Spain Intra-Company Transfer Visa (ICT)
The Spain Intra-Company Transfer Visa is for international groups moving managers, specialists or trainees to their Spanish company, branch or client project. Processed by the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit under Law 14/2013 and the EU ICT Directive, it is the fastest and most predictable way to relocate existing staff from the Gulf, Iran or Turkey — with their families.
Who it is for
- Groups with a company or branch in Spain moving existing employees there.
- Companies from the region executing a contract or project in Spain with their own staff.
- Executives relocating to set up or run the Spanish subsidiary.
What’s included
- Incorporation of the Spanish subsidiary (SL), with notary and registry fees — see Spanish Subsidiary of a Foreign Company.
- Residency applications for the transferred executive and every family member.
Not included
- Sworn translations, apostilles and legalisations of documents.
- Government fees and administrative charges (tasas).
- The company’s share capital, which remains the company’s own money.
- The Beckham regime application for the transferee — see Beckham Regime Applications.
- Ongoing accounting and tax filings for the subsidiary — see Accounting & Tax — Companies.
- A contentious-administrative appeal before the courts (recurso contencioso-administrativo), which is quoted separately.
How we work
- 01 · Initial assessment. Structure review: which permit applies and whether the Spanish entity is ready to host the employee.
- 02 · Strategy and document map. Corporate evidence and translations from the home jurisdiction, the assignment letter and the personal documents for each family member.
- 03 · Preparation and filing. Incorporation of the Spanish subsidiary where it does not yet exist, then online filing with the UGE-CE and follow-up to decision.
- 04 · Approval, TIE and settling in. Visas at the consulate where needed, TIE cards and Social Security registration for the transferee and the family.
- 05 · Obligations and renewals. Extensions of the assignment and, for groups with repeat moves, collective processing with the UGE-CE.
Two types of permit
- ICT-EU: for managers, specialists and trainees employed by a group established outside the EU, moving to a group entity in Spain. It includes mobility rights within the EU.
- National ICT: for cases outside the EU framework — including transfers to execute a service contract with a Spanish client, or professionals with a qualifying relationship with the group.
What must be evidenced
- The corporate link between the sending and receiving entities, with registry extracts and group structure.
- Prior, continuous employment of at least three months with the group.
- A university degree or equivalent professional experience for the role.
- An assignment letter stating role, duration, salary and conditions, and the employee’s return to the group at the end.
- Clean criminal record and health insurance or social security cover.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the Spain intra-company transfer visa?
Managers, specialists, or trainees with a university degree who have worked for the group for at least 3 months before the transfer.
How long does the decision take?
20 working days at the UGE-CE, with positive administrative silence.
How long can the assignment last?
The length of the assignment — up to 3 years (1 year for trainees).
Can the employee’s family come too?
Yes. The spouse, children and dependants apply together, and the spouse can work.
Is setting up the Spanish subsidiary included?
Yes. The service includes incorporating the Spanish subsidiary (SL), with notary and registry fees, and the residency applications for the executive and the whole family. Share capital, government fees and sworn translations are not included.