Italy•Europe

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Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa

Work Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

2–3 months

Estimated Cost

EUR €116

Stay Duration

2 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Living in Italy

Cost of Living

12% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary€21,000

Quality of Life

156/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Transfer managers, specialists, and trainees within multinational companies to Italian subsidiaries; valid for up to two years with family reunification rights.

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa enables multinational corporations to relocate managers, specialists, and trainees to Italian subsidiaries or branches. It bypasses annual immigration quotas for employees with essential corporate knowledge.

The employer obtains a 'nulla osta' (work authorization) from the local Immigration Office; the employee then applies at an Italian consulate. Processing takes 45-90 days. Permits last up to three years for managers and specialists, or one year for trainees. Family reunification is permitted with unrestricted spouse work rights.

This visa is ideal for multinational managers and specialists transferring to strengthen Italian operations.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

2 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

Art. 9 TUI — EU Long-Term Residence Permit

Italy

Art. 9 TUI — EU Long-Term Residence Permit

Validity10 years

Processing4 weeks – 3 months

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a manager, highly-skilled worker, or trainee.

Must have been employed by the foreign parent company for at least three months prior to the application.

The Italian host entity must be a subsidiary, branch, or representative office of the foreign company.

The foreign company and the Italian host entity must belong to the same corporate group or joint venture.

The transfer must be temporary and for the purpose of performing specific work or acquiring technical knowledge.

The applicant must reside outside the EU at the time of application (or hold a valid ICT permit from another EU member state for mobility).

KEY CRITERIA

Education

bachelor or higher

Experience

1+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport.

Nulla Osta (work authorization) issued by the Italian Immigration Office (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione).

Employment contract with the foreign parent company.

Secondment letter detailing the role, duration, and remuneration in Italy.

Proof of the corporate link between the foreign and Italian entities.

Visa application form.

Passport-sized photographs.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Exempt from annual Decreto Flussi quota—applications accepted year-round
Up to 2 years initial validity per permit with renewal option for extended tenure
Spouse and dependents have unrestricted work rights in Italy
Dual intent permitted—advance toward permanent residency while on ICT status
Fast-tracked work authorization via Nulla Osta (45-90 days processing)
Pathway to EU long-term residency and eventual Italian citizenship available
Family reunification permitted for spouse, children, and dependent parents
No labor market tests required—employer demonstrates corporate relationship only

Worth Knowing

Limited to managers, highly-skilled workers, or trainees in established multinational companies
Requires minimum 3 months prior employment with the foreign parent company
Strict documentation burden: must prove subsidiary/branch relationship and corporate linkage
Renewal requires continued employment and compliance with Italian labor law (CCNL)
Temporary transfer assignment only—no direct permanent residency grant upon arrival
Maximum 2-year initial permit limits long-term stay; 3-year cap across renewals in some cases