Remote work abroad: what it means and what employers expect

Quick Answer

• Remote work abroad means working from your own home in the country where you are employed

• It does not mean working from your home country or from anywhere you like

• Employers expect a fixed address there, your own workspace, cover for your shifts and registration in that country

• The exact arrangement depends on the employer and your contract

What does remote work abroad actually mean?

Remote work abroad means you move to another country, you are employed there and you work from home instead of an office. Your flat in Lisbon or Thessaloniki becomes your workplace. It is not a digital nomad life of moving from place to place, but it is not an office job either. Think of it as one country, one home and one fixed place to work.

Can I work remotely from my home country or from anywhere I like?

No, as a rule you work from your address in the country where you are employed. Your contract, your taxes and your social security are all tied to that country. Flying home for a holiday is fine, but logging in from your parents' kitchen table is a different story.

Whether you can ever work somewhere else depends on your employer and your contract, so ask before you assume. Curious which roles work this way? Have a look at our remote jobs abroad.

What do employers expect from you as a remote employee?

Employers expect four things: a fixed address in the country, your own workspace, cover for your shifts and registration where you work. These basics apply broadly, whichever employer you end up with.

1. A fixed address in the country

You need a place to live that becomes your official address, whether that is a flat of your own or a room in a shared house. Picture yourself in Athens or on Crete? Then that is where your address will be, once you settle into one of our jobs in Greece. Still debating the move? Some employers arrange temporary accommodation for your first weeks, so you have time to find a place of your own.

2. Your own quiet workspace

Your workspace needs to be quiet, private and connected. You take calls and handle customer details, so a busy café or a living room full of flatmates will not work. A desk behind a door you can close, plus a reliable internet connection, usually does the job. 💻

No traffic jams, no stress, and time for a coffee or a quick swim during your break: for many people who make the move, that is what makes remote work abroad worth it.“

3. Covering your shifts

Remote does not mean choosing your own hours. You are online and available for the shifts you are scheduled for, just as you would be in an office. What those shifts look like differs per vacancy, from evenings and weekends to weekdays, so check the vacancy before you apply.

4. Your local tax and social security numbers

Because you are employed in that country, you pay tax and social security there, so you need a local tax number and a social security number. For working in Portugal those are the NIF and the NISS, in Greece the AFM and the AMKA. It is a legal requirement, not a formality, but you won't have to figure it out alone: during the process it becomes clear what you need for your move, and our recruiters can tell you everything about it.

What else should I ask before I start?

Everything beyond those four basics differs per employer. Who provides your laptop and headset, whether your training happens on-site or online, whether there are office days: none of it is standard. The employer and your contract are the reliable sources, so read both carefully and ask your recruiter about anything unclear.

Is remote work abroad right for you?

Remote work abroad suits you if you are self-disciplined and happy to build a social life outside work. There is no colleague at the next desk, so you find your people yourself: a language class, a sports club, the neighbours on your street. Some love the quiet focus, others start missing a chat at the coffee machine after a few weeks.

In return you get no commute, breaks on your own balcony and a new city on your doorstep the moment you log off. See how Tim and Tess built their remote life in Thessaloniki.

Remote work gives you a lot of freedom, but you have to build the structure yourself. Once I figured that out, it started to feel like the best setup I had ever had.”

Where can I find remote jobs abroad?

Most remote roles are in customer service: Dutch speakers find them in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Bulgaria, German speakers mainly in Greece. Not every role works the same way. Some jobs are fully remote from day one, while at other employers working from home is an option once you have settled in and are doing well. That is never a guarantee, and it is always agreed with your employer. Each vacancy spells out what applies, so you know where you stand before you apply. Browse all remote jobs abroad and find the one that fits the life you have in mind. 🌍