Employee Relocation to Germany

Personnel relocation to Germany is subject to specific requirements, including a special intra-company transfer visa. Moving employees from one company to another is not difficult, however, there are conditions to be respected by both employers and workers. For this purpose, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Germany.

Below, they explain how the procedure for employee relocation to Germany is completed, as well as how they can help employers and workers.

How to apply for an intra-company transfer card for Germany

It is useful to note that the intra-company transfer visa is issued to non-EU employees working in non-EU or EU-based companies that also have operations in Germany. For this purpose, it is considered a German work visa.

Employee relocation to Germany implies several steps, as presented below:

1. filing the online application;
2. gather supporting evidence and file it together with the application;
3. collecting the passport with the stamp on it.

With respect to the documents that need to be drafted for personnel relocation to Germany, the following are required:

• 2 copies of the application form;
• valid passport for at least 3 months before expiry of the intra-company transfer visa;
• 2 copies of the authorization or visa issued for the employee(s);
• 2 copies of the employer’s declaration form;
• health insurance;
• CV or resume and proof of qualifications (diplomas, certifications, or other credentials).

Our immigration lawyer in Germany is also at your disposal with other services. Citizens from EU states can apply for German residence permits quite simply. Once they have entered the country, they can start working on the paperwork in order to obtain as soon as possible. You can also rely on our immigration lawyers if you need support in going through the procedure.

After obtaining residency, a person can qualify for German citizenship after 8 years. If you want to verify your eligibility status and need support in obtaining a passport, do not hesitate to contact us. We can also advise on how to prepare for the interview for citizenship, an important part in the process.

The 3 routes for employee relocation to Germany

Starting with 2017, there are 3 ways through which personnel relocation to Germany can be completed. These cover 3 situations for the transfer of workers from non-EU countries and the duration of stay in Germany. Here are the main ways through which intra-company transfer (ICT) cards can be obtained:

• the ICT Card allowing transfers from outside the EU of third-country nationals staying for more than 90 days in Germany;
• the ICT card issued by another EU member state to non-EU transferees; in this case, a mobile ICT card is required for stays longer than 90 days;
• a notification of short-term intra-company transfers for employees with ICT cards from another EU member state for up to 90 days.

Feel free to enquire with our immigration law firm in Germany about the conditions to obtain an ICT card as an employer or employee.

Qualifications of employees with respect to personnel relocation to Germany

Apart from the citizenship requirement, the intra-company transfer visa is also issued based on qualification requirements.

From this point of view, the applicant must be employed by the same group of businesses as a manager, specialist, or trainee and possess the necessary qualifications, if applicable. Here are the aspects to consider:

• prior to relocation, the applicant must have worked regularly for the parent company for at least 6 months;
• managers and specialists may be issued ICT Cards for a maximum of 3 years of employment;
• for trainees, the maximum validity of the card is one year;
• there must also be a 6-month pause between applications.

For up to 90 days in a 180-day period, a holder of an ICT Card granted in Germany may work for a company belonging to the same group in another EU member state without first acquiring a work visa in the host country.

Please be advised that for certain categories of applicants, the employer must obtain prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency.

If you want to know more about employee relocation to Germany as an employer or worker, do not hesitate to contact our immigration law firm.