Business in Italy
Intra-Company Transfer in Italy: complete guide
How the Intra-Company Transfer works in Italy: visa requirements, step-by-step procedure, residence permit, benefits, and common mistakes.
4 min read·Sep 17, 2025Read article
Italian
Intra-Company Transfer
Transfer managers specialists and trainees to Italy without quotas
Employment remains with the foreign company
Outside the quota system
Lawful work in Italy for a fixed period
Management and technical continuity across offices
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Introduction
What You Need to Know
The pathway to transfer your group’s qualified staff to Italy
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) permit allows multinational companies to transfer managers, highly qualified workers, or trainees from a foreign office to an Italian branch, subsidiary, or parent company. Employment remains with the foreign entity while the transferred employee works legally in Italy.
A key advantage is that the ICT operates entirely outside the Flow Decree quota system, with no annual cap. The employee must have worked at the foreign company for at least six months and hold adequate qualifications. The corporate link between entities must be documented.
The national ICT permit is valid for up to five years and is generally convertible to a standard work permit. The EU variant is valid for up to three years.
Ready to start your journey? Follow the steps below to understand the complete process.
Step 1
Who can apply
Non‑EU citizens who fall into the following categories can apply:
👔
Available
Managers
Management and coordination responsibilities
🧠
Available
Highly skilled workers
Specialized technical skills or specific know‑how
📚
Available
Trainees
With a degree transferred for in‑house training
Key requirements:
🕒
Required
Employment in the same company or sector
Employment abroad in the same company or sector for at least 6 consecutive months. For the EU ICT permit the requirement is 3 months.
🎓
Required
Qualifications and degrees
Adequate qualifications and degrees. If issued abroad they must be legalized and officially translated.
🏢
Required
Corporate link
Corporate link between the Italian host and the foreign entity such as branch subsidiary or parent company.
Step 2
Required Documents
Documents required for the ICT visa and permit:
🏢
Company documents
Assignment letter or internal agreement between the foreign company and the Italian host
Proof of the corporate link such as branch subsidiary or parent company
Evidence that pay and working conditions comply with Italian law
🪪
Employee documents
Valid passport copy
Degrees and certificates. If foreign they must be legalized and translated
✅
Authorizations and coverage
Work authorization Nulla Osta issued by the Single Immigration Desk outside the quota system
Health insurance or company coverage
Translation & Legalization
All foreign documents must be officially translated into Italian and legalized with apostille or consular legalization.
We Handle Everything
We handle the entire ICT pathway from Nulla Osta to the residence permit. Our expertise with the Single Immigration Desk and the consular network ensures continuous tracking until issuance.
Step 3
Application Process
From start to finish: here's everything that happens step by step
We collect company and employee documents, verify the corporate link, and file the application with the Single Immigration Desk. Processing usually takes up to 2 months.
How long does it take?
4-8months
We Handle Everything
How Future Italian Can Help You
ICT transfers require careful planning, proof of the corporate link, and strict handling of Nulla Osta, visa, and permit. Our specialists coordinate documents, translations, and legalizations, and monitor every deadline until issuance.
Personalized consultation
Assessment of the most suitable permit category for your case
Document assistance
Support for the Italian host and the foreign company in preparing documentation
Application preparation and filing
Filing with the Ministry and the Consulate with deadline management
Monitoring
Status tracking until permit issuance
Post‑issuance support
Assistance with renewals conversions registrations and family services
You focus on the business. We handle the procedure. With Future Italian, you're never alone
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most common questions about this service
READY TO START?Your Italian Future
Your Italian Future
Starts Here
Relocate to Italy with a clear, expert-led plan from day one.
From the Blog
Insights that make the process easier
Practical guidance on visas, residency, and Italian bureaucracy, written by our team.
