ICT Permit Sweden: Intra-Corporate Transfers Explained
The ICT permit allows a company outside the EU and EEA to transfer an employee to a business within the same group in Sweden. It exists because a transfer is not a hire, and forcing one through the standard work permit route usually fails on the facts.
Who qualifies
| Category | Definition | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Holds a leadership position, primarily manages the business’s administration, with authority over hiring and personnel decisions | 3 years |
| Specialist | Holds specialised knowledge important to the business’s operations, technology or management, with high qualifications and relevant experience | 3 years |
| Trainee | Holds a university degree, transferred for career development or to acquire training in business technology or practices | 1 year |
The three-month rule
The employee must have been employed by the foreign employer for at least three months without interruption before the transfer.
This is the requirement most often missed and it cannot be cured after the fact. A recent hire cannot be transferred, however senior the role. If your group is recruiting someone specifically in order to move them to Sweden, plan the three months in from the start rather than discovering the problem at filing.
Salary, insurance and terms
Compensation must be at least on par with the minimum for full-time work under the applicable Swedish collective agreement. Note that this is a collective agreement test, not a percentage-of-median test like the ordinary work permit.
The employer must provide health insurance, life insurance, industrial injuries insurance and occupational pension cover. The employee must additionally hold comprehensive health insurance covering urgent care, hospitalisation, emergency dental care and medical repatriation.
One practical trap: a permit cannot be granted for longer than the passport is valid. Check passport expiry before filing, not after.
Family members
Spouses, registered partners, cohabiting partners and children under 18 may apply at the same time. Adult family members, and children turning at least 16 during the current year, are permitted to work. The transferee must be able to support the family, evidenced by documented income.
ICT, Blue Card or work permit?
- ICT where the person already works for the group outside the EU and EEA and is being moved, not hired
- EU Blue Card for a highly qualified external hire above SEK 53,625 per month
- Work permit for a standard external hire meeting the 90 per cent threshold of SEK 34,470
The wrong route is expensive to unwind, because a refusal restarts the clock on a transfer the business has usually already planned around. Choosing correctly at the outset is worth more than any efficiency later in the process.
Frequently asked questions
How long must an employee have worked for the group before an ICT transfer?
At least three months without interruption with the foreign employer.
How long can an ICT permit last?
Up to three years for managers and specialists, and up to one year for trainees. A permit cannot exceed the validity of the passport.
Can the family of an ICT transferee work in Sweden?
Yes. Adult family members and children turning at least 16 during the current year are permitted to work.
Does the ICT permit have a fixed salary threshold?
Not a percentage threshold. Compensation must be at least on par with the minimum for full-time work under the applicable Swedish collective agreement.
Can an ICT permit lead to permanent residence?
ICT permits are time-limited by design. If long-term settlement in Sweden is the objective, discuss the route before the transfer rather than near its end.
We handle corporate transfers
Sweden Relocators AB handles ICT permits, EU Blue Cards and work permits for employers moving staff into Sweden and Denmark, including auditing an existing permit population and planning renewals. If you are moving several people, the sequencing usually matters as much as the individual applications.
Call +46 72 327 62 76, message the same number on WhatsApp, or email info@swedenrelocators.se.
Source: Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), “Apply for an ICT permit to work at a business in Sweden by which you are employed outside the EU/EEA”. General information, not individual legal advice. Last reviewed 26 August 2026.