter: A signed employment contract between you and the company in Spain. Alternatively, a posting letter from your current employer with the following details:
  • Duration of the transfer and the receiving entity’s location.
  • Confirmation that you will be working as an executive, specialist, or trainee</b.
  • Description of the work you will perform.Salary and other employment conditions during your stay in Spain.
  • Proof that you will return to a company entity outside the EU once the assignment ends.
  • Education or Work Experience: A higher education degree or at least 3 years of professional experience relevant to your position.
  • Prior Employment with the Company: Proof of at least 3 months of continuous employment or professional relationship with one or more companies in the same corporate group.
  • Intra-Company Transfer Documentation: Company documents clearly proving the existence of the intra-corporate transfer.
  • Social Security Documentation: Proof of your affiliation with Social Security, such as a Certificate of Coverage or equivalent documentation.
  • Proof of Financial Stability: Documents showing you have sufficient financial resources to live in Spain.
  • Health Insurance: Valid private health insurance from a company authorized to operate in Spain.

How to apply for the Spain ICT Visa?

To apply for a Spain ICT visa, the host company in Spain must first submit an online application to Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE).

After the UGE-CE approves the residence permit, the employee can apply for a Spain ICT (Intra-Company Transfer) visa at the Spanish consulate in their home country.

1. Application of the host company (UGE-CE):

Online Application: The UGE-CE (Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit) requires the company or its agent to submit the ICT application online. The host company must provide documentation proving the intra-corporate transfer, including the employee’s job in Spain, the company’s business activity, and the employee’s qualifications.  It takes 20 business days for the UGE-CE to decide whether to accept an application.

2. Application for employee visa:

Following UGE-CE Approval: When the UGE-CE confirms the residence permit, the employee can apply for a visa at the Spanish consulate or embassy in their home country. Be aware of the processing times for both the visa and UGE-CE applications to make appropriate plans.

Spain ICT Visa Processing Time

A cityscape view of Valencia, Spain, showing historic buildings, church towers, and modern structures under a partly cloudy sky.Visa applications are processed within ten working days. Once the visa is approved, the worker can relocate to Spain and begin working immediately.

Getting a Spanish Residence Permit
After arriving in Spain, the worker must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) at the local immigration office within 30 days.

The residence permit is generally granted for up to three years, depending on the transfer duration. It can be renewed for two additional years, provided all requirements are still met. However, there are limits based on the employee’s role:

  • Managers and specialists: maximum of 3 years
  • Trainees: maximum of 1 year

Spain ICT Visa Fees

The following government expenses may be incurred when submitting an application for an EU ICT authorization in Spain:

  • An application fee for a residency permit: The application charge is €73.26.
  • Consular charge: The consulate and the applicant’s nationality determine the fee. Although the price is often roughly €90, it may occasionally be waived.
  • Residence card application fee: The fee for a temporary residence permit application is €15.76, and for a long-term residence permit, it is €21.87. Please be aware that government costs can alter suddenly.

Salary Requirements for Inter-Company Transfer to Spain

The salary offered to the employee must not be lower than what a similar worker in Spain earns for doing the same or a similar job, according to Spanish labor laws or the relevant collective agreement.

  • The salary in the home country must be clearly stated, shown both in the local currency and in euros.
  • Please also provide the salary to be received in Spain. This should include the job title, the applicable collective agreement, and any other relevant salary information.

While salary is an important factor, it will be evaluated along with the rest of the application. All other eligibility requirements must also be met.

  • Variable salary components (such as bonuses) will not be counted when assessing whether the salary meets the required level.
  • In-kind benefits (such as housing or car allowances) cannot make up more than 30% of the total salary, as stated in Article 26 of the Workers’ Statute (Royal Legislative Decree 2/2015, October 23).

Inter Company Transfer Visa Spain: Renewal & Extensions

To renew or extend an Intra-Company Transfer Visa in Spain, you must initiate the renewal process within 60 days before the permit’s expiration or within 90 days after, ensuring the conditions for the transfer remain valid and with limitations based on worker category (managers/specialists: max 3 years, trainees: max 1 year).

Getting Permanent Residency and Spanish Citizenship

If you are in Spain under an Inter-company Transfer Visa, you can qualify for permanent residency and Spanish citizenship by meeting specific legal requirements. Here’s how:

1. Obtaining Permanent Residency in Spain

After legally residing in Spain for five consecutive years, you can apply for a long-term residence permit, granting you the right to live and work in Spain indefinitely. To qualify, you must:

  • Hold a valid residence permit throughout the five years.
  • Prove continuous legal residence (short absences are allowed but should not exceed six months in a year or 10 months over five years).
  • Show financial stability and health insurance coverage.
  • Provide a criminal record check certificate proving good conduct.

2. Applying for Spanish Citizenship

Documents on a table with a bowl of money pins and a pen. To obtain Spanish citizenship, you must reside legally in Spain for ten consecutive years (with some exceptions allowing faster applications, such as for nationals from Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Sephardic Jews, who can apply after two years). Key requirements include:

  • Demonstrating continuous legal residence in Spain.
  • Passing integration tests, including the DELE A2 Spanish language test (if not from a Spanish-speaking country) and the CCSE citizenship test on Spanish history and culture.
  • Showing proof of financial stability and criminal record clearance in both Spain and your country of origin.
  • Renouncing your previous nationality (except for certain exemptions like Latin American nationals).

Intra Company Transfer Visa Spain vs. Other Work Visas

Here is the difference between the Spain intra-company transfer and other EU work visas.

Visa Type 

Target Group 

Requirements 

Validity 

Professionals with specialized skills or high-level qualifications or 3 years professional experience 

Job offer aligned with qualifications and meeting specific salary thresholds 

Typically granted for 3 years, with the possibility of renewal 

EU Blue Card 

Highly skilled non-EU nationals with a higher education qualification or at least 5 years of professional experience 

Binding job offer or employment contract with a salary at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Spain 

Initially valid for 1 to 4 years, depending on the contract, with options for renewal 

Work and Residence Permit (Cuenta Ajena) 

Non-EU nationals seeking employment in Spain 

Job offer from a Spanish employer, labor market testing to ensure no suitable EU candidates are available, and compliance with national employment regulations 

Usually valid for 1 year, with potential for renewal 

*From 20 May 2025, renewal will be valid for 4 years. 

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Frequently Asked Questions about Intercompany Transfer Visa In Spain

What is the Spain Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa?

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa allows employees of small or multinational companies to relocate to a Spanish company branch while maintaining an employment contract with their original employer.

Who is eligible for the ICT Visa?

You may qualify for the Spain ICT Visa if you work for a foreign company with a branch or subsidiary in Spain, have at least three months of continuous employment or a professional relationship with the company, and hold a higher education qualification or three years of professional experience. This visa is available for managers, specialists, or trainee employees transferring within the same business group.

How long is the ICT Visa valid?

  • Up to three years for managers and specialists
  • Up to one year for trainee employees
  • The visa is renewable as long as eligibility criteria are met

Can family members accompany ICT Visa holders?

Yes, family members (spouse, children, and financially dependent relatives) and the main applicant can apply for residence permits.

How long does the ICT Visa application process take?

  • The visa application is typically processed within 20 working days
  • A decision is made by the Strategic Groups Unit or a duly accredited representative

Can I work in other EU countries with the Spain ICT Visa?

Yes! The Spain ICT Visa allows for short-term mobility within EU member states, making it a great option for multinational employees working across European offices.

Can I switch from an ICT Visa to a Work Visa in Spain?

Yes, but you must meet the work visa requirements, including having an independent job contract with a Spanish employer and fulfilling national labor market rules.

What is the difference between the Spain ICT Visa and a work visa?

The Spain ICT Visa is specifically for employees transferring within the same company or corporate group, typically for managers, specialists, or trainees. It allows easier mobility within the EU and doesn’t require a new employment contract in Spain. In contrast, a regular work visa is for individuals hired directly by a Spanish employer and usually involves more local labor market checks.

How long is the Spain ICT Visa valid for?

The Spain Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa is valid for up to three years for managers and specialists, and up to one year for trainees.The actual duration depends on the length of the transfer assignment. Extensions may be possible if the original conditions of the transfer remain valid.