As of 29 November 2016, the Netherlands will implement the intra-corporate transfer (ICT) directive.

This directive applies to non EEA nationals who will be temporarily transferred to one or several entities of the same company group within the EU.

The directive is a common immigration program in the EU for managers, specialists and trainees and aims to make the EU more attractive for international companies.

What does this mean for you as an employer?

The transfer of managers, specialists and trainees to different entities of the same company group within the EU will become easier and more efficient. On the basis of a single permit mentioning ‘ICT’, valid for work and residence it is possible to transfer foreign employees to different entities within the same company group within the EU.

The purpose of the ICT directive overlaps with the existing Dutch highly skilled migrant regulation. It is however not possible to chose between the 2 regulations. If the conditions of the ICT directive are applicable, it is only possible to request the “ICT” permit.

With this ICT permit it is possible to work and stay in several EU countries, except for Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom as they have not implemented the directive. When an individual has an ICT permit that has been issued by another member state he will be allowed to work in the Netherlands.

For more information on the conditions, please contact us.