Wait, don’t tell us: Whether you aspire to the Emily in Paris lifestyle or feel like you need a serious change of scenery right now, fantasies of moving overseas live rent-free in your head. Yet making it actually happen for yourself while keeping your current job—well, that feels like an impossible task.
Turns out, working abroad for a U.S.-based company is entirely manageable, so long as you take the time to understand the technical and lifestyle complications involved. We’re here to break it all down for you so you (and whoever else you want to take with you!) can confidently book that one-way ticket.
Filter and sort the 400,000+ open jobs on The Muse to find the perfect role for you »
How to handle the HR stuff
Before you do anything—yes, even looking at properties or telling your manager your hopes and dreams—you need to educate yourself on regional laws and the other ramifications of going to work in another country. Because honestly, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies.
“There’s this romantic notion of, ‘Hey, I’m going to go live in this other country,’” says Marissa Andrada, a seasoned HR leader and former chief people officer for brands including Chipotle, Kate Spade, and Starbucks who’s developed and supported global teams, relocation efforts, and expats. “You’ve got to think about the hidden costs associated with choosing to work remotely.”
Below are some of the basics to consider.
Visas
Work visas come in many shapes, sizes, and acronyms, so your first stop here is to check out the country’s official government website for clarification on requirements and lengths of stay.
Next, you’ll want to sift through your HR materials (or contact an HR rep) for information on whether your company has previously obtained, or is able to obtain, remote work visas for employees, and what the process entails.
In addition to paperwork around your citizenship, background, and long-term plans, you also might have to offer proof during the application process that your skill set is unique enough and needed in your country of choice.
“Your direct manager can vouch for that,” Andrada says, which is why their buy-in, along with that of leadership and human resources, is key.
Payroll
Wherever you choose to live, you’ll be paid in that region’s currency. This means that you not only have to consider conversion rates in relation to your current salary, but also expect the possibility of your salary decreasing because of the conversion and costs of living in your new home.
As a result, you’ll want to think wisely about your decision, Andrada says, in order to balance out and account for the potential loss in income.
Benefits
Your health benefits may shift based on where you’re located, so review your options with HR. Some companies provide similar perks for all workers no matter where they’re based, while others may adhere to local coverage or provide stipends in place of health insurance. In preparation, expats “need to get used to the different ways of accessing their health benefits,” Andrada says.
In terms of other benefits and protections, you’ll have to turn to your local government for support. “The U.S. has jurisdiction over U.S. laws,” explains Dolly Clabault, an editor at compliance network J. J. Keller, who specializes in federal employment law topics such as paid parental leave and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). “Employees who work overseas, even if they work for a U.S. entity, don’t always have those laws [to protect them].”
Taxes
While working overseas, “you could get taxed locally where you are depending on the rules and regulations for that country,” Andrada explains. “But don’t forget, because you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll also get taxed by the IRS.”
When in doubt, visit the IRS’s website for more information. For clarity on social security and retirement benefits, check out the U.S. government’s page on international agreements for abroad workers.
Keep in mind, too, that any company stock you’re given as part of your offer will also come into play during tax season, even when you live outside the U.S. “Even if you don’t cash out that stock, whenever the vesting happens, you will be taxed for that,” Andrada says.
How to work abroad successfully
So you’ve checked all the legal and compliance boxes for moving far away. Now comes the maybe-just-as-hard part: Finding a way to work productively, confidently, and without hiccups.
Here are some of our best tips for remote work success.
Set and share your “office hours”
Working across time zones has its pros and cons. The upsides include the ability to “stay open,” so to speak, at all hours, and the opportunity to get ahead on projects by leveraging when staff are logged on. The main downside, of course, is not having access to certain team members all the time.
One of the best solutions to this problem is to set core working or office hours—say, three to five hours a day when you’re online alongside everyone else on your team.
Some people just work U.S. hours no matter where they are, but that’s not always feasible if you’re particularly far away or have to also balance parenting or other priorities. Setting aside this period of “on” time will save you from having to answer the phone in the middle of the night or worrying you’ll never get any facetime with colleagues. Just make sure whatever hours you decide on are approved and adhered to by your manager and others.
Master remote tools
Software and hardware are going to be your best friends as a remote worker. They’ll allow you to monitor yours and others’ progress on the reg, get in touch with key stakeholders easily and when necessary, and generally feel connected to your cohort from afar.
All this to say, be sure you’re a pro at using whatever tech your organization deploys. If your company or team doesn’t have reliable tools in place, make the case for why you should invest in or adopt some before you make the move.
Prioritize proactive and consistent communication
Strong communication is probably one of the most important aspects of remote teams. Without it, mistrust and chaos can quickly creep in.
However you choose to work, prioritize open and frequent correspondence, and switch up how you communicate. Schedule regular check-ins with your boss to review your to-do list and performance, as well as long-term goals. Take the initiative to grab virtual coffees with coworkers or attend Employee Resource Group (ERG) meetings over Zoom.
If you’re not sure what kind of communication works best for your team in light of your new location, it never hurts to ask. “Get alignment with your team on, ‘Hey, when are the times when I can text you or shoot you a message and I know I’m going to hear from you?’” Andrada suggests.
How to achieve career bliss abroad
You’ve likely chosen to move to a foreign land for reasons completely unrelated to your career. That said, your new life will inevitably impact your happiness and fulfillment at work. To maintain that blissful feeling for months or years to come, try doing the following.
Make sure the lifestyle and culture suits you
Not only is it helpful to educate and expose yourself to your new lifestyle, but it’s also crucial to really evaluate whether you like and fit into it—and could tolerate it for longer than a couple weeks. Consider how your working routine may change living overseas as well as your life outside of work, such as convenience of certain hobbies or social interactions.
Find ways to incorporate old comforts
You may have to change some things about your work routine to accommodate the expectations of your new environment, but at the same time, it’s OK to keep other things the same. Whether you stick to your morning coffee routine or recreate the same home office in your new place, leverage those creature comforts to soften the adjustment period and supercharge your productivity on the job.
Take advantage of local perks
Does your company have a headquarters close by that you can work from? Are there staffers in the area you can meet up with? Could you join a nearby coworking space or networking group related to your field? With a local community behind you, you’ll be better equipped to sustain this new lifestyle long-term, while also advancing your career in the right direction.