Intra-Company Transfer work permit in Italy

Sep 11, 2024

Intra-Company Transfer work permit in Italy

This article offers a general explanation of the Intra-company transfer work permit in Italy.

Italy offers two types of intra-company work permits: the “national” Highly-Skilled Workers Scheme under Article 27, paragraph 1, letter (a) of Italian Immigration Law, and the intra-corporate transfer (ICT) work permit under Articles 27 quinquies and 27 sexies, which implements Directive 2014/66/EC. Notably, both categories are exempt from the quota system.

1. National ICT permit (Art. 27 c. 1 lett. (a)): This permit is designed for highly specialized staff or managers temporarily assigned to a subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in Italy, provided that the sending and host companies are part of the same business group or joint venture. It specifically applies to middle managers (Quadro level) and senior managers (Dirigenti) employed by companies with headquarters or subsidiaries in Italy or by representative offices of foreign companies primarily operating in WTO countries.
   
2. EU ICT permit (Art. 27 quinquies and 27 sexies): This permit covers managers, specialists, and trainees transferred from a non-EU company to an Italian host entity. Managers direct operations under board supervision, specialists possess essential knowledge for the host entity’s activities, and trainees are recent graduates undergoing career development.
   Holders of an EU ICT Permit from another Member State can be transferred to Italy without a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) and are exempt from the work permit requirement. For periods exceeding 90 days, the host company must file an ICT work permit application within 90 days of the worker’s arrival, allowing the assignee to work while the application is processed, provided the initial EU ICT Permit remains valid.

General process of ICT work permit in Italy

In order to apply for Intra-company transfer work permit in Italy, the following shall apply:

Step 1: ICT Work permit application
The Hosting compmany (Italian company) shall apply for the foreign worker’s work permit.

Step 2: ICT Work Visa application
The foreign worker shall apply for the ICT work visa at the competent Italian embassy or consulate (the competent embassy or consulate will depend on the worker’s residence)

Step 3: Travel to Italy and apply for a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno)
Once the visa is issued, the foreign worker may enter Italy. Within eight days of arrival, the worker must apply for a residence permit. This application process typically involves approximately three appointments at different locations: the prefecture, post office, and police station. The issuance of the residence permit takes several months, with processing times varying significantly based on the region and the workload of the relevant authorities.

Are you considering applying for an ICT work permit in Italy? Please feel free to reach out to us. Our immigration consultants are ready to assist you with the process.

Web Content Manager

This article is posted by Mazzeschi Web Content Manager. Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@mazzeschi.it. Follow us on social media @StudioMazzeschi to receive the latest updates.

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