Work in the UK for foreigners

[Vadim]

Hello,
I'm a web-developer and I live in Russia. I don't have UK work permit but in spite of that I worked remotely on a London company. I sent them my invoices and they paid them via bank as all their other bills. This money went into my bank account in Russia.
I'd like to know if this way to work was legal or not? Or maybe you know any other legal way to work on UK companies without acquiring UK work permit?
Thanks for your help in advance.

[ostell]

Re: Work in the UK for foreigners

That is not a problem. You are not "working" for them, you are working for yourself and provide an invoiced service to a UK company. They are not paying you wages or deducting for tax and other legal deductions so you are not working for them.

[teaboy2]

Re: Work in the UK for foreigners

Agreed with [MENTION=39331]ostell[/MENTION] - You sent them invoices, therefore your not an employee of the company, but a contractor providing them a service and billing them for it. Much like a plumber would come to your hours to repair your boiler, shower etc, and then send/give you an invoice for the work the plumber did!

So really you only need a UK work Permit to work as an employee in the UK itself, you don't need a permit if your not actually working in the UK. So even if you were paid a wage and were contractually an employee, the fact you live and carry out your work in Russia means you wouldn't need a work permit either. Only obstacle there might be, is if there is sanctions placed by the UK/EU against subcontracting work to people living within russia. Though i don't know if there is such sanctions or not. But even if there is, the liability falls with the company that contracted you not with yourself.

[Vadim]

Re: Work in the UK for foreigners

Glad to hear it. Thank you very much, guys.