ICT card (intra-corporate transfer)

Course description

The ICT card enables managers, specialists or trainees to work in a German branch for a certain period of time

Visa procedure
If you belong to a third country ( not the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland), you generally need a visa to enter the country for the purpose of employment, which must be applied for at the German diplomatic mission abroad.

After entering the country
You must first register your place of residence at the Citizens Office.

Application for an ICT card
You must apply for an ICT card before your visa/residence permit expires.
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.

Period of validity
The ICT card is valid for the duration of the transfer, but for a maximum of three years (trainees: one year) and may be subject to approval by the Federal Employment Agency.
However, the total stay in Germany may not exceed one year for trainees.

Prerequisites

ICT card:

• You must have been employed by the company of origin for at least six months prior to the start of the transfer.
• The branch in Germany must be part of the same company.
• The duration of the transfer within the company must be at least 90 days.
• You will be working as a manager, specialist or trainee in the receiving branch.
• Proof of professional qualifications, a valid employment contract and, if applicable, a letter of secondment.
• Approval from the Federal Employment Agency or exemption from the approval requirement. Approval is obtained from the German diplomatic mission abroad or the Service Centre for Immigration and Naturalisation.

Short-term mobility:

• Possession of an ICT residence permit in another EU member state
• Establishment in Germany is part of the same company to which you belong.
• The salary received during the transfer is comparable to the German salary.
• The transfer lasts a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. Multiple entries and short-term stays are possible up to a total duration of 90 days.
• notification of mobility to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees

Mobile ICT card:

• Proof of a valid residence permit from another EU member state for the duration of the application process, a valid employment contract and, if applicable, proof of a secondment letter
• Employment in the host branch as a manager, specialist or trainee
• Transfer lasts longer than 90 days, but shorter than the duration of stay in the other EU member state
• Approval from the Federal Employment Agency or exemption for the corresponding activity. Approval is obtained from the Service Centre for Immigration and Naturalisation.
• Application from another EU country at least 20 days before travelling to Germany or
• Application in Germany after entry if the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has already received notification of short-term mobility before entry. The application must be submitted 20 days before the short-term mobility permit expires. A simultaneous application for short-term and long-term mobility will result in the long-term mobility being rejected.

Required documents

• Fully completed application form
• Valid passport or passport replacement
• current biometric passport photo submitted digitally by a certified photo studio or drugstore. Alternatively, you can use one of the photo terminals at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Office for a fee.
• Valid visa for entry "Intra-company transfer - ICT" (only for initial application)
• Employment contract
• fully completed assurance of employment(only for initial application, please upload together with the employment contract)

Note: Further documents may be required in individual cases, especially for short-term or long-term mobility.

Legal basis

§ Sections 19, 19a, 19b AufenthG

Directive 2014/66/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer.