The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa was a UK immigration route designed for multinational companies to transfer employees from overseas branches to their UK offices. However, as of April 2022, the ICT visa has been replaced by the Senior or Specialist Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) scheme.

The Intra Company Transfer visa allows overseas employees to work in their employer’s UK branch. To qualify, applicants must:

• Hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer.
• Have prior work experience with the same employer outside the UK.
• Be employed in a role that is classified as an eligible occupation.
• Meet the minimum salary requirement  for the position.

The length of the visa is determined by the shorter of the following durations:

• The time specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days.
• A maximum of five years per application.

Extensions are possible, but the total stay is capped at:

• Five years in any six-year period for salaries under £73,900 annually.
• Nine years in any ten-year period for salaries of £73,900 or more annually.

If you have been in the UK since 6 April 2011 on any of the following visas, You can remain in the UK for as long as your employer continues to sponsor you, as there is no maximum stay:

• Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa
• Intra-company Transfer visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

Applicants must apply online, following specific procedures based on whether they are applying from inside or outside the UK. Each applicant, must:

• Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): The UK-based employer must issue a valid CoS that details the job title, salary, and other essential employment information.
• Complete the online application form: This must be submitted through the UK Home Office website, ensuring all required details are provided.
• Provide supporting documents: These include proof of employment, identification, and evidence of financial stability.
• Pay the visa application fee: The applicable fee depends on the length of stay and the location of the application:
  • Applications from outside the UK:
    • Up to 3 years: £719 per person
    • More than 3 years: £1,420 per person
  • Applications from inside the UK (for extensions, switching, or updates): 
    • Up to 3 years: £827 per person
    • More than 3 years: £1,636 per person
• Pay the healthcare surcharge: This is £1,035 per year for each applicant.
• Submit biometric information: Applicants must attend a visa application center to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
• Meet the financial maintenance requirement: Applicants must have at least £1,270 in their bank account for at least 28 days before making the application, unless exempt.
• Await the visa decision: Processing times vary depending on whether the application is made from inside or outside the UK. Applications submitted from outside the UK are usually processed within three weeks. For applications made from within the UK, including extensions or visa category switches, the processing time can take up to eight weeks.

Documents Required for an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa in the UK, when applying for an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa, you must provide the following documents:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Reference Number Issued by your employer and required for your application.
• Valid Passport or Travel Document
• Details of your Job Title, Salary Information, and Occupation Code  
• Employer’s Sponsor Licence Information
  • Name of the employer.
  • Sponsor licence number (as stated on the CoS).
• Proof of Sufficient Personal Savings, if your employer is not providing financial support, you must demonstrate a minimum of £1,270 in personal savings.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Test Results, if you are applying from a country where TB testing is mandatory.
• Proof of Relationship (If Applying with Dependents)
  • Marriage certificate or equivalent evidences of your partner.
  • Birth certificates of children.
  • Additional documents proving dependency, if required.

Additional Documents (Depending on Circumstances):

• Evidence of Employment outside the UK
• If earning less than £73,900 per year, you may be required to demonstrate at least 12 months of continuous employment with your current employer outside the UK. Acceptable evidence includes: 
  • Salary slips (if online, they must be supported by a letter from your sponsor signed by a senior staff member).
  • Bank or building society statements.
  • Building society passbook.
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate 

Required if your employer indicates that your job involves research in a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher.

The UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa processing time depends on where you apply. If you are applying from outside the UK, you can typically expect a decision within three weeks. For applications made within the UK, including extensions or switching visas, the process may take up to eight weeks. If you need a faster decision, priority service is available for an additional £500, allowing you to expedite your application.

The cost of a UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa depends on the length of stay and where you apply.

• For applications made outside the UK:
  • Up to 3 years: £719 per person
  • More than 3 years: £1,420 per person
• For applications made inside the UK (extensions, switching, or updates):
  • Up to 3 years: £827 per person
  • More than 3 years: £1,636 per person

In addition, applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is £1,035 per year per applicant.

A UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa allows you to:

• Work for your sponsoring employer in the role specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Travel freely in and out of the UK while your visa remains valid.
• Pursue limited study, provided it does not interfere with your sponsored job.
• Bring eligible dependents, including your spouse, partner, and children, to join you in the UK.
• Participate in voluntary work during your stay.

With a UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa, you are not allowed to:

• Access public funds or claim benefits, including housing support or the State Pension.
• Take a second job, unless you previously held an Intra-Company Transfer Visa or a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Long-Term Staff Visa and meet specific criteria.
• Change employers unless you apply for and obtain a new visa.
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) through this route, as it does not lead directly to settlement in the UK.

Yes, you can bring your partner and children as dependents if they meet the eligibility criteria. They can apply as a dependent if they are

• Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (must provide proof of relationship).
• Children under 18, including those born in the UK.
• Children over 18, if already in the UK as your dependents.

To bring your dependents on a UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa, you must provide evidence of your relationship:

Partner:

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate recognized in the UK.
• Proof of living together for at least two years (utility bills, tenancy agreements, joint bank statements).
• If not living together, evidence of an ongoing relationship (regular communication, financial support, shared commitments).

Children (16 or over):

• Must live with you unless in full-time education.
• Birth Certificate. 
• Cannot be married, in a civil partnership, or have children.
• Financial dependency proof (bank statements, school/university letters, proof of address).

You must maintain these funds in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

Dependents already in the UK can apply to extend or switch their visa before expiry. However, they cannot switch if they are currently on:

• A Visitor Visa, Short-term Student Visa, Parent of a Child Student Visa, Seasonal Worker Visa, Domestic Worker Visa, Immigration Bail, or any visa granted outside immigration rules.
• A Student Visa, unless they have completed their course or studied for at least 24 months for a PhD.

In case of a refusal, you have the following options:

• Administrative Review: If you believe the refusal was due to a caseworking error, you can request an administrative review. 
• Judicial Review: If administrative review is not an option or is unsuccessful, you may consider a judicial review. Its a legal process and it examines the lawfulness of the decision-making process, not the decision’s merits.
• Reapply: Submit a new application, ensuring that all refusal reasons are properly addressed with stronger supporting evidence.

Yes, you can apply to extend your Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa, now known as the Senior or Specialist Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility routes. Extensions are permissible up to the maximum total stay allowed for your visa category.

Eligibility for Extension:

To be eligible to extend your visa from within the UK, you must:

• Continue in the same job as when you were granted your previous permission to enter or stay.
• Ensure your job remains within the same occupation code as your prior permission.
• Be employed by the same sponsor who provided your current Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Not have exceeded the maximum total stay permitted for your visa category.

Maximum Total Stay:

The duration you can remain in the UK on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa depends on your annual salary:

• If earning less than £73,900 per year: Up to 5 years in any 6-year period.
• If earning £73,900 or more per year: Up to 9 years in any 10-year period.

The UK Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa, does not directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This means that time spent in the UK under this visa category does not count towards the residency period required for ILR eligibility.

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa, does not require applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency. This distinguishes it from other UK work visas, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, which mandate proof of English language skills.

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves and any dependents in the UK. The required funds must be maintained in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying.

Required Maintenance Amounts

• For the main applicant: £1,270 (unless the employer confirms financial sponsorship for the first month in the UK).
• For a dependent partner: £285
• For a dependent child: £315 for the first child, £200 for each additional child

No, you are not required to submit a Police clearance certificate for UK intra company transfer visa.

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