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Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)

Image showing an overseas newspaper representative in the United Kingdom.

Applying from inside the UK

Clarifications to the online application process for Tier 2 and Tier 5 in the UK

If you are making your application online, and you have lived at the same address throughout your stay or you are planning to demonstrate your English language ability using an English language test, please read this information.

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This page explains how you should apply for permission to remain in the UK under Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) of the points-based system, if you are currently here:

  • as an intra-company transferee and you want to switch into Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer - Long-term staff) - see ' More information' below; or
  • under Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer - Long-term staff) and you want to extend your stay in the same sub-category.

Before you apply, you should read the Can you apply? pages to find out whether you will score enough points for a successful application.

As part of your application, you will need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') in order to obtain a biometric residence permit. The Biometric information page explains how to do this.

When should you apply?

You should apply as soon as possible, and before your current permission to stay expires.

The date of your application depends on how you submit your application. See 'More information' below.

To find out how long you will need to wait for a decision on your application, see the Processing times page.

How to apply

If you think you are eligible to apply, you can make your application and download the Tier 2 policy guidance by following the link on the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you make your application.

When you have submitted your application form online, you must print out a cover sheet containing the details of your application. You will then need to:

  • use our standard service to submit your supporting documents and cover sheet by post or courier, and then enrol your biometric information; or 
  • use our premium service to enrol your biometric information and submit your supporting documents in person at one of our public enquiry offices, and (in most cases) get a decision about your application on the same day. For more information, see the Applying in person section.

If you submit your supporting documents and cover sheet by post or courier, you must send them to the address on the cover sheet. Documents sent by courier must arrive during normal business hours (08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays), or receipt cannot be guaranteed.

If you are making any applications for your family members ('dependants') to stay in the UK at the same time as your own application, you can also make their applications on your online application form. We will then consider their applications at the lower application fee.

If you apply using a paper form and you want to make applications for your family members ('dependants') to stay in the UK at the same time, you should send all the applications together in the same envelope. We will then consider your dependants' applications at the lower application fee. If a dependant's application is sent later than or separately from your application, it will be considered in its own right and will be subject to the full application fee.

There are special application requirements if you are currently in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man - see 'More information' below.

More information

  • Can you switch into Tier 2 (Intra company transfer)?

    You can apply to switch into Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer - Long-term staff) without leaving the UK if you are currently here in one of the following immigration categories:

    • Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer - Established staff)
    • Tier 2 (Intra company transfer), under the rules in place before 6 April 2010
    • intra-company transfer work permit holder (except multiple entry work permits)
    • representative of an overseas business (including representatives of overseas media companies)

    In all cases, you must be still working for the same employer named on your previous application.

    If you are not currently in one of the categories above, you must leave the UK and make your application from abroad.

    You cannot switch into any other sub-category of Tier 2 (Intra company transfer).
  • What is the date of your application? (Applying online inside the UK) The application date is the date when you submit your application form and pay your application fee online. Your application wont become valid until your supporting documents are received and your biometric information is enrolled.
  • What is the date of your application? (Applying by post or courier from inside the UK)

    If you send your application form and application fee by post, the date of application is the date of posting. This is decided by the postmark. If the postmark is illegible or missing, the date of postage is taken as being at least 1 day before it is received by us.

    If you send your application form and application fee by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to our payment handling service.

  • What is the date of your application? (Applying in person inside the UK)

    If you are applying in person at one of our public enquiry offices, your application date will be the date when you attend the public enquiry office to make your application and pay your application fee.

  • Withdrawing your application
    Withdrawal of application

    If you want to withdraw your application, you must use the 'return of documents form' on the right side of this page. Your application will not be considered, and we will return your documents to you with no decision. We will not refund the cost of your application if you use this form.       

    If you submit the request before 12:00, we will aim to withdraw your application and return your documents on the same day. We will return your documents by standard recorded delivery. If you want to arrange a courier, please state this on the form and we will contact you with a suitable time for collection.

  • Duplicate applications If you send more than one application, you will be charged the application fee for each application.
  • How to pay your application fee if you are inside the UK

    If you are applying online, you must pay your fee online as part of your application.

    If you are applying by post or courier, you can choose how to pay your application fee:

    • By cheque in sterling on a UK bank account. The application form will tell you who to make the cheque payable to, you should write your full name and date of birth on the back, and attach the cheque to the front of the completed application form. 
    • With a UK postal order. You should write your full name and date of birth on the back, and attach the postal order to the front of the completed application form. 
    • With a credit or debit card - American Express, MasterCard, Visa (including Electron), Delta or Maestro (including Solo). For postal and courier payments, we accept only Maestro cards issued in the UK. You must include the card number, the amount paid, the payer's name as it appears on the card, the 'valid from' and expiry dates, the card verification value (CVV) code, the cardholder's signature and the date. The issue number is also needed for Maestro cards.

    If you are applying and paying in person at a public enquiry office, you can choose how to pay your application fee:

    • With a UK postal order (except at our Glasgow and Cardiff offices). You should write your full name and date of birth on the back.
    • By banker's draft (except at our Glasgow and Cardiff offices). 
    • With a credit or debit card - American Express, MasterCard, Visa (including Electron), Delta or Maestro (including Solo). We can accept any Maestro card for payments at a public enquiry office. You must include the card number, the amount paid, the payer's name as it appears on the card, the 'valid from' and expiry dates, the card verification value (CVV) code, the cardholder's signature and the date. The issue number is also needed for Maestro cards. The cardholder must be present for the payment to be taken.

    Payment by any other method is not accepted.

    You must send the full amount to cover the total cost of your application. If you do not do this, your application will be invalid and will not be considered. We will return your application and part payment to you.

    We start considering the application when the payment has cleared. Payments are cleared:

    • after 5 working days for cheques
    • after 1 working day for credit or debit cards
    • immediately for postal orders

    Please note that, if you are making numerous payments using your credit card, the anti-fraud measures that banks operate sometimes stop payment being taken. This may be because you have exceeded the maximum limit on a single transaction or the number of transactions allowed in a given period of time. You must ensure that you contact your bank in advance, so that the bank will allow the full payment to be taken without any problems when you submit your applications.

    Payment information on the application form

    It is very important that you complete the payment section of the application form correctly. If this section contains errors, we will not be able to process your payment. This will mean that your application is invalid.

Application forms

Request form for return of documents and withdrawal of application - Tiers 2 and 5

Tier 2 - for applications made inside the UK

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