Living abroad as a remote worker seems simple enough. Bring your laptop, find somewhere to stay and hopefully the Wi-Fi will be decent enough to work from.

Living abroad for an extended period is different to being on holiday though. There will still be bills coming into your home, banks trying to contact you and you may not be allowed to work in that country.

It’s important to resolve these things before it costs you time or money. From visas to remote mail, here’s what to consider.

Things To Consider When Living Abroad

• Visa requirements
• Remote Mail Access
• Banking, Insurance & Finances
• Accommodation, Internet & Daily Life
• Emergency Plan

Know If You Can Work Abroad

Many remote workers will assume that because they have a tourist visa and work remotely, they can live abroad. However, this may not be true, depending on the country, nationality and type of work you’re doing.

There are many countries that allow you to obtain visas to work remotely if you have a source of income outside of that country. Make sure to look into this and if it’s available to you, check the visa requirements, income requirements and if you’ll need insurance etc. Also look into how long your passport is valid for and if you need to notify the country of where you are staying once you’ve arrived.

If you’re planning on visiting the Schengen Area, please note that your days will add up between countries. If you quickly hop over the border, it does not give you more time in that region.

If you have a full time job, make sure you speak to your employer before travelling. Some employers may have limitations on remote workers working abroad, using their data, insurance and even what countries they’ll let you work from. Just because a job says it’s remote, doesn’t mean you can work from anywhere in the world.

It’s also important to understand how your taxes will be affected by working abroad. This can be dependent on your citizenship, where you live and where you are working from. Speak to a qualified cross-border tax adviser to understand which rules apply to your situation.

Remote Mail Access While Away

Although most companies are now emailing customers, Banks, insurers, tax offices and other organisations may still send important letters by post. That’s where remote mail access can be useful.

Remote mail access allows you to have someone receive your mail on your behalf, instead of having to rely on your neighbours to take pictures of your mail.

One question worth answering before choosing a service: what is a virtual address? A virtual address allows you to receive mail at that address, usually with online mailbox facilities.

Once you’ve found a company you can use, look into what services they offer. Will they allow you to verify your identity, accept parcels, scan your mail, store your mail, forward internationally etc. To receive USPS mail through a U.S. commercial mail receiving agency, you generally need to complete PS Form 1583 and present acceptable primary and secondary ID for verification by the provider.

Something to keep in mind is that a mailing address may not be considered a residential address. When a bank or immigration authority asks for your residential address, provide your actual residence and keep that record current rather than assuming a mailbox address will qualify.

Ensure you have a list of companies that may be sending you mail at your current address and update your address if needed.

Access To Your Finances While Abroad

You will want to have access to your money while you’re away from home. Make sure your debit card can be used in your destination and look into any fees you may be charged.

If your bank asks you to report travel plans, tell it where you will be staying. Make sure your security alerts and transaction approvals will still work abroad. Have a way to access your banking apps, in case you need to authorise transactions.

It’s always best to have more than one form of payment when travelling. Have some cash stored in another location, just in case you need to get out of your current accommodation and travel to a new location.

If you work for yourself, look into how you bill your clients, receive money from your clients and store your financial information. Some payment services may have different account or verification requirements when you spend an extended period abroad.

Insurance

As mentioned above, you may need insurance while you are abroad. If your trip is longer than your holiday insurance, you may want to look into more in depth travel insurance.

Look into your insurance and see what it covers. Check the maximum length of each policy and any exclusions for particular countries, treatments or work activities. If you’re moving abroad, look into what medical insurance you may need to purchase while away.

If you take medication, check how much you can legally bring into the destination and plan how you will maintain your supply. Know where you can get medical treatment while you are away, in case of emergency or for regular treatment.

Have your insurance info easily accessible, and give someone you trust information on how to contact your insurance, just in case you aren’t able to.

Find An Accommodation That Works For You

While that apartment may look amazing, it may not be a great place to work from. When looking for accommodation, ensure that you have internet, a quiet area, a desk and reliable electricity.

Check what kind of internet speed you can expect, if it’s available to you, and if it’s good enough to work on video calls. If it’s not, you can always look into getting a SIM card to use data, or a nearby coworking space to work out of.

If you’re renting, look into staying for a week or so before booking for a long term amount of time. This will allow you to see if it’s convenient to where you need to go and if you’re happy with your stay.

Living abroad for more than a couple of days, you should start thinking about what your daily life will look like. MBO Partners’ 2025 research found that U.S. digital nomads averaged 6.4 weeks per stop.

Ensure that you have your time zones mapped out, so you’re not double booked or have to change your work schedule to suit your clients/employer time zone. Make sure to communicate with them and allow time for daylight savings if applicable.

Secure Your Accounts

When leaving, update all your devices, make sure you have back ups of your work files and follow your company’s security procedures. Do not rely on a public Wi-Fi network to work from, unless your company allows you to.

Make sure you can log into your accounts without your home phone, if applicable. You don’t want to be stuck not being able to log into your bank account, if your home phone is being used to receive logins.

Store digital copies of essential documents securely and keep offline copies of important recovery details in case your phone or laptop is lost. Know who to call to cancel your cards, get copies of your documents, etc.

Lastly, make sure you have an emergency fund, in case you need to leave your accommodation and travel somewhere else.

Travel Abroad As A Remote Worker

There are many things you need to consider when you decide to travel and live abroad. Don’t stress about figuring everything out, but check that your work arrangements, mail access and insurance are in place before you leave.