Tips for working remotely abroad for a few months?

[Anonymous]

This site does appear to contradict some of the concern from PPs about tourist visas being insufficient:

https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-news/digital-nomad-visas-eu-countries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are no tax issues or anything at play if it's less than 90 days, people! OP will be on a waiver, not even a tourist visa, for most countries where OP might want to go that also have a great internet connection.

Check the internet connection, OP. That's the most critical thing. We spent a few months in France last year, and the most picturesque, non-urban locations may not have the wifi you want. It's the first thing we clarified with every AirBnB we wanted to rent.

This is just wrong. Completely wrong, as are all the responses from PPs saying that there are no issues with being a digital nomad. Ignoring the laws and having no repercussions doesn’t make something legal. For most countries, you cannot work - even for a foreign employer- while on a tourist visa. Yes, laws are largely ignored by Americans but tourists visas aren’t meant to allow you work and residence.

The tax implications for the US employer are quite real. Again, often ignored and difficult to track but still applicable

-immigration/employment atty

Americans don't need tourist visas for most countries and can stay up to 90 days. My company encourages working abroad for up to 10wks a year. We have a Global Work Advisor who you need to work through but I have never had my request denied. We just do EU countries. This is a completely US based company.

This is what annoys me about this thread: the entitled, arrogant American response. I know PP believes this, most Americans do. They completely believe that it is their RIGHT to go to any country and stay and work on a TOURIST visa because - well - they're rich, white Americans with enough disposable income to allow them to do it. Just so you know, tourist visas are only permissible for tourist activities during that 90 day period. They do not encompass work, even if it is virtual for a foreign based employer.

What I find crazy about this thread is all the PPs who insist that they can go work virtually in a foreign country as tourists. But just imagine for a hot second if Mexicans, Syrians, Liberians, Nigerians, or other nationality were to dare enter the US as tourists and claim their right to work as a digital nomad. It's considered a violation of status and ground for revocation of that tourist visa. In most cases, work (of any kind) is a violation of the terms of your tourist visa - particularly in visa waiver status. Yes, there are some countries that allow it but you must do the research on that. For example, I think some Caribbean nations were permitting it explicitly to draw tourism dollars.

There are some EU nations that offer a specific "digital nomad" style visa. Italy is one of them. you must apply for that visa specifically and submit evidence of your current US based income. This will grant the type of work authorization that would be needed for a virtual worker. It does not grant work authorization in country for domestic employers.

The point is that Americans think they can do anything at any time where the reality is that there are laws that you should be looking to for guidance. We just like to ignore them. Because 'Merica.

While being completely dismissive you are also completely wrong. From the EU website:

"Remote workers only need to get a digital nomad visa if they will stay longer than the time permitted with a tourist visa. In this case, they have to meet the digital nomad visa requirements, which normally includes proof of funds.

It’s important to know that neither a digital nomad visa or a tourist visa allows the holder to be employed by a local company. To be employed by a company in Europe, non-EU citizens need a national work permit or EU Blue Card (if eligible)."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are no tax issues or anything at play if it's less than 90 days, people! OP will be on a waiver, not even a tourist visa, for most countries where OP might want to go that also have a great internet connection.

Check the internet connection, OP. That's the most critical thing. We spent a few months in France last year, and the most picturesque, non-urban locations may not have the wifi you want. It's the first thing we clarified with every AirBnB we wanted to rent.

This is just wrong. Completely wrong, as are all the responses from PPs saying that there are no issues with being a digital nomad. Ignoring the laws and having no repercussions doesn’t make something legal. For most countries, you cannot work - even for a foreign employer- while on a tourist visa. Yes, laws are largely ignored by Americans but tourists visas aren’t meant to allow you work and residence.

The tax implications for the US employer are quite real. Again, often ignored and difficult to track but still applicable

-immigration/employment atty

Americans don't need tourist visas for most countries and can stay up to 90 days. My company encourages working abroad for up to 10wks a year. We have a Global Work Advisor who you need to work through but I have never had my request denied. We just do EU countries. This is a completely US based company.

This is what annoys me about this thread: the entitled, arrogant American response. I know PP believes this, most Americans do. They completely believe that it is their RIGHT to go to any country and stay and work on a TOURIST visa because - well - they're rich, white Americans with enough disposable income to allow them to do it. Just so you know, tourist visas are only permissible for tourist activities during that 90 day period. They do not encompass work, even if it is virtual for a foreign based employer.

What I find crazy about this thread is all the PPs who insist that they can go work virtually in a foreign country as tourists. But just imagine for a hot second if Mexicans, Syrians, Liberians, Nigerians, or other nationality were to dare enter the US as tourists and claim their right to work as a digital nomad. It's considered a violation of status and ground for revocation of that tourist visa. In most cases, work (of any kind) is a violation of the terms of your tourist visa - particularly in visa waiver status. Yes, there are some countries that allow it but you must do the research on that. For example, I think some Caribbean nations were permitting it explicitly to draw tourism dollars.

There are some EU nations that offer a specific "digital nomad" style visa. Italy is one of them. you must apply for that visa specifically and submit evidence of your current US based income. This will grant the type of work authorization that would be needed for a virtual worker. It does not grant work authorization in country for domestic employers.

The point is that Americans think they can do anything at any time where the reality is that there are laws that you should be looking to for guidance. We just like to ignore them. Because 'Merica.

While being completely dismissive you are also completely wrong. From the EU website:

"Remote workers only need to get a digital nomad visa if they will stay longer than the time permitted with a tourist visa. In this case, they have to meet the digital nomad visa requirements, which normally includes proof of funds.

It’s important to know that neither a digital nomad visa or a tourist visa allows the holder to be employed by a local company. To be employed by a company in Europe, non-EU citizens need a national work permit or EU Blue Card (if eligible)."

NP. The EU does not set visa policy; the individual member countries do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are no tax issues or anything at play if it's less than 90 days, people! OP will be on a waiver, not even a tourist visa, for most countries where OP might want to go that also have a great internet connection.

Check the internet connection, OP. That's the most critical thing. We spent a few months in France last year, and the most picturesque, non-urban locations may not have the wifi you want. It's the first thing we clarified with every AirBnB we wanted to rent.

This is just wrong. Completely wrong, as are all the responses from PPs saying that there are no issues with being a digital nomad. Ignoring the laws and having no repercussions doesn’t make something legal. For most countries, you cannot work - even for a foreign employer- while on a tourist visa. Yes, laws are largely ignored by Americans but tourists visas aren’t meant to allow you work and residence.

The tax implications for the US employer are quite real. Again, often ignored and difficult to track but still applicable

-immigration/employment atty

Americans don't need tourist visas for most countries and can stay up to 90 days. My company encourages working abroad for up to 10wks a year. We have a Global Work Advisor who you need to work through but I have never had my request denied. We just do EU countries. This is a completely US based company.

This is what annoys me about this thread: the entitled, arrogant American response. I know PP believes this, most Americans do. They completely believe that it is their RIGHT to go to any country and stay and work on a TOURIST visa because - well - they're rich, white Americans with enough disposable income to allow them to do it. Just so you know, tourist visas are only permissible for tourist activities during that 90 day period. They do not encompass work, even if it is virtual for a foreign based employer.

What I find crazy about this thread is all the PPs who insist that they can go work virtually in a foreign country as tourists. But just imagine for a hot second if Mexicans, Syrians, Liberians, Nigerians, or other nationality were to dare enter the US as tourists and claim their right to work as a digital nomad. It's considered a violation of status and ground for revocation of that tourist visa. In most cases, work (of any kind) is a violation of the terms of your tourist visa - particularly in visa waiver status. Yes, there are some countries that allow it but you must do the research on that. For example, I think some Caribbean nations were permitting it explicitly to draw tourism dollars.

There are some EU nations that offer a specific "digital nomad" style visa. Italy is one of them. you must apply for that visa specifically and submit evidence of your current US based income. This will grant the type of work authorization that would be needed for a virtual worker. It does not grant work authorization in country for domestic employers.

The point is that Americans think they can do anything at any time where the reality is that there are laws that you should be looking to for guidance. We just like to ignore them. Because 'Merica.

While being completely dismissive you are also completely wrong. From the EU website:

"Remote workers only need to get a digital nomad visa if they will stay longer than the time permitted with a tourist visa. In this case, they have to meet the digital nomad visa requirements, which normally includes proof of funds.

It’s important to know that neither a digital nomad visa or a tourist visa allows the holder to be employed by a local company. To be employed by a company in Europe, non-EU citizens need a national work permit or EU Blue Card (if eligible)."

PP. Not wrong at all. Tourist visa and/or visa waiver does not permit work authorization in country. The nationality of your employer does not determine whether work authorization is required. It is your physical presence. So all the PPs saying that they are working for US companies are wrong. That is irrelevant. It is your physical presence in that foreign country that governs.

Again, Americans should at least pretend to care about local laws. If you are going on a brief two week trip where you will be a tourist but taking your laptop, you are likely not in violation of any status. However, if your purpose is to go to a foreign country, work and remain for months, you are in violation of your tourist visa parameters. Tax regs are a separate issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are no tax issues or anything at play if it's less than 90 days, people! OP will be on a waiver, not even a tourist visa, for most countries where OP might want to go that also have a great internet connection.

Check the internet connection, OP. That's the most critical thing. We spent a few months in France last year, and the most picturesque, non-urban locations may not have the wifi you want. It's the first thing we clarified with every AirBnB we wanted to rent.

This is just wrong. Completely wrong, as are all the responses from PPs saying that there are no issues with being a digital nomad. Ignoring the laws and having no repercussions doesn’t make something legal. For most countries, you cannot work - even for a foreign employer- while on a tourist visa. Yes, laws are largely ignored by Americans but tourists visas aren’t meant to allow you work and residence.

The tax implications for the US employer are quite real. Again, often ignored and difficult to track but still applicable

-immigration/employment atty

Americans don't need tourist visas for most countries and can stay up to 90 days. My company encourages working abroad for up to 10wks a year. We have a Global Work Advisor who you need to work through but I have never had my request denied. We just do EU countries. This is a completely US based company.

This is what annoys me about this thread: the entitled, arrogant American response. I know PP believes this, most Americans do. They completely believe that it is their RIGHT to go to any country and stay and work on a TOURIST visa because - well - they're rich, white Americans with enough disposable income to allow them to do it. Just so you know, tourist visas are only permissible for tourist activities during that 90 day period. They do not encompass work, even if it is virtual for a foreign based employer.

What I find crazy about this thread is all the PPs who insist that they can go work virtually in a foreign country as tourists. But just imagine for a hot second if Mexicans, Syrians, Liberians, Nigerians, or other nationality were to dare enter the US as tourists and claim their right to work as a digital nomad. It's considered a violation of status and ground for revocation of that tourist visa. In most cases, work (of any kind) is a violation of the terms of your tourist visa - particularly in visa waiver status. Yes, there are some countries that allow it but you must do the research on that. For example, I think some Caribbean nations were permitting it explicitly to draw tourism dollars.

There are some EU nations that offer a specific "digital nomad" style visa. Italy is one of them. you must apply for that visa specifically and submit evidence of your current US based income. This will grant the type of work authorization that would be needed for a virtual worker. It does not grant work authorization in country for domestic employers.

The point is that Americans think they can do anything at any time where the reality is that there are laws that you should be looking to for guidance. We just like to ignore them. Because 'Merica.

While being completely dismissive you are also completely wrong. From the EU website:

"Remote workers only need to get a digital nomad visa if they will stay longer than the time permitted with a tourist visa. In this case, they have to meet the digital nomad visa requirements, which normally includes proof of funds.

It’s important to know that neither a digital nomad visa or a tourist visa allows the holder to be employed by a local company. To be employed by a company in Europe, non-EU citizens need a national work permit or EU Blue Card (if eligible)."

And it's not dismissive at all. Americans are so arrogant about this. But can you imagine if a - gulp - Mexican citizen did this??? Jesus. You'd all be up in arms. Mexicans here working remotely. Not if you can help it. I just cannot handle the hypocrisy of how Americans believe that they are entitled to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely work for your US company in another country. It's called being a digital nomad. Everyone here is just jealous of you.

I like Latin America because the time difference is better and the cost of living is economical, you get more bang for your buck. I'd look at Medellín, Colombia - it's like a smaller NYC in Latin America.

Haha, I just spent a week in Medellin. If I were to digital nomad in Colombia, I'd pick Bogota. So many great neighborhoods in north Bogota with a wide array of food options, access to BRT, and amazing weather and women. Good hotel supply.

Medellin was nice and I'm glad I went but I simply prefer Bogota.

[Anonymous]

Ex-pat in Belgium here. Hopping on to reiterate what others have said regarding work visas and permits. You will need to register for a work permit, even if you’re employed by a company in a different country and receive wages in a different currency. Sometimes this can be a pretty quick process and only take a week; other times the processing can be up to six months. Something you may or may not already know about Belgium is that it is an incredibly complex bureaucratic country. There are three official languages, three separate government systems, and a ridiculous amount of red tape to do almost anything. You also, as others have mentioned, may get your employer in tax trouble for working outside of the country for an extended time. Definitely worth discussing all of your options with your family and with your employer, but if I were you, I would request a leave of absence from your work so you can enjoy your time overseas since it will be so short.

As others have said, you will run into some obstacles trying to get your kids into camps, especially if they do not speak French. Not only do camps (stages) fill up extremely fast, sometimes a year in advance, I personally do not know of any that are English language. In fact, I had to hold my daughter out from attending the camps when we first arrived because she did not know enough French to make it through an entire day and I knew it would be a frustrating and lonely experience for her. If you have the ability, but not working during your time there, you’ll be able to get out and see you a lot and spend time with your kids rather than having them bored to death in a foreign country where they don’t know the language and don’t have any friends or anything to do because you are both busy working. Good luck and have fun whatever you decide!

[Anonymous]

I mean, people have been summering in other countries for years, why are PPs acting like this is suddenly some great drama to contend with?

[Anonymous]

OP bumping this. We're starting to plan for a month in Europe next summer.

I plan to work for two weeks and take leave for two weeks. The two weeks while I'm working can be consecutive or separated. I'll likely be visiting some clients during that time, so my family will need to be reasonably autonomous while I'm gone. Which means either being somewhere they can navigate easily or staying in place.

Week 1: London (me working)
Weekend 1: Ireland
Week 2: England and Scotland
Weekend 2: Paris
Week 3: Switzerland (me working)
Week 4: driving tour of Bavaria, Austria and Northern Italy 

We're confident about London, having spent a good amount of time there. Switzerland is more uncertain. Can anybody recommend a cool lakeside town that kids could lounge in for a few days, swimming in a lake and doing some hiking and sightseeing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP bumping this. We're starting to plan for a month in Europe next summer.

I plan to work for two weeks and take leave for two weeks. The two weeks while I'm working can be consecutive or separated. I'll likely be visiting some clients during that time, so my family will need to be reasonably autonomous while I'm gone. Which means either being somewhere they can navigate easily or staying in place.

Week 1: London (me working)
Weekend 1: Ireland
Week 2: England and Scotland
Weekend 2: Paris
Week 3: Switzerland (me working)
Week 4: driving tour of Bavaria, Austria and Northern Italy 

We're confident about London, having spent a good amount of time there. Switzerland is more uncertain. Can anybody recommend a cool lakeside town that kids could lounge in for a few days, swimming in a lake and doing some hiking and sightseeing?

Lake Annecy in France meets your description almost perfectly. It's 45 minutes from Geneva, but much cheaper because it's France and not Switzerland. The water is quite warm in later July and August. You can get a 3BR house within a few hundred feet of the lake outside of the main city for around $300/night if you book way in advance. The towns of Sevrier and Saint Jorioz have very nice simple beaches, as an example.

[Anonymous]

So, let’s say op writes novels for a living, you’re saying he cannot write a novel while in foreign country on tourist visa? He needs a work permit to do that? He cannot answer work emails while on tourist visa?

He’s not going somewhere and practicing medicine, or opening a hair dresser salon from his Airbnb. He is on tourist visa, which does not give him a right to work in that country - that means that companies based there, cannot hire him, and he cannot provide services or open a business.

It doesn’t say anything about his employment in the US.

[Anonymous]

OP. I work in tech. I'm an exec (not CEO) who is normally remote and can deal with a time zone offset for a while without too much of a hassle. While abroad, I'd both do my normal job and be dragged to clients by our sales teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

np Are you telling me that if you are in Paris that you avoid the Iconic tourists sites? So if people ask you if you have been to see the Eiffel tower you say No because it's for tourists? Op and his family ARE tourists and there is nothing wrong with being one!

Op is there a country you want to go to specifically? Does weather matter? What do you like to do?

[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 six to eight weeks, not months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are no tax issues or anything at play if it's less than 90 days, people! OP will be on a waiver, not even a tourist visa, for most countries where OP might want to go that also have a great internet connection.

Check the internet connection, OP. That's the most critical thing. We spent a few months in France last year, and the most picturesque, non-urban locations may not have the wifi you want. It's the first thing we clarified with every AirBnB we wanted to rent.

This is just wrong. Completely wrong, as are all the responses from PPs saying that there are no issues with being a digital nomad. Ignoring the laws and having no repercussions doesn’t make something legal. For most countries, you cannot work - even for a foreign employer- while on a tourist visa. Yes, laws are largely ignored by Americans but tourists visas aren’t meant to allow you work and residence.

The tax implications for the US employer are quite real. Again, often ignored and difficult to track but still applicable

-immigration/employment atty

Americans don't need tourist visas for most countries and can stay up to 90 days. My company encourages working abroad for up to 10wks a year. We have a Global Work Advisor who you need to work through but I have never had my request denied. We just do EU countries. This is a completely US based company.

This is what annoys me about this thread: the entitled, arrogant American response. I know PP believes this, most Americans do. They completely believe that it is their RIGHT to go to any country and stay and work on a TOURIST visa because - well - they're rich, white Americans with enough disposable income to allow them to do it. Just so you know, tourist visas are only permissible for tourist activities during that 90 day period. They do not encompass work, even if it is virtual for a foreign based employer.

What I find crazy about this thread is all the PPs who insist that they can go work virtually in a foreign country as tourists. But just imagine for a hot second if Mexicans, Syrians, Liberians, Nigerians, or other nationality were to dare enter the US as tourists and claim their right to work as a digital nomad. It's considered a violation of status and ground for revocation of that tourist visa. In most cases, work (of any kind) is a violation of the terms of your tourist visa - particularly in visa waiver status. Yes, there are some countries that allow it but you must do the research on that. For example, I think some Caribbean nations were permitting it explicitly to draw tourism dollars.

There are some EU nations that offer a specific "digital nomad" style visa. Italy is one of them. you must apply for that visa specifically and submit evidence of your current US based income. This will grant the type of work authorization that would be needed for a virtual worker. It does not grant work authorization in country for domestic employers.

The point is that Americans think they can do anything at any time where the reality is that there are laws that you should be looking to for guidance. We just like to ignore them. Because 'Merica.

If someone came from another country and stayed only six weeks I wouldn't care if they worked or not.