Intercompany Transfer Visa Spain: EU ICT and National Permits 

The Intra-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 guide will explain the Intra-Company Transfer Visa Spain permit, who qualifies for it, the eligibility criteria, the application process, documentation requirements, and how Global Citizen Solutions (GCS) can help guide your application process.  

Intra Company Transfer Visa – Key Takeaways

The Spain Intra-Company Transfer Visa allows non EU/EEA nationals working for companies with affiliates or branches in Spain to relocate and work from the country temporarily.  

Companies must document the transfer, salary, and Social Security arrangements, while workers must provide evidence of qualifications or equivalent experience and at least three months of prior employment or a professional relationship. 

Eligible family members can apply to accompany the worker, with documents proving their relationship and any required dependence. 

The company first applies for residence authorization, followed by a consular visa where required. 

EU ICT transfers are limited to three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees. 

The Intra-Company Transfer route is a residence and work permit that allows non- EU/EEA employees of multinational companies to transfer temporarily to a Spanish branch, client company or subsidiary.  

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 Intra-Company Transfer permits in Spain, and the residence authorization you are granted depends on the type of transfer permit you get.  

• EU Intra-Company Transfer Authorization: This permit is for managers, specialists, and paid graduate trainees moving from outside the EU within the company/group. It allows short or long-term mobility to work in other qualifying EU countries without needing a separate local permit. Managers and specialists get up to three years of residency, while trainees get one year.  There is a maximum duration for intra-company transfers, which may limit the total time the permit can be held. 
• National Intra-Company Transfer Authorization: This permit applies in other qualifying cases, such as when employees are transferred to carry out a contract between a Spanish company and a foreign company. It is granted when the transfer is based on a professional relationship that does not fit the EU ICT criteria. 

The Spain Intra-Company Transfer Permit requires evidence that both the worker and the company qualify. The company must show genuine business activity, and the worker must meet all the requirements. The transfer process must also be thoroughly documented. Some general requirements are:  

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old 
• You must be from non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss countries 
• You must have no relevant criminal record in Spain and countries of residence over the last two years, plus a declaration covering the previous five years 
• Employer evidence of social-security arrangements 
• You must be in good health and have public or private health insurance 
• 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 

Assignment, qualifications, and prior employment 

Your application must establish the following:  

• Qualifying assignment: Documentation must detail the transfer, including purpose, duration, worker’s duties, and employment conditions.  
• Appropriate experience: The worker must hold higher qualifications or demonstrate competence supported by at least three years of professional experience.  
• Prior relationship: You must show at least three months of continuous employment or a professional relationship with one or more group companies. This also applies to the general transfer route.  

EU ICT applicants must be managers, specialists, or paid graduates moving from a company outside the EU to work under the same entity in Spain. If you fall under this category, you must also present proof that you can return to the company outside the EU when your assignment ends.  

Salary and Social Security 

Although Spain does not publish an annual salary threshold under the ICT criteria, it must be at the same or similar level as that of someone doing the same duties under Spain’s labor laws.  

Your application should include:  

• The salary in the previous country (in your local currency and euros) 
• The expected salary (during the assignment in Spain) 
• The role, agreement, and any other benefits in kind 

Any additional bonuses will be excluded from the assessment. Also, if you receive any salary in kind, it must not be more than 30% of the actual total salary. 

Social security must be documented separately from your salary by your employer, either by registering under Spain’s system or maintaining the previous coverage. Your exact arrangement will depend on your work arrangement.  

Yes. The Intra-Company Transfer Visa allows you to bring your eligible family members to Spain.  

• Spouse or unmarried partner: Your legally married spouse or long-term partner. They can receive their own residence and work permit, allowing them to live and work in Spain.  
• Children: Minor and adult children who are financially dependent. 
• Other dependent relatives: Parents or your partner’s parents, under your care. You may need to prove financial or personal dependence.    

The documents needed for this application fall into three categories: Worker, company, and family documents.  

Worker documents 

• Valid passport 
• Evidence of qualifications or professional experience 
• Prior employment or professional relationship proven by at least three months of continuous employment with one or more companies in the group before application 
• Clean criminal record proven by certificates from countries of residence during the previous two years, and a declaration confirming no criminal record during the previous five years. This also covers relevant criminal records in Spain. 
• Evidence of sufficient financial means for applicant and dependents, if applicable 
• Evidence of application fee payment and any other documents needed to establish lawful status 

Company documents 

• Authority to represent the company: Any evidence to show that the person acting on behalf of the company is authorized to do so 
• Business activity and company relationship: Qualifying contract, professional relationship, or any evidence to prove genuine business activity and company relationship 
• Transfer letter or contract: This must detail the worker’s role, assignment purpose, receiving entity, transfer period, salary, and working conditions in Spain 
• EU ICT return arrangements: Evidence that the worker can return to the same entity outside Spain once the contract ends 
• Social Security arrangements: Evidence of a continuing home-country coverage or new Spanish registration 

Family documents 

• Valid passport 
• Marriage, birth certificate, or other documents qualifying the relationship with the main applicant 
• Evidence of financial dependence for adult children, together with evidence that they are unmarried 
• Evidence of dependence for dependent ascendants 
• Criminal record, health coverage, and financial resource evidence 

Note: All documents must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.  

Your company will first request a residence authorization for you. The next steps will depend on whether you are already in Spain legally or are abroad.  

UGE authorization 

The host company in Spain or an accredited representative will submit a complete application, including all required evidence via the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE) online.  UGE-CE will process the application, and the immigration authority will decide whether to grant the authorization.  

Consular visa where required 

For those applying from abroad, the visa application will be done through the relevant Spanish Consulate. This is only after the residence authorization is approved. If you are already a legal resident in Spain, your company will confirm whether you need an in-country residence application under the relevant category.  

The worker completes TIE and work formalities 

If your residence authorization is valid for more than six months, you must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) through the police to document it. You and your employer must also complete all employment and Social Security formalities before you start working.  

Article 76 of Law 14/2013 sets a maximum decision period of 20 working days for the residence authorization from electronic submission to the competent authority.  

If a consular visa is required, Article 75 specifies 10 working days to decide and notify the visa application, except where the consultation procedure under Article 22 of the Visa Code applies. 

There are different fees for each transfer type, including translation, legalization, and professional-service costs.  Check the official fee resource for current fees and payment instructions.  

Your ICT permit’s validity depends on whether you are under the EU ICT or the National ICT authorization.  

• EU ICT: Managers and specialists receive a maximum of three years, while paid graduates receive one year. Any renewals fall under the maximum period.  
• National transfer: This is valid for three years or the duration of the transfer.  Under Article 76.3, the worker can request two-year renewals if the conditions remain met. 

You can apply for the national category after exhausting your residency under the EU ICT category, provided you meet all the relevant requirements. However, this requires a separate authorization, and the change is not automatic.  

Working in other EU countries 

Your Spanish EU ICT authorization can support a qualifying assignment in another EU country. However, you and your employer must follow that country’s notification or authorization requirements before you start working. You should note that a National Intra-Company Transfer authorization does not automatically provide EU ICT mobility rights.