Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

France's Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) route lets multinational employers move staff from a group entity outside the EU to a French branch or affiliate. France implements the EU ICT Directive through dedicated categories of the Passeport Talent residence card - principally the "salarié détaché ICT" (seconded ICT employee) and related profiles for managers, specialists and trainees transferred within the same corporate group.

Because the transfer is internal to a corporate group, you do not need a new French employment contract: you remain employed by the sending company abroad while carrying out the assignment in France under a secondment arrangement. The route is designed for temporary assignments - managers and specialists for up to three years, trainees for shorter periods - and the host French entity must belong to the same group as the sending company.

A core advantage shared with the wider EU ICT framework is intra-EU mobility: a transferee admitted in another EU country can be assigned to France, and a France-based ICT holder can perform work in other member states. The route integrates into the Passeport Talent ecosystem with multi-year cards and family rights.

You must already be employed within the corporate group for a minimum continuous period immediately before the transfer - generally at least three to six months depending on profile. You must be transferred to a French host entity that is part of the same group as the sending company, and the role must be that of a manager, specialist or trainee. Managers and specialists must demonstrate the required seniority or specialised skills; trainees typically need a relevant degree and a training agreement. The secondment must guarantee pay and conditions at least equal to comparable workers in France, in line with applicable collective agreements. You must hold a valid passport for the assignment period, adequate health cover, and an assignment letter or secondment contract specifying role, duration and remuneration.

Step one: the corporate group confirms the secondment and prepares an assignment letter detailing the role, duration, salary and the French host entity. Step two: assemble the file - proof of prior group employment, the secondment contract, evidence of the corporate-group relationship, qualifications, passport and health cover. Step three: create a France-Visas account and complete the long-stay visa application under the relevant Passeport Talent ICT category. Step four: attend an appointment at the French consulate or authorised visa centre, submit biometrics and pay the fee. Step five: receive the long-stay visa valid as a residence permit and travel to France. Step six: within three months of arrival, validate the visa with the OFII and pay the residence tax. Step seven: before the visa expires, apply at the prefecture for the multi-year Passeport Talent ICT card. Family members can apply under the Passeport Talent family category in parallel. For assignments spanning several EU countries, file the relevant intra-EU mobility notifications.

The long-stay visa fee is around €99, with OFII validation after arrival adding residence tax and stamp duty of roughly €200–€225. The multi-year Passeport Talent ICT card carries prefecture stamp fees of around €225. Add certified translations of the secondment contract and corporate documents, biometric photos and document legalisation. Health cover for the assignment is mandatory. Family member permits are charged separately. ICT-related costs are typically borne by the employer rather than the transferred employee.

French consulate processing of the Passeport Talent ICT long-stay visa generally takes two to eight weeks, with Passeport Talent applications prioritised over standard routes. OFII validation after arrival completes within days to a few weeks online. The multi-year ICT card is issued at the prefecture over several weeks to a few months, with a récépissé covering legal stay in the meantime. Intra-EU mobility into or out of France adds notification time for each additional member state.

You must validate your visa with the OFII within three months of arrival. The ICT card permits work only for the French host entity named in your secondment, and you remain employed by the sending company abroad. It is a temporary permit - capped at three years for managers and specialists - and ICT time does not generally count toward the 10-year resident card or naturalisation. Family members under the Passeport Talent family category receive residence permits with their own work rights. If you wish to settle permanently in France, you would normally need to switch before the ICT card expires to another permit, such as the French EU Blue Card or a salaried-worker card. Intra-EU mobility allows assignments at group entities in other member states.