Residency application for employees engaging in intracompany transfers
The Spanish regulations provide two options for the relocation of foreign nationals (non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens) within a company:
- Authorization for intra-company transfer ICT-UE, applicable to executives, specialists, and trainee workers.
- National authorization for intra-company transfer, which covers other scenarios, such as transferring workers for contract execution (CSS) or for a professional relationship (IPs).
The choice between one type of authorization and another depends on whether the personnel to be relocated belong to the same corporate group or different companies.The intra-corporate transfer authorization ICT-EU comes with the right to EU intra-mobility.
This enables companies based in Spain to move their executives, specialists, and trainee workers to their centers in other EU states, following the simplified procedures of each state.
Companies established in another EU state can relocate, with prior communication to the Large Enterprises and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE), individuals holding an ICT-EU authorization issued in another EU state.
- Passport or NIE (Foreigner Identification Number).
- Health insurance (public or private) provided by an entity operating in Spain.
- Criminal record certificate.
- Documentation demonstrating adequate financial resources for the individual and their family during the residence period in Spain.
- Higher education degree or equivalent, or, alternatively, a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
- Documentation proving a continuous employment or professional relationship of at least 3 months with one or more companies within the business group.
- Company documentation confirming the relocation.
- Be over 18 years old.
- Should have either public or private health insurance.
- Having no criminal record in Spain and in the country/countries of residence for the past five years before the application.
- Possessing adequate financial means for oneself and family members throughout the residence period in Spain.
- Demonstrated engagement in a real business endeavor, including any related to a business group.
- Existencia de una actividad empresarial real y, en su caso, la del grupo empresarial.
- Either holds a higher education degree or equivalent, or, in the absence of formal education, has a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience.
- Maintains a continuous employment or professional association of at least 3 months with one or more companies within the business group.
What are the steps you should follow?
Paso 1. Acceder a la sede de la Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos.
Accede a la sede de la Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos.
El interesado deberá navegar por el siguiente itinerario hasta el inicio de la solicitud "Alta de Solicitud" > "Identificación mediante certificado o sistema Cl@ve" > "Solicitud (inicial, renovada o prorrogada)".
Paso 2. Pago de la tasa.
Pago de la tasa del modelo 790 (tasa: 038 punto 7). Solicitud de autorización de movilidad internacional (Ley 14/2013): Autorización inicial. Se puede pagar electrónicamente, tanto personalmente como en representación de otra persona. También se puede imprimir el formulario para pagar en el banco o en el cajero.
Es importante saber que una vez realizado el pago se obtendrá un código de 22 caracteres alfanuméricos (número de referencia completo) para identificar un ingreso tributario, que deberá indicarse al solicitar la autorización.
Paso 3. Notificación.
Una vez pagadas las tasas y seleccionado el botón "guardar y firmar" del procedimiento, recibirá el justificante de presentación.
Es importante recordar que la solicitud debe empezar cuando se está en España, cuando se está en situación legal.
Do you need additional information?
Modelo_Solicitud_ICT-UE
Format: .pdf. 492.99 KB
General and specific requirements outlined for each type of authorization must be fulfilled, as per the provisions of Law 14/2013.
To qualify for long-term residency, you must meet the general requirements outlined in the Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000. The typical scenario involves having legally and consistently resided in Spanish territory for a period of five years.
Residency status will not be affected by absences from Spanish territory lasting up to six consecutive months, as long as the total sum of these absences does not exceed ten months (or one year in case of work-related absences) within the five-year period, unless the departures were irregular.
Concerning residence in Schengen countries, there is no differentiation between authorizations governed by Law 14/2013 and other residence permits.
Simply put, any foreign resident in Spain has the privilege of unrestricted movement within the territories of states adhering to the Schengen Agreement, provided the stay does not exceed three months within a six-month period. (At present, these states include Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.)
Essential documents for inter-country travel encompass a valid travel document (be it a passport or another recognized document) and the residence permit. Additionally, a declaration of entry into the respective state is mandatory.
For more comprehensive details, kindly refer to the Ministry of the Interior's website.
Applications for initial authorizations and their renewals are processed at the Unit for Major Corporations and Strategic Collectives, a part of the Immigration Subdirectorate under the General Directorate of Migrations. This unit operates within the General Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration, a branch of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.
Applications for initial residency authorizations and their renewals can be lodged at any public registry. If you prefer, you can choose to submit them at the registry of the General Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration located at 39 José Abascal Street, Madrid. Alternatively, you have the option to submit them at the headquarters of the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Collectives situated at Plaza de la Remonta, Madrid. In this case, please make sure to request a prior appointment. Further information regarding appointment scheduling can be found at the website.
Alternatively, you have the option to file your applications electronically using a digital certificate through the online platform of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.
The applicant for each type of authorization varies depending on the authorization category:
- For initial authorizations:
- For investors and entrepreneurs, the applicant is the foreign individual.
- For highly qualified professionals, researchers, or intra-company transfers, the applicant is the company or entity requiring the services of the foreign individual.
- For family authorizations:
- If the application is submitted together with the main applicant, the applicant is the main applicant (for investors and entrepreneurs) or the company or entity (for highly qualified professionals, researchers, or intra-company transfers).
- If the application is submitted separately, the applicant can be one of the aforementioned or the family member themselves.
- Renewals are submitted by the foreign individual holding the authorization (family members request the renewal of their own authorization).
Applications can be submitted by the interested party themselves or through a representative.
Foreigners who have received a residence visa under this regulation can stay in Spain for up to one year, allowing the holder to reside in Spain without the need to obtain a foreigner identity card.
However, those who are granted a residence permit under Law 14/2013 must personally apply for the foreigner identity card. The authorization resolution specifies the procedure, required documentation, and where the application can be submitted.
If submitting the application in person, bring both the original and a copy, with the UGE retaining only the copy. If submitting to a public registry, bring both the original and a copy, and send only a certified copy.
You can access the residence authorization application forms at this link.
If a foreigner is in Spain in a regular situation at the time of application but will not be at the time of resolution.
The law stipulates the requirement of not being irregularly in Spain, so compliance with this requirement at the time of application is necessary. The residence authorization application will extend the validity of the residence or stay status held by the applicant until the resolution of the procedure.
Yes, it is possible, provided that the requirements for modifying an authorization set by the Regulations of Organic Law 4/2000 are met.
Yes. The fourth additional provision of Law 14/2013 establishes that residence authorizations allow both residence and work (both self-employed and employed).
While residing in Spain, foreigners must be covered either by the public health system or private insurance. Proof of insurance is not necessary if there is an expectation that the foreigner (along with their family members) will be covered by the National Health System due to enrollment in Social Security resulting from an employment contract or professional relationship.
For entrepreneurs, if the business activity is not starting immediately, insurance with limited validity (such as travel insurance, typically valid for three months) is acceptable.
In all other cases, individuals must have public or private health insurance arranged with an authorized insurance entity operating in Spain, providing coverage equivalent to that of the National Health System and for the duration of their authorization, or at least for a renewable one-year period (travel insurance is not considered valid).
For inquiries about Social Security contributions, you can visit the website.
The law does not specify a particular amount or required documentation. Therefore, you can demonstrate your economic means through any legally acceptable means of proof. For example, with a job contract offer, pay stubs, the updated annual average balance of bank accounts, deposits, etc.
All documents must be translated into Spanish. For foreign public documents, they must also be accompanied by the apostille from The Hague Convention, or if not available, legalized through diplomatic channels.
You can find more information on document legalization at the following links:
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