Intra-Company Transfers ICT Visa: Moving Employees Within Your Global Business

Published by Maliha Khan at March 22, 2025

Expanding your business internationally often requires transferring skilled employees between offices in different countries. The UK Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa, now part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) – Senior or Specialist Worker route, allows multinational companies to relocate key staff to their UK branches.

In this guide, we’ll cover:
What the ICT visa is and who qualifies
The application process and requirements
Key benefits and considerations for employers

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

The Intra-Company Transfer visa, now rebranded under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa, is designed for multinational companies looking to transfer employees to their UK branches for a temporary period.

This route is primarily for:

Senior managers or specialist employees required in the UK branch.
Those who have worked for the overseas branch for at least 12 months (unless earning over £73,900 annually).

Key Features:

No requirement for an English language test.
Visa duration of up to 5 years (or 9 years for higher earners).
Allows employees to work, but not to switch to permanent UK residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

Who is Eligible for an Intra-Company Transfer?

To qualify, applicants must:

Be employed by an overseas company linked to a UK business.
Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK-based sponsor.
Earn at least £45,800 per year (£73,900 for those staying under 12 months).

Note: Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, the ICT route does not lead directly to settlement in the UK.

Application Process for an ICT Visa

Sponsorship & Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – The UK employer must be a licensed sponsor and issue a valid CoS.
Online Application & Fees – Submit the visa application through the UK government portal.
Biometric Appointment – Provide fingerprints and photographs.
Decision & Processing Time – Standard processing takes 3 weeks, but priority services are available.

Visa Fees & Costs

Application Fee: £625 – £1,423 (depending on visa length).
Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year.

Benefits for UK Businesses

Flexible workforce mobility – Easily move key personnel between global branches.
No skill shortage concerns – Bring specialized talent without needing a UK labour market test.
Fast processing times – Enables quick workforce deployment.

For further advice please get in touch with our team today by calling 020 8538 0182 or +44 7857 809932, or you can email us on [email protected].

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