International contracting can be an attractive opportunity for those pursuing their career abroad, and it offers numerous benefits such as higher potential earnings, flexibility, and enhanced work-life balance.
There are many important factors to consider when pursuing a successful career in international contracting. Our team at 3C Global has extensive experience working with international contractors throughout Europe.
Using this experience, we will explore some of the best tips for success for those wanting to pursue their contracting career in a new country.
Obtain the relevant visas and work permits:
First and foremost, one of the most crucial aspects of working in another country is obtaining relevant visas and working permits to comply with all applicable regulations and legislation. Ensuring that you are legally permitted to live and work in the country, you will be contracting is the most vital consideration that one should make when working as an international contractor. Our team at 3C Global offers advice on work permit and visa applications, simplifying the legal complexities of working internationally as part of our immigration services. We help ensure our contractors fully comply with all relevant labour immigration laws in their contracting region.
Ensure Tax Compliance & Obtain Insurance:
There are many important factors to consider to ensure tax compliance as an international contractor. Whether that's understanding the 183-day ruling and how and if it impacts you or what your tax obligations are in your new region at 3C Global, we offer expert advice on contracting across Europe.
Regarding insurance, contractors should ensure that the insurance policy adequately insures their work in the country they are working/contracting. There may be variations and exemptions for standard professional indemnity policies in certain countries, so it is essential to seek advice. At 3C Global, our team can assist with insurance queries, ensuring our contractors are covered. Whether it is professional indemnity, public liability, medical cover or medivac, our expert team is on hand to help.
Register for VAT
All contractors must register for tax and VAT in the country where they operate. You may have to charge VAT on your invoices if you work as a contractor in the same region where your client is based. In the case where a contractor works in one country, and the client they are invoicing is in another, VAT will generally be 0% on the invoice under the EU reverse charge mechanism. In either case, contractors are required to have an active VAT number.
One of the many contractor services we provide at 3C Global is invoicing solutions. Whether you wish to invoice agencies or corporate clients, we provide streamlined and efficient billing services.
Embrace Networking Opportunities & Expand your network:
Networking is an essential tool for contractors across all industries. Networking at its core centres around meeting people and opening doors to more opportunities and exciting projects, which should be necessary in every international contractor's toolkit. When moving to a new country, one should join professional groups for that country/region on LinkedIn and other professional platforms. You should also highlight relevant experiences on your LinkedIn that have afforded you intercultural skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new environments, whether that be previous international contracting experiences, time spent studying abroad, etc. For more information, check out our article on the benefits of networking for contractors.
Enhance Your Language Proficiency:
Improving your fluency will help you make new connections and become more confident in conversations. You can enhance your proficiency by enrolling in language courses, partaking in discussions in the language and immersing yourself in the language overall. It is also recommended that you translate your CV and relevant components of your LinkedIn profile accordingly.
Immerse yourself in the Culture:
Embrace the company culture of your new organisation and the culture of the country and community you have moved to. By familiarising yourself with the country's cultural traditions and norms in addition to the practices and values of your organisation, you will be better able to build positive relationships with colleagues and clients.
In Conclusion:
As we have examined, there are multiple considerations to be made before pursuing a career as an international contractor. Conducting the relevant research and making the appropriate preparations can help you successfully establish your contracting career in a new country. Relocating to a new country for work can be overwhelming, especially for those experiencing it for the first time.
At 3C Global Group, we recognise that each contractor has distinct needs and situations, prompting us to create customised solutions for all of our clients whom we assist. These solutions are meticulously designed to comply with the local laws of the contractor's work country. They are managed by experts based in those regions to ensure peace of mind as you venture into new professional landscapes.
Please do not hesitate to contact our team with any international contracting queries.
Are you a recruiter working with international contractors? Check out our article, which explores the essential factors for recruiters to consider when placing contractors abroad.
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