Portugal – Intra-corporate transferee (ICT)

You work for a company established outside the European Union (EU) and you are going to be transferred to a branch in Portugal? You can find information below on the conditions, procedures, rights and mobility you can enjoy during your stay.

To enter Portugal as a worker for a period of less than a year, you must have a valid Seasonal Work Visa or a Temporary stay visa for seasonal work for a duration of over 90 days (see seasonal worker profile).

For longer periods, you must obtain a residence visa. The residence visa does not automatically grant you a right of residence. Once in Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit.

Where and how to apply

Standard form

Documents required

  • Standard form
  • Passport or any other valid travel document, with the validity covering the duration of the transfer
    • Evidence of sufficient means of subsistence, as per the provisions of Order number 1563/2007, of 11/12. What is meant as means of subsistence are stable and regular resources which are enough to cover the essential needs of the third-country citizen and, when applicable, his/her family, namely for food, accommodation, health care and hygiene. According to this Order, per capita, the equivalent of € 75 for each entry, plus € 40 for each day of stay.
  • Permission for SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) to check Portuguese criminal record (except people under 16 years old)
  • Criminal record of the applicant’s country of nationality or criminal record of the country in which the applicant has resided for over one year (according to the provided in number 4 of article 53 of Regulatory Decree no. 84/2007)
  • Evidence of registration in Tax Authority and Social Security, when applicable
  • Evidence in which the hosting company and the company established in the third state belong to the same company or group of companies
  • Evidence of having worked in that company or group of companies immediately before the transfer, by a period of three to twelve consecutive months as manager or specialist, or of three to six consecutive months as a trainee
  • Holder of a contract of employment with the company or group, specifying the condition of management, specialist or trainee
  • Document issued by the employer with identification of the hosting company, remuneration and further working conditions during the transfer time
  • Evidence of being holder of manager or specialist qualifications and professional experience or of a higher education diploma in case of trainees
  • In case of a regulated profession, evidence of complying with the conditions legally provided in the national legislation for its activity
  • Evidence of having requested an Health Insurance, whenever not covered by the National Health Service
  • Guarantee by the hosting company in which complies with the national legislation in matter of working conditions and remuneration

Further requirements

When the applicant is transferred to certified companies or groups of certified companies he/she is exempted from submitting the following documents (article 124.º-B, n.º 3 of Act no. 23/2007 of July 4, as amended by Act no. 29/2012 of August 9, Act n.º 56/2015, June 23, Act n.º 63/2015, June 30, Act n.º 59/2017, July 31, Act n.º 102/2017 August 28, Act 26/2018 July 5, Act n.º 28/2019, March 29):

  • Evidence in which he/she has worked in the company or group, in a date immediately before the transfer by a minimum period of three to twelve consecutive months, as manager or specialist, or of three to six consecutive months as a trainee
  • Holder of a contract of employment with the company or group, specifying the condition of management, specialist or trainee
  • Evidence of being holder of the qualifications and professional experience of manager and specialist or of a higher education diploma in case of trainees;
  • Evidence of having requested an Health Insurance, whenever not covered by the National Health Service
  • Guarantee by the hosting company attesting to the compliance with the national legislation in the matter of working conditions and remuneration

Only for appointments at Odivelas, Aveiro or Braga SEF bureau: two recent, identical photographs, in colour with blank background, and easily identifiable are needed

Duration of validity of permits

The period of validity of the ICT permit is of at least one year or the duration of the transfer (whichever is shorter), and may be extended to a maximum of 3 years for managers and specialists and 1 year for trainee employees.

Appeals

If your application for a residence permit is refused, you may challenge the decision before the administrative court. You will be notified of the refusal decision as well as the reasons for the decision, the right to appeal and the deadline for making an appeal.

Extension or renewal

Residence authorisation renewals for intra-corporate transferees must be requested by the interested party within 30 days prior to their expiry.

Residence authorisation for intra-corporate transferees shall be valid for one year, or for the duration of the transfer to Portuguese territory, subject to renewal for equal time periods, up to a maximum of three years for managers and specialists and one year for trainees, provided that the conditions for its granting are upheld.

Change of status

If the purpose of the stay changes, while a person with an ICT permit is in the country, and the person wants to stay in Portugal, he/she may apply for other residence permit regimes adequate for his/her circumstances (e.g. employed worker, Blue Card or other).

Family members

For family members to accompany or join the intra-corporate transferee the general regime regarding family reunification is applied (please see hereSearch for available translations of the preceding link).

Other rights

A person with an ICT permit benefits from equal treatment with nationals of Portugal in what regards freedom of association; recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications; provisions regarding social security (with conditions); access to goods and services (with exceptions); working conditions and remuneration of other workers with comparable duties, professional categories, seniority and qualifications at the company.

Further the rights guaranteed for all non-EU citizen living in Portugal with a residence status, holders of ICT residence permit:

  • Shall be entitled to enter and remain in the entire Portuguese territory, and to carry out professional activities as a manager, specialist or trainee at any host company belonging to the company or company group;
  • Have the right of family reunification;
  • Shall be entitled to enter Portuguese territory whenever a European Union Member State has denied a long-term mobility request or cancelled an “ICT mobile” residence permit granted and requested from the SEF.

Upon the fulfilment of certain conditions you can, on the basis of an ICT permit issued in one EU country, work in other EU countries if the entity where you will work belong to the same company. If the duration of your mobility is shorter than 90 days during a 180-day period you are subject to short-term mobility rules. If the duration of the mobility is longer than 90 days, you are instead subject to long-term mobility rules.

The following procedures apply if you have an ICT permit in an EU Member State and intend to move and work in Portugal:

Short-term mobility

There are no formalities besides having a valid passport and having not an entry ban.

Long-term mobility

Requests for residence authorisation for long-term mobility in Portuguese territory and, when applicable, for residence authorisation for the purposes of family reunification, must be submitted within 30 days of entering Portuguese territory, or 20 days before the end of the short-term mobility (short term maximum are 90 days).

Both the applicant or host entity/company can submit an application, and follow the same procedure as for the ICT residence permit.

Required documents and information: the same for ICT residence permit and documents proving possession of ICT residence authorisation granted by another Member State.

Procedure for family members: for family members wishing to accompany or join the intra-corporate transferee, the general regime regarding family reunification is applied (please see here