Germany ICT Card
Germany
Residency
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See if you're a match →Germany's ICT Card is for intra-corporate transferees sent from a company outside the EU to a German entity in the same undertaking or group. It generally requires a manager, specialist, or paid trainee role, at least six months of prior group employment, a transfer longer than 90 days, and a work contract or assignment letter.
- Type
- Company-transfer residence
- Transfer fit
- Managers, specialists, and paid trainees sent to Germany
- Core requirements
- Group transfer, 6 months prior employment, contract, qualifications
- What to know
- Maximum 3 years for managers/specialists or 1 year for trainees
Summary
Germany's ICT Card is for intra-corporate transfers from a company outside the EU to a German entity in the same undertaking or company group. It is the German version of an EU intra-corporate transfer route.
The core fit is:
- You are temporarily seconded from an undertaking outside the EU to a German entity in the same undertaking or group
- You will work as a manager, specialist, or paid trainee employee
- You worked for the undertaking or group for at least six months immediately before the transfer
- The transfer to Germany will exceed 90 days
- You have a work contract and, if needed, an assignment letter covering the transfer details and return to the group outside the EU
- You can show occupational qualifications
Eligibility
- Non-German applicant who needs a German residence title
- Transfer from outside the EU to a German entity in the same undertaking or group
- Manager, specialist, or paid trainee employee role
- Six months of immediately prior employment with the group
- Transfer longer than 90 days
- Contract or assignment letter and qualification evidence
What This Pathway Allows
If approved, the ICT Card allows the intra-corporate transfer to Germany. Section 19 states that the card is granted for the duration of the transfer, up to three years for managers and specialists or up to one year for trainee employees.
What This Pathway Is Not
This is not a general German job-offer visa with a new employer. It depends on the same undertaking or company group.
If you are being hired by an unrelated German employer, compare Germany Work Visa for Qualified Professionals or Germany EU Blue Card.
Next Steps
- Confirm the corporate relationship between the outside-EU employer and the German host entity.
- Confirm whether the German role is manager, specialist, or paid trainee.
- Confirm six months of immediately prior group employment.
- Prepare the work contract, assignment letter, proof of return to the outside-EU group, and qualification evidence.