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Working abroad is an attractive experience. Exploring new cultures. Enjoying greater freedom. It’s easy to see why so many people opt to become digital nomads.
Yet there are special challenges that come with working in a different country. And you’ll need to prepare yourself to face them before you take the leap.
With that in mind, here are four essential tips for working abroad.
1. Choose Your Destination With Care
The cost of living is the most important location factor for digital nomads.
It’s hard to be certain how much money you’ll make when working abroad. But you should still make an estimate and compare it to the cost of living in different countries.
Here are three popular countries for digital nomads with low costs of living:
Thailand – Low cost of living. Great connectivity. A welcoming culture. It’s easy to see why Thailand is such a popular location for digital nomads.
Vietnam – This ex-pat paradise boasts low crime levels, cheap living, and amazing infrastructure.
Argentina – Low prices and a laidback lifestyle. This South American country is a great option for digital nomads earning US dollars.
You may not want to live and work in the best countries for digital nomads. But at the very least, you should try to avoid working in the most expensive cities in the world.
2. Keep Your Devices Safe
Remote work exposes you to security risks, such as using public Wi-Fi. This means you might become the victim of a cyberattack. That’s why you should ensure you use the most up-to-date cybersecurity techniques.
VPN Split Tunneling: Split tunneling lets you choose the apps your VPN protects.
Password Encryption Tools: Even if somebody does gain access to your device, they still won’t be able to see your encrypted data. Keeping your sensitive information safe isn’t exciting. But since 1 in 3 Brits have been negatively impacted by a privacy breach, it’s well worth the effort.
3. Get Permission
You’ll need the correct documentation if you want to work abroad. This usually means having a visa and work permit.
Make sure you research what documentation you’ll need in your chosen country. And if you haven’t decided yet, you can use the requirements to narrow down your options.
Understand that getting this documentation could take time and money. You’ll also need to find out how long they last. Some are connected to your employment, and others expire after a set amount of time.
4. Be Adaptable
Working abroad can be exciting and rewarding. But prepare yourself for things to be different. From the cost of basic commodities to the different working requirements, you will need to get used to many new aspects of working abroad.
Yet as long as you remain flexible and ready to adapt, you’re certain to make memories that will last a lifetime.