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Kevin,

You need to speak to your company. You need a resident visa then your family could have supporting visas issued and they could come and go hassle free. I don't believe there is any other solution.
Sure, you could get a m/e business visa for your wife but not for a 3 year old. The purpose of a business visa is just that, to come in and do business, not to work. Chances are there is a stamp stating that the bearer is not permitted to work in the Jamahiyiya on the visa.

The Swiss dude who was banged up for 18 months, that's what they bust his ass on. Working on a business visa and avoiding taxes.

H

Thanks for the quick reply.

Are you sure that if I am working for a European company, spending less than 180 days per year in Libya, and paid in the UK, that I should somehow pay taxes in the UK and in Libya?

As you pointed out, the problem with me getting a work or resident visa is the issue of being a Libyan taxpayer which in my case I don't think I should be.

I had the same problem in China last year, and when it got close to 180 days I had to restrict my visits to be sure not to be confused as a resident.

Anyone know what the taxation rules are in Libya for someone in my situation? If I am supposed to pay tax I need to know NOW. I definately don't want to be in the same boat as the poor guy mentioned.

If this is a common problem that can't be avoided without a work/resident visa then I'd like to be able to put it behind me and just adjust my travel budget accordingly.

Cheers.

Kevin.

ps. Hopefully it's safe to discuss this on the forum since I'm only trying to make sure that I don't breach any rules/laws.

Kevin,

My take on it is that if you are working here you are due taxes here regardless of where you receive your salary. Check your contract, your employers should be liable for your local taxes anyhows.

You are not supposed to be working on a business visa so technically you are working illegally anyway so how can you declare taxes. Don't panic though, most folk here are on business visas due to the complicated Immigration bureaucracy.

If you are concerned you should check with someone like PWC or Ernst for advice. For sure there are different rules for different circumstances. I don't know enough on the subject so won't comment further.

I don't understand , why you guys don't go to Alsreem street to immigration and ask ,
you can get what you want from them and get all info you need and send an invitation , 15 dinar instead of 170
it's slower but work
I invited my friend from USA ,cost  15 dinar , and 0.75 tax

Visa very strict because its a reaction against uk embassy
visa with visa , thats what government do , and i like it,
equality

Visa very strict because its a reaction against uk embassy
visa with visa , thats what government do , and i like it,
equality

Me too - as our PRO guy pointed out (at the same time as pointing to his left eye), Kevin - it's an eye for and eye my friend - but nothing personal - (fair enough I say).

So do you think that if I'm prepared to spend a day at the immigration office in Alsreem Street I'll find a nice English speaking person that will give me all the necessary forms to fill out and eventually get a couple of 3/6M multi-entry visitor visa's (thats what I think I need for them instead of tourist or business)?

Now that would be nice (even if I'm sure the experience of queuing up and spending a day in that office won't be).

As I said in the post title, I'm sure there must be a better way... maybe that's it. At least I'll have some control over the situation and know exactly where I stand.

Cheers.

Kevin

Kev

Working on a business visa will only get you into a load of bother. Business visas are there for unpaid "work" such as business meetings with clients etc.

I recently spent 10 days in the custody of the Immigration Service in Nigeria after they investigated my comings and goings on business visas dating back to 2005/2006.

You definitely need a residence visa. If your company isn't prepared to do this for you, I would seriously think again if you should be working for them.

Good advice Sandman, thanks!

I know this is a very grey area, and in theory, if you are here on a business trip, even just for a meeting, you're still working for someone, and presumably getting paid so should you also cough up some tax to the Libyan IR? Hmmm? I think thats where the 180 days rule usually comes in but I need to be sure.

In my case, I'm here on a collaboration project that is non profit generating, neither for my company in the UK, nor for our Libyan Sponser (who's a shareholder of our UK company). Where do they draw the line I wonder? Those guys here for their meeting are possibly, hopefully, eventually, generating profit for their company, but in my case I am definately not, so what would they tax?

Hmmm, I think this might be a discussion best had over a cold beer somewhere on a Thursday evening

Kev

A grey area indeed. Technically you are working if you are receiving compensation (whether in Libya or elsewhere) for whatever you are doing in Libya.

The onus is always on the traveller to prove that they are not "working". In your case, the fact that you are spending a lot of time in Libya would be viewed in a negative light and I think you'd be on a sticky wicket trying to tell them that you we're there purely for the love of it!

Good luck...