Germany ICT Card (ICT Karte) Intra-Corporate Transfer, Employer-Managed by Jobbatical

Transferring Employees to Germany? The Intra-Corporate Transfer Card Is Your Route

What is the Germany ICT Card (ICT Karte)?

The Germany ICT Card (ICT Karte, Aufenthaltstitel §19) is a residence permit under the EU ICT Directive (2014/66/EU) for non-EU nationals temporarily seconded from a non-EU office to a German branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the same corporate group. Unlike standard work visas, the employee's original employment contract remains valid throughout the transfer making the ICT Karte the primary route for intra-corporate transfers (Entsendung Mitarbeiter ins Ausland) to Germany.

Germany ICT Card benefits for employers

• No labour market test required no need to prove a German candidate could fill the role
• EU mobility included your transferee can work short-term in other EU member states (up to 90 days per 180-day period) once the ICT Card is issued
• Covers managers, specialists, and trainees valid for up to 3 years (1 year for trainees); Mobile ICT Card available if your employee already holds an ICT Card from another EU country

Common HR struggles with intra-corporate transfers (Entsendung Mitarbeiter) to Germany

Navigating German immigration processing, the beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren, and multi-authority checklists can be overwhelming for HR and global mobility teams.

• Complex multi-authority process: Federal Employment Agency pre-approval, German consulate visa, local Ausländerbehörde each with different requirements and timelines
• Salary parity compliance: No fixed minimum, but compensation must align with 2026 German market benchmarks getting this wrong causes rejections
• Incorrect role classification: Misclassifying a trainee as a specialist (or vice versa) is one of the most common ICT Card rejection triggers
• Appointment bottlenecks: Embassy and Ausländerbehörde slots in major cities can add weeks to your timeline if not booked proactively
• Overwhelmed transferees: Employees face registration deadlines, health insurance requirements, and residence permit appointments within days of arrival