Intra-Corporate Transfer Directive

The Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) Directive (2014/66/EU) was created to streamline the temporary assignment of key personnel within multinational corporations. It provides a harmonized legal framework across most EU member states, including Belgium, to facilitate the movement of staff between non-EU headquarters and their European subsidiaries. By establishing common criteria for admission and residence, the directive fills the gap for companies needing to transfer specialized internal knowledge and management expertise without the administrative burden of traditional, country-specific work permit processes for each assignment.

This visa is intended for managers, specialists, and trainees who are already employed by a company outside the EU and are being transferred to a Belgian branch or subsidiary of the same corporate group. Applicants must possess a higher education degree and have been employed by the sending company for a minimum of three to six months prior to the transfer. Its distinctive feature is the facilitation of intra-EU mobility, allowing ICT permit holders to work at other group entities in different member states under simplified conditions, making it an essential tool for global businesses managing international projects and professional development.