Does the intra-company transfer visa lead to ILR?

The old Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) visa did not lead to ILR. The replacement Senior or Specialist Worker visa also does not lead to settlement. If you want to settle in the UK, you would need to switch to the Skilled Worker visa route.

Can I switch from an intra-company transfer to a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. You can switch from the Senior or Specialist Worker visa to the Skilled Worker visa while in the UK. However, the time spent on the ICT route does not count towards the 5-year qualifying period for ILR on the Skilled Worker route.

What salary do I need for an intra-company transfer?

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa has specific salary thresholds that are generally higher than the standard Skilled Worker threshold. The requirement varies by occupation and is published on GOV.UK.

How long can I stay on the intra-company transfer route?

The maximum stay depends on the specific visa category. For the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, the typical maximum is 5 years in a 6-year period, though some categories allow longer stays. Check the current rules on GOV.UK.

Intra-Company Transfer to the UK: Complete Guide

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (which replaced the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa) allows multinational employers to transfer experienced staff to the UK. The key limitation is that this route does not lead to ILR. Workers who want to settle in the UK must switch to the Skilled Worker visa, and time on the ICT route does not count towards the 5-year ILR qualifying period.

How the Route Works

The intra-company transfer route (now called the Senior or Specialist Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility category) allows established employees of multinational companies to transfer to the UK branch. To qualify:

You must have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months
The UK employer must hold a valid sponsor licence
You must be transferring to a role in the same organisation or group
You must meet the salary threshold for your occupation

Check the GOV.UK Senior or Specialist Worker page for full eligibility details.

No Path to Settlement

The most important limitation of this route is that it does not lead to ILR. No matter how long you spend on the intra-company transfer route, you cannot apply for settlement directly from it.

This is a fundamental difference from the Skilled Worker visa, which leads to ILR after 5 years.

Switching to the Skilled Worker Route

If you want to settle in the UK, you can switch from the Senior or Specialist Worker visa to the Skilled Worker visa. Key considerations:

New sponsorship: You need a new certificate of sponsorship under the Skilled Worker category.
Fresh qualifying period: Time on the ICT route does not count towards the 5-year ILR qualifying period. Your clock starts from scratch.
Salary threshold: You must meet the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which may be different from the ICT threshold.
Immigration skills charge: Your employer must pay the immigration skills charge on the Skilled Worker route.

Comparing ICT and Skilled Worker

Key differences between the two routes:

ILR: Skilled Worker leads to ILR; ICT does not.
Salary: ICT generally requires higher salaries.
Skills charge: ICT may be exempt from the immigration skills charge in some cases.
Maximum stay: ICT has a maximum stay limit; Skilled Worker can be extended indefinitely until ILR.

For more on the Skilled Worker route, see our Skilled Worker requirements guide.

Employer Costs

Employers face costs when transferring staff under this route. For a full breakdown, see our cost of hiring overseas workers guide.

The GOV.UK visa fees page has the latest fee information.