Intra-company visas
Overview
An Intra-company visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer’s UK branch.
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.
Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Types of Intra-company visa
There are 2 types of Intra-company visa.
Intra-company Transfer visa
Apply for this visa if you’re being transferred by your employer to a role in the UK.
You’ll need to have worked for your employer overseas for more than 12 months, unless they’re going to pay you £73,900 a year or more to work in the UK.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
This visa is for transfers to the UK as part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role.
You’ll need to have worked for your employer overseas for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa.
Eligibility
To qualify for an Intra-company visa, you must:
- be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid at least £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa or at least £23,000 for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
The specific eligibility requirements depend on your job.
How long you can stay
How long you can stay in the UK with an Intra-company visa depends on which visa you’re applying for and how long your employer is sponsoring you for.
If you’re applying for an Intra-company Transfer visa
You can stay in the UK with an Intra-company Transfer visa for whichever is shorter of:
- the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
- 5 years
- the length of time that takes you to the maximum total stay allowed
The maximum total stay allowed for an Intra-company Transfer visa is:
- 5 years in any 6 year period if you’re paid less than £73,900 a year
- 9 years in any 10 year period if you’re paid £73,900 a year or more
You can extend your visa or apply for another one up to the maximum total stay. If you have already been in the UK with an Intra-company visa before your application, that time will be included in your total stay.
Example You worked in the UK on an Intra-company Transfer visa for 3 years, but for the last 6 months have been working in Sweden. You are paid less than £73,900 a year.
The maximum time you could now stay in the UK on an Intra-company visa is 2 years. At the end of that time you would need to spend another 6 months outside the UK before you would be eligible for another Intra-company visa.
If you’re applying for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
You can stay in the UK with an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is shorter of:
- the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
- 12 months
- the length of time that takes you to the maximum total stay allowed
You cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK. You have to have been working for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply.
The maximum total stay allowed for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa is 5 years in any 6 year period. If you have already been in the UK with an Intra-company visa before your application, that time will be included in your total stay.
How to apply
You must apply online.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.
How much it costs
You, your partner or children will each need to:
- pay the application fee
- pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
- prove you have enough personal savings
How long it takes
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.
Getting a decision
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:
- 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
- 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK
If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.
What you can and cannot do
With an Intra-company visa you can:
- work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
- study
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- do a second job for up to 20 hours a week that’s either in the same profession and at the same level as your main job or on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list
- do voluntary work
- travel abroad and return to the UK
You cannot:
- apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
- change jobs unless you update your visa
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)
If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with an Intra-company visa.