Working from home can be great, but what if you could work from home from a whole other country? Many freelancers are realising they don’t have to stay in their current country and can take their job to a whole other location, preferably somewhere with a pool and sunshine. There are even digital nomads, people who freelance while travelling the world. There are however a few things to consider if you’ve decided to work remotely overseas.
Look at property prices
One of the major factors of moving overseas to work remotely is the property prices. Take a look at some pool villas for sale in Samui, and you’ll notice that the prices are reasonable when you compare it to similar properties in the UK or Australia. If you want to buy, you should do some research into buying overseas, as the process can be quite different. Many ex-pats rent for a while to see if they like the country, so you can look at rental prices too.
Check your company is happy with the change
Lots of companies are now becoming 100% remote, which in theory, means you never have to go into an office. But some companies may still insist their employees live nearby, for a number of reasons:
- Meetings – it’s difficult to hold meetings with people if they’re scattered around the globe
- Events – being remote often means you miss out on things like social events, which can make it harder for people to bond
- Time differences – many workplaces, despite being remote, still work on a 9-5 schedule, and they might not be happy with you working in the middle of the night
It’s also worth checking the company’s future plans. You don’t want to buy a house overseas, then find your company has decided you all need to come in during the week, so make sure this is a permanent thing.
If you’re self-employed, promotion is key
Being self-employed can make a move overseas easier, but it can sometimes be harder to hustle when you’re in a different country. You should definitely use social media to attract more business, and make sure you keep up to date with the goings-on in your industry. A move overseas can put you at an advantage in some ways, as it can open up your business to people across the globe, but it can also make it difficult to attract clients when you can’t meet face to face for a quick coffee.
You may still need a visa
You may think that if you’re self-employed and not working for a local business, you won’t need a visa to move to a new country. But you may be surprised to learn that some countries will still require you to get a visa, even if you’re staying a short time. Find out what kind of visa you’ll need, so you don’t fall foul of the law when you move.
We’d all love to try the expat lifestyle, and remote working may make that possible for a lot more people. But it’s important to do your research before you commit to a move, so you can make informed decisions.
