International People Placement (IPP)

The International People Placement (IPP) team comprises representatives from Human Resources, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of the Vice President for Finance, and the Office of the Associate Provost for International Activities.

Occasionally, a program, project, or activity needs to be supported by hiring a new employee in, or posting a current employee to, a foreign country for an extended period of time (longer than 30 calendar days). For those cases, prior approval is required by either the provost or executive vice president and treasurer (EVPT), or by their designees.

In situations where MIT employees cannot work in a foreign country or MIT cannot hire an individual directly in-country due to increased tax and employment risks, the IPP team can help find a solution that works for your project and budget.

There are many factors to consider when structuring this relationship and it is important to evaluate the benefits and risks of each option. Please contact the IPP team early in your planning to discuss the requirements of your project, as some options require substantial lead time.

The IPP team reviews work abroad requests for all staff (including post-docs), affiliates, and fellows performing work for/on behalf of MIT, regardless of whether the appointment is paid or unpaid. You can learn more about remote student appointments.

The IPP team does not currently approve requests for faculty; however, information about faculty working abroad should be sent to the IPP team so they can track overall presence in each country and advise faculty and department, lab, or centers (DLCs) on, and help mitigate, potential risks.

The DLC (not the individual employee) should submit this brief intake form (Word download) to the IPP team so that they can assess country-specific employment and labor-related issues. Before submitting a form, the DLC should confirm that an employee has legal authorization to work in the proposed country (either by being a citizen/permanent resident of that country or by having the proper visa/work permit).

The cost of hiring or placing employees internationally is borne by the DLC. Because costs vary depending on the country and employment arrangement, the IPP will work with you to understand and assess the cost components and mechanics of your international placement(s).

Depending on the project agreement, there are a number of costs associated with international assignments, such as.

• Pre-assignment costs: travel and shipment of goods and items such as visas, work permits, and tax briefing.
• On-assignment costs: cost of living adjustments, health benefits, tax equalization, and periodic travel home.
• Post-assignment costs:  additional tax briefing(s), return shipment of goods, and final travel home.

These cost considerations apply to long-term assignments, as well as those that are shorter than a year but longer than typical business travel. For more information, please contact the IPP team.