You can enter, reside and work in Portugal as an intra-corporate transferee if you are a manager, specialist or trainee employee. The definitions and conditions of admission are governed by the EU directive on intra-corporate transfer (Articles 3 and 5 of Directive 2014/66/EU). If you fulfil the conditions, you will be issued an Intra-Corporate Transferee permit.
Please note that before being transferred from a company branch located outside of the EU to a branch in Portugal you must have been employed by that company for a certain time period: if you are a manager for an uninterrupted minimum period between 3 to 12 months; a specialist for an uninterrupted minimum period between 3 to 12 months; a trainee for an uninterrupted minimum period between 3 to 6 months.
Where and how to apply | |
Documents required |
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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):
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 here). |
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:
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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). |
- Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras EN
- Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras PT
- Visa issuance
- Visa issuance PT
- Residence permit EN
- Residence permit PT
- Renewals of residence permit EN
- Renewals of residence permit PT
- Mobility EN
- Mobility PT
- Certified companies - StartUp Visa
- Certified companies - StartUp Visa Incubadoras
- Certified companies - Empreendedorismo e Inovação