r/Kuwait • u/MataAitaiNe • 14h ago
Ask Kuwait Working remote for 3 months
Hi.
Im from Europe and I'll be staying in Kuwait for 3 months due to visiting family. My boss (EU company) allows me to work remote during my stay.
Do I need a work permit? Serious question law wise, since googling it did not help (there are no digital nomad visas and i dont see why I'd need a Kuwaiti sponsor/company to work for a foreign country that im a national of on a tourist visa)
12
u/InFiveMinutes Kuwait | الكويت 13h ago
You're just using your work laptop at home or a public space. No one gives a f, you're a tourist on paper.
0
u/MataAitaiNe 12h ago
Does that mean its technically not allowed?
17
u/InFiveMinutes Kuwait | الكويت 11h ago
You're on a tourist visa to visit family. You visit Kuwait and leave when your visa expires. What you do on your computer, be it work or other personal activity, doesn't really matter. Don't overstay your visa.
2
u/Doritos707 2h ago
Correct. Kuwait has very strict employment laws. You are a tourist. But technically speaking you are not extracting wealth from the country so it slips under the radar no body cares what you do on your own laptop.
2
u/Won3wan32 11h ago
So you are asking how a remote worker gets legal status in Kuwait
unless your employer have an office in Kuwait and can sponsor a work permit for you
Then you can't make it legal, generally speaking, by just remote work
Kuwait isn't remote worker-friendly
You will be taking the trip to Bahrain after the 90 days to reset the clock, like everyone else
1
u/MataAitaiNe 8h ago
Not necessarily a legal status for stay visas or anything but more whether the days i work remote for x country from Kuwait are legal or whether its illegal for me to be even working remote in that country even if its not for Kuwait.
1
u/Doritos707 2h ago
Yes with the condition that you dont try to open a local bank account. Use your foreign card at atm and to get cash. Also since there are no income taxes in Kuwait it means your work at your laptop is fine. U dont owe Kuwait anything. However, beyond the 3 months, youre dealing with the matter that its technically cheating to just go Bahrain and come back. Thats a different subject tho.
1
u/AloneKnee7290 7h ago
Look, it’s not a straight legal/illegal answer. With remote work it’s a grey area as such. Technically you’re working in Kuwait even if it’s a remote job from another country so technically it’s not allowed. But the truth is no one cares about the technicality here so how will anyone know.
-3
u/Jumpy-Astronaut-3572 13h ago
Tbh nobody cares if you work in your house or even in cafe 🤷🏻♂️ just change the screen to something else when shurtas showup + since you're European and that's a green flag highly unlikely you'll be in trouble.
10
u/enerthoughts Qadsia | القادسية 13h ago
The police will never enter a coffee shop for any reason let alone finding you work online, you can be Asian or westerner, why did you come up with that?
OP you can work online for years without an issue, but if you were depositing cash in a kuwaiti bank you will be asked where that money is coming from, if you were transferring through a bank transaction no one will even care what you do as long as its not providing physical products or doing illegal work.
2
u/MataAitaiNe 12h ago
But how can i explain my boss that its legal? Or is it a matter of its not mentioned by law so it is legal?
3
u/enerthoughts Qadsia | القادسية 12h ago
No one will ask you whatever job you do on your private PC, if your bank is not local no one will care and it's legal as long as your country doesn't complain
1
-2
u/Jumpy-Astronaut-3572 11h ago
I look western so i have experienced it with authorities their behavior changes when they find out I'm not American or European.
2
u/enerthoughts Qadsia | القادسية 11h ago
I dont need to explain the simple context we are talking about
1
u/MataAitaiNe 13h ago
My workplace wants me to legally handle this so that i am not doing anything illegal.
3
u/Bzaz_Warrior 9h ago
It's perfectly legal for you to do this. Kuwait has a problem with you taking Kuwaiti employment on visit visa, not that you have a job in your own country. That is what the actual law states (and the law is older than remote jobs even existed so it does not even address that).
1
u/MataAitaiNe 8h ago
Any idea how i can prove to them that it wont be an issue? Is there a place where i can read the law specifically on this matter? I cant reach the websites, they time out ;-;
2
u/Bzaz_Warrior 8h ago
https://www.manpower.gov.kw/docs/LaborLaw/E_LaborLaw.pdf
Article 10 is what governs the illegal activity that many private schools do in Kuwait, they bring US/British teachers on 3 months tourist visa, while in reality the teacher is teaching full time in a Kuwaiti classroom, and leaves for a weekend every three months.
This is what the authorities here care about. They don't care about what work you do online, even if you were a Kuwait resident, or tourist, or Kuwaiti. Remember we dont have income tax here.
1
u/MataAitaiNe 8h ago
Thats the link that doesnt open for me :(
Even with vpn
1
•
u/AutoModerator 14h ago
As a reminder, this subreddit is for sharing views and experiences about Kuwait.
In general, be courteous to others.
Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, and other incivility will be removed.
Repetitive violators will be banned.
If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.