Tips for working remotely abroad for a few months?

[Anonymous]

My job is fully remote and location agnostic. My wife is able to take summers off. We have three kids.

If we wanted to work abroad for 6-8 weeks during a summer, is there anything specific we should consider? We're starting from zero here, so even the most basic advice would be welcome.

[Anonymous]

Check tax and visa laws. Your company may prohibit you from working out of the country or the country you’re interested in going to may not allow you to work from there (although I’m not sure how they’d know).

[Anonymous]

It is expensive to live in most parts of Europe, so book early. Watch food costs too. Norway for example—very expensive food.

Consider train passes. Some countries have great prices for families, and I find them much less stressful than driving.

Avoid touristy places, which could be very crowded (and overpriced) in the summer. The south can also be quite hot.

Do you speak any other languages (you or your spouse?). If not, that could make everyday chores challenging. If you are rusty, it would be a great way to refresh your skills.

I am a fan of France and Switzerland, especially villages in the countryside.

I think it is a great idea!

[Anonymous]

Time zones - would you have to do meetings? Also as the pp said, are you allowed to work in another country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check tax and visa laws. Your company may prohibit you from working out of the country or the country you’re interested in going to may not allow you to work from there (although I’m not sure how they’d know).

This.

[Anonymous]

Check to see if your employer has any security-related restrictions on taking your laptop to another country.

[Anonymous]

Medical insurance. Make sure you have a policy that works overseas or buy additional insurance.

[Anonymous]

6-8 months in most places will mean you need a plan to leave the country and re-enter at least once because you won't be able to stay there the whole time on a tourist visa.

[Anonymous]

I work from France every summer. The good thing is that the time difference means you have all morning to do whatever you want, but it also means late calls and evening work, if you’re trying to keep the same hours as your colleagues in the US.
It is really fun and worth it though!

[Anonymous]

You can probably do this under the radar easily.

If you were to do it above board there might be work visa and tax issues.

I would t post anything on social media about being or working there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6-8 months in most places will mean you need a plan to leave the country and re-enter at least once because you won't be able to stay there the whole time on a tourist visa.

OP said 6-8 WEEKS. I'm assuming spouse is a teacher/school staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can probably do this under the radar easily.

If you were to do it above board there might be work visa and tax issues.

I would t post anything on social media about being or working there.

IT will know. IT always knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check to see if your employer has any security-related restrictions on taking your laptop to another country.

+1

My company is super flexible and totally fine with you working anywhere... in the US. And every couple of months someone will email us from Europe and be like "oh, hey, I'm in France and I can't get on the VPN." YUP. And now you just took five unexpected vacation days and everyone is pissed at you.

[Anonymous]

Lots of tax implications. My company fired someone for doing this 2 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check to see if your employer has any security-related restrictions on taking your laptop to another country.

+1

My company is super flexible and totally fine with you working anywhere... in the US. And every couple of months someone will email us from Europe and be like "oh, hey, I'm in France and I can't get on the VPN." YUP. And now you just took five unexpected vacation days and everyone is pissed at you.

Was coming here to say this. I have a friend that this happened to.