Residence permit for workers from third countries - Apply for ICT card

The ICT card is a residence title. It supplements the already existing residence titles. Its scope of application is intra-company transfers within the EU.
In concrete terms, it is about the temporary posting of company staff of such companies that have their headquarters outside the EU to a branch of the company or the same group of companies within the European Union.

The ICT card is primarily intended to increase intra-European mobility. It is intended to make it easier for employees to work temporarily also in branches of their own company in the EU.
In return, companies that have branches in EU member states should be able to transfer workers more easily.

As a trainee, you can also get an ICT card. You can get it as part of an intra-company transfer during a trainee programme.

A trainee in this sense is someone who

  • has a university degree,
  • is on a trainee programme that is designed for professional development or training in business techniques and methods, and
  • is remunerated.

Related forms and processes

Prerequisite

You can obtain the ICT card if you

  • become a manager or specialist in the receiving branch, and
  • have been with the company for at least six months immediately prior to the intra-company transfer and for the duration of the transfer without interruption.
    The transfer must exceed a duration of 90 days and last for a maximum of three years.
    In the case of a trainee transfer, the maximum period of validity is one year.

The following requirements must be met in particular for the transfer of a worker within his/her company or group of companies:

  • Proof of qualification as a manager, specialist or trainee
  • Employment in the company for at least 6 months
  • Approval by the Federal Employment Agency
  • Employment contract with the company branch concerned or letter of secondment or supplementary secondment agreement from the employer
  • Residence and centre of life of the applicant in a third country
  • The employment contract must be comparable to those of the host company

Responsible department

  • for issuing a national visa before entry: the German mission abroad (embassy, consulate)
  • for issuing a residence permit after entry: the foreigners authority
    Foreigners authority is
    • if you live in a city district or in a large district town: the city administration
    • if you live in a town or municipality belonging to a district: the district administration office.

Procedure

You must apply for the ICT card at the Aliens' Registration Office. You must submit your application in writing.

Deadlines

before your visa expires

Required documents

As a rule, you must submit the documents and information in German.

Costs

  • first issue of an ICT card: EUR 100.00
  • Extension up to three months: EUR 96.00
  • Renewal for more than three months: EUR 93.00

Detailed information

Miscellaneous

The ICT card can only be applied for from outside Europe. It is not possible to apply for it in Germany.

Appeal

Objection

Action before the administrative court

Legal basis

Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)

  • § 19 ICT-Karte für unternehmensintern transferierte Arbeitnehmer

Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV)

  • § 5 Allgemeine Voraussetzungen der Ausstellung des Reiseausweises für Ausländer
  • § 39 Verlängerung eines Aufenthalts im Bundesgebiet für längerfristige Zwecke
  • § 45 Gebühren für die Aufenthaltserlaubnis, die Blaue Karte EU, die ICT-Karte und die Mobiler-ICT-Karte

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 09.07.2024