Over 20% of people in the UK plan to work remotely from another country this year up from 11% last year, according to new research by Finder UK.
The top countries for remote workers in 2022 were the US (13%), France (12%), and Germany (11%).
- 37% of British adults worked remotely in 2022.
- 32% worked remotely within the UK while 11% of Brits worked abroad.
- The mean time Brits worked remotely abroad was a substantial five and a half weeks.
- Over a quarter of Gen Zers worked abroad (28%), with nearly one in five (18%) Gen Y adults saying the same. Just 8% of Gen Xers worked abroad and 1% of Baby Boomers.
- The most popular countries for Brits to work from include the US (13%), France (12%), Germany (11%), Pakistan (10%) and Spain (9%).
- More Brits plan to work abroad remotely in 2023. However the average time they’re expecting to work abroad is much lower – just under two weeks.
- Gen Zers are the most likely to work remotely from another country this year (39%), followed by Gen Y (35%) and Gen X (21%), with just 4% of Baby Boomers saying the same.
“An estimated 11 million Brits plan to work remotely from another country this year,” said Finder’s lead editor Elizabeth Barry on working abroad. “Once you have the approval from your employer, or have looked into new digital work you can do abroad, the next step is checking working requirements for the country or countries you’ll be working from. This may mean tourist visas for shorter stays or working visas for longer stays. Some countries even have special digital nomad visas you can consider applying for,” she said.
Barry warns that longer stays may also have tax implications, so she advises to make sure to check these before you get caught out paying taxes twice.
“You should also look for the best way to manage your expenses while you’re abroad,” said Barry. “For shorter trips, a travel card might cut it but it can be more cost-effective to bulk send your foreign currency. To do this you can consider an international money transfer platform,” she said.
Most international money transfer providers charge either a flat or percentage fee and also give you multiple payment options for your transfer.
“This can be great if you need cash or need to send to a foreign bank account,” said Barry. “Many will also give you a quote before you hit send so you know how much it will cost you. To find the best deal for your spending abroad, remember to always compare your options,” she said.
| Most popular abroad remote working destinations in 2022 | ||
| 1 | The United States | 13% |
| 2 | France | 12% |
| 3 | Germany | 11% |
| 4 | Pakistan | 10% |
| 5 | Spain | 9% |
| 6 | Italy | 9% |
| 7 | Turkey | 9% |
| 8 | India | 9% |
| 9 | Portugal | 8% |
| 10 | Thailand | 8% |
| 11 | Cyprus | 8% |
| 12 | Greece | 7% |
| 13 | Ireland | 7% |
| 14 | Australia | 7% |
| 15 | Canada | 7% |
| 16 | Switzerland | 7% |
| 17 | New Zealand | 5% |
| 18 | Malta | 5% |
| 19 | Belgium | 5% |
| 20 | Netherlands | 5% |
| 21 | Hungary | 5% |
| 22 | Croatia | 4% |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 4% |
| 24 | Romania | 3% |
Source: Finder
What to consider when planning to work abroad
- Review your employer’s remote working policy to make sure you can work overseas before you make non-refundable purchases.
- Compare travel card options to international money transfer providers so you don’t pay unnecessary fees and exchange markups.
- Understand any visa requirements for working in another country.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance to give you peace of mind in case something goes wrong.
- Book your flight, train or bus early to help you secure a cheaper rate, especially if you plan with enough time to take advantage of sales events. According to travel experts, booking a flight 60 days before your departure date can often be the optimum time to make an airline purchase.