Working remotely from Punjab for an overseas employer
The questions to settle with your employer, and with yourself, before working from your pind for a company abroad. Approval, payroll, timezone, security, insurance and day-tracking.
Remote work makes the two-country life realistic for office roles, but "my laptop works anywhere" is not the same as "my employer, my bank and two tax offices agree". This guide walks the questions in the order they usually matter.
Confirm your employer actually permits international remote work
Many companies allow remote work within the country but have never decided about overseas. Ask directly, in writing. HR may need to check payroll, insurance and data rules before answering. A slow yes is better than a quiet no discovered later.
Check which countries the role legally supports
On IkkoPind, remote listings state where they can be worked from: worldwide, selected countries, or only the employer's country. Outside IkkoPind, ask. An employer saying "remote" usually means remote where they already employ people.
Understand employee versus contractor status
Some employers can only support an overseas arrangement by converting you to an independent contractor. That changes your leave, protections, superannuation/pension and tax treatment. Read our comparison guide before agreeing.
Confirm payroll currency and payment method
- Which currency will you be paid in?
- Into which country's bank account?
- Who carries the transfer fees and exchange spread?
- Does payday still work with Indian banking hours?
Agree the timezone overlap
Punjab is roughly 4.5 to 5.5 hours behind eastern Australia depending on the season. Agree core overlap hours in writing and protect your evenings. A "flexible" arrangement that means 9pm calls every night is not flexible.
Check equipment and information-security rules
- Can company equipment leave the employer's country?
- Are there countries the security team restricts?
- Is a VPN required, and does it work reliably at your pind's connection?
- Power cuts happen, so agree what "reachable" means.
Understand insurance and healthcare arrangements
Employer insurance often stops at the border. Check what covers you in India for workplace injury, equipment and health, and read our healthcare guide for the between-countries basics.
Track your days in each country
Days in each country drive tax residency, healthcare eligibility and some visa conditions. Keep a simple running count from day one. Your plan's immigration area has a task for exactly this.
Make an emergency return plan
Agree with your employer what happens if you must return suddenly, and keep enough aside for a short-notice fare. A plan you never use is cheap; needing one you don't have is not.
Turn this guide into action
- Get written employer approval for working from India
- Confirm which countries the role legally supports
- Clarify employee vs contractor status in writing
- Agree payroll currency, account and who pays transfer fees
- Agree core timezone-overlap hours in writing
- Check the security team's country and VPN rules
- Confirm what insurance covers you while in India
- Start a residency-day count for both countries