Tier 2 Visa - Intra Company Transfer

A Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer (ICT) allows a candidate to transfer to the UK from an overseas branch of a UK company in order to undertake work on a specific project. The Intra Company Transfer category places strong emphasis on the employer being able to demonstrate that the salary for the role is appropriate and that no UK resident worker can fill the position.

As of 6 April 2010 the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa category has been split into 3 subcategories - 'established staff', 'graduate trainee', and 'skills transfer'. The points assessment criteria below applies to migrants making their initial application under one of the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer categories. A summary of each of the three new subcategories is provided in the table below the following Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer points assessment information.

Tier 2 ICT Points Assessment

To make an application under any of the the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer subcategories you must satisfy the points-based assessment by achieving a minimum score of 70 points in the following attributes:

Qualifications
  • Masters degree or PhD - 15 points
  • Bachelor degree - 10 points
  • GCE A-level - 5 points
  • No qualifications - 0 points
Sponsorship
Prospective Earnings
  • £32,000 or above - 25 Points
  • £28,000 - £31,999 - 20 points
  • £24,000 - £27,999 - 15 points
  • £20,000 - £23,999 - 10 points
  • Below £20,000 - 0 points
English language skills

Under the Tier 2 ICT visa you will only be required to score points for English language if you are already in the UK and are applying to extend your leave under the Intra-Company Transfer category to more than three years.

Maintenance

To meet the maintenance requirements and achieve the required score of 10 points you must show evidence that you have available funds of £800 which have been in your bank account for at least three months prior to the application being made.

Alternatively, if your potential employer is an A-rated sponsor they can provide you with a letter that will cover you for meeting the maintenance requirements.

Summary of Intra Company Transfer subcategories


 
 Establised Staff Graduate Trainee Skills Transfer
Purpose
 To fill posts requiring
established
employees that would
not otherwise be filled
by resident workers		 For new graduates
who need to come to
the UK as part of a
structured training
programme		 For new employees
who will not fill a UK
vacancy and are
coming solely for skills
transfer reasons

Points required

 50 for attributes
10 for maintenance
10 for English
language (if extending
beyond 3 years)		 50 for attributes
10 for maintenance		 50 for attributes
10 for maintenance
Minimum skill level
 S/NVQ level 3 and
above		 Graduate occupations
only		 Graduate occupations
only
Minimum salary
 Appropriate rate for
the occupation		 Appropriate rate for
the occupation		 Appropriate rate for
the occupation
Previous experience required
 12 months 3 months None
Maximum length of leave
 As Tier 2 (General) 12 months 6 months
Switching to other categories
 Permitted, but can
only switch Tier 2
categories if changing
employer		 Not permitted Not permitted

Tier 2 ICT Visa - duration

If you are granted permission to stay in the UK as a Tier 2 General skilled worker, you will be able to live and work in the UK for a maximum time of three years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship, which ever time is shorter. At the end of this period if you want to stay you will need to apply to extend your stay as a skilled worker.

Tier 2 ICT visa – spouse and dependents

Tier 2 visas can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and as such the Tier 2 ICT visa category makes provision for the spouses and common law, civil or unmarried partners of the applicant and any dependent children to immigrate to the UK at the same time as the main Tier 2 visa applicant.