---
title: "Germany Intra-company transfer permit requirements 2026"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/ict-card-19/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-11
---

Germany · Work

# Germany Intra-company transfer permit

**First stay:** 3 yrs

ICT Card for intra-corporate transfers (section 19 AufenthG)

First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 3 yrs (Issued for the length of the transfer: at most three years for managers and specialists and at most one year for trainees; extensions cannot exceed those limits.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals; not available to nationals of states with free movement equivalent to EU citizens.)
- **Spouse work:** Can work (The spouse can join; proof of simple German (A1) is not required for spouses of ICT card holders under section 30. Minor unmarried children can join under section 32. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.)

## Key facts

Intra-company transfer permit is a work route for Germany. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
- **First stay:** 3 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84**

- EUR 100 (≈ $110) Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- EUR 75 (≈ $84) Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

**Renewal: Renewable, 3 years max**

Issued for the length of the transfer: at most three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees; extensions cannot exceed those limits.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__19.html)

**Citizenship: General rule: 5 years of residence**

Naturalisation needs 5 years of lawful habitual residence, but this permit type does not qualify you to apply (Section 10(1) no. 2), so you need a different residence title such as a work permit first.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html)

**Where to apply: From abroad**

Apply for the ICT visa at the German mission abroad; the visa-free-entry exception does not apply to ICT Cards.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__19.html) [Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__41.html)

**Presence rules: Stay rule**

The residence permit expires if you leave Germany and do not return within six months, unless the authority sets a longer period.

[Federal Ministry of Justice](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route is capped at 3 years in total
- Applications are made from outside Germany, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Germany
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a third-country national employed by a company or group entity based outside the EU.
- The applicant has belonged to the company or group for at least six months immediately before the transfer.
- The applicant works in Germany as a manager or specialist, or as a trainee with a university degree.
- The transfer lasts more than 90 days.

#### What you must show and pay

- **A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110)** · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- **A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84)** · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

#### Documents

- The applicant shows professional qualifications.
- An employment contract valid for the transfer and, where needed, a secondment letter with place, type, pay and conditions.
- Proof that the applicant can return to a non-EU entity of the same company or group after the transfer.

#### After you arrive

- A new card cannot be applied for until six months after the end of the last ICT stay in Germany.

## When you become tax resident

How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years in total**
- **Tax residence:** A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- **Foreign-source income:** Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

[All tax rules for Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Residence permit for managers, specialists and trainees transferred within a company group from a non-EU entity to a German branch for more than 90 days. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

#### What you must show and pay

- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. (source 6)
- A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. (source 7)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a third-country national employed by a company or group entity based outside the EU. (source 1)
- The applicant has belonged to the company or group for at least six months immediately before the transfer. (source 1)
- The applicant works in Germany as a manager or specialist, or as a trainee with a university degree. (source 1)
- The transfer lasts more than 90 days. (source 1)
- The applicant shows professional qualifications. (source 1)
- An employment contract valid for the transfer and, where needed, a secondment letter with place, type, pay and conditions. (source 1)
- Proof that the applicant can return to a non-EU entity of the same company or group after the transfer. (source 1)
- A new card cannot be applied for until six months after the end of the last ICT stay in Germany. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Issued for the length of the transfer: at most three years for managers and specialists and at most one year for trainees; extensions cannot exceed those limits.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Third-country nationals; not available to nationals of states with free movement equivalent to EU citizens. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

#### Work

Work for the receiving branch in Germany during the transfer.

#### Family

The spouse can join; proof of simple German (A1) is not required for spouses of ICT card holders under section 30. Minor unmarried children can join under section 32. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-11 · partly verified

## Official sources

1. [AufenthG section 19 ICT Card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__19.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__4a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen)](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDrittstaatlern/nachzug-zu-drittstaatlern-node.html) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
5. [AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__29.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
8. [Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
9. [Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__41.html) · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
10. [AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

## Intra-company transfer permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Intra-company transfer permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) | Needs income from €46k a year ≈ $51k | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| [Experienced professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/experienced-professional-19c2/) | Needs income of €46k+ a year ≈ $51k | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/researcher-18d/) | – | – | – |
| [Skilled worker · degree](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/skilled-worker-18b/) | – | 4 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Intra-company transfer permit?

A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84). Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.

### How long can I stay on the Intra-company transfer permit?

Issued for the length of the transfer: at most three years for managers and specialists and at most one year for trainees; extensions cannot exceed those limits.

### Can I work on the Intra-company transfer permit?

Work for the receiving branch in Germany during the transfer.

### Can I bring my family on the Intra-company transfer permit?

The spouse can join; proof of simple German (A1) is not required for spouses of ICT card holders under section 30.

### Who can apply for the Intra-company transfer permit?

Third-country nationals; not available to nationals of states with free movement equivalent to EU citizens. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

### How are Intra-company transfer permit holders taxed in Germany?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Intra-company transfer permit. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).

## More in Germany

[Opportunity Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/opportunity-card-job-search/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/working-holiday/) [Freelancer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/freelance-21-5/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [Skilled worker · vocational](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/skilled-worker-18a/) [Western Balkans work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/western-balkans-26-2/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/student-16b/) [German citizenship by declaration](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/citizenship-declaration-stag-5/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-11 against 10 official sources.** Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [AufenthG section 19 ICT Card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__19.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__4a.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen)](https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDrittstaatlern/nachzug-zu-drittstaatlern-node.html) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
5. [AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__29.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__45.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
7. [Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__46.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
8. [Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
9. [Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthv/__41.html) · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
10. [AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__51.html) · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.