UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa

Intra-Company Transfer Visa

The UK Intra-Company Transfer visa routes are an extremely valuable immigration route for multi-national organisations. It allows an organisation to move staff with valuable skills and expertise to UK branches where they are needed. Employees from outside then get the opportunity to do eligible jobs at their employer’s UK branch. These jobs could include the roll-out of new products, training, specific projects and more.

There are two types of UK Intra-Company Transfer visas: The Intra-Company Transfer visa and the Intra-Company Graduate Trainee visa.

The Intra-Company Transfer visa and Intra-Company Graduate Trainee visa replaced the Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) long-term staff visa and Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa, respectively.

The UK Intra-company Transfer Visa

This UK Intra-company transfer visa allows an employer to transfer an overseas employee to a role in the UK. In some cases, it is possible to switch to this visa from within the UK.

How to qualify

The applicant must have worked for the employer for longer than 12 months. Alternatively, they must earn at least £73,900 or more per year.

The Home Office must approve the employer as a sponsor.

The employee will need a certificate of sponsorship from the employer with the details of the UK role.

The job must be on the list of eligible occupations.

The applicant has to get a salary of at least £41,500 per annum.

Length of Stay

It is possible to stay in the UK with an Intra-company transfer visa for whichever is the shorter period of:

  • The time on the certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
  • Five years
  • The length of time taking the applicant to the maximum total stay allowed

The maximum permitted stay on this type of visa is:

  • Five years in a 6-year period if the salary is less than £73,900 per annum
  • Nine years in a 10-year period if the salary is more than £73,900 per annum

It is possible to extend the visa or apply for another one up to the maximum total stay allowed. If a person were in the UK on this type of visa previously, the previous visa time will form part of the maximum stay permitted.  

The Intra-Company Graduate Trainee Visa

This visa allows an employer to transfer overseas employees to the UK as part of their graduate training programme for specialist or managerial roles. It is not possible to switch to this visa from within the UK.

How to qualify

The applicant must have worked for the employer for at least three months.

The employer must be a Home Office approved sponsor and provide the employee with a sponsorship certificate with the UK role’s details.

The job must be on the list of eligible occupations.

The applicant has to get a salary of at least £23,000 per annum.

Length of Stay

It is possible to stay in the UK with an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is the shorter period of:

  • The time on the certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
  • Twelve months
  • The length of time taking the applicant to the maximum total stay allowed.

The maximum permitted stay on this type of visa is five years in any six years.  If you have been on this type of visa before, that will form part of the total stay.

It is not possible to extend the stay on the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa. If you wish to apply for another one, you have to apply from outside the UK. You will also have to work for the sponsor for three months outside the UK before applying.  

Right to Work and benefits (Intra Company Transfer Visa and Graduate Trainee)

Apart from your main job,  you can do a second job for up to 20 hours per week. The second job has to be either in the same profession and at the same level as the main job or on the Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation list.

You will be allowed to do voluntary work.

You cannot change your main job without updating your visa.

There is no recourse to public funds.

Spouses and Dependants (Intra Company Transfer Visa and Graduate Trainee)

Your partner and children can apply to accompany you. They have to fulfil a maintenance requirement to support themselves while in the UK.

If they are successful in their application, their visa will end simultaneously as the main applicant.

Immigration Health Surcharge (Intra Company Transfer Visa and Graduate Trainee)

You have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (Intra Company Transfer Visa and Graduate)

Unfortunately, neither of these intra-company visas lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain.

If you are looking for immigration routes that lead to settlement in the UK, we advise that you speak to one of our consultants.

How Breytenbachs can help you

Breytenbachs have a dedicated team of consultants dealing with Business visas such as the UK Intra-company Transfer visas. We assist both employers and employees with the entire application process. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information or to start your application. 

UK Intra-Company Transfer Visa

Please contact us today for further information or applications.