It is said that travelling abroad is in itself a great education but it’s also recognised that working overseas enhances the travel experience considerably in many ways. Not only can contracts abroad be more rewarding financially, they can improve your career prospects as future employers do look more favourably at candidates with overseas experience.

Working on contracts abroad can present an array of challenges which are seldom, if ever, found at home including working with different standards to resolving communication problems both linguistic and technical. Having the self assurance to work on your own and meet these challenges without close support from a head office is one of the keys to the successful completion of an overseas assignment.

Before deciding to accept an overseas contract, there are a myriad number of things to consider and some of these are listed below for your consideration:

• Do I need a visa and/or work permit? How do I get one and how long does this take? What does it cost?


• Should I take my family? Is there good schooling available?


• Are local medical facilities operated to an acceptable standard? Where can I get comprehensive health insurance?


• What inoculations should I get?


• How do I get paid?


• Where should I open a local bank account?


• Is there a Double Taxation Agreement in place between my home country and the country where I’ll be working? Where do I pay tax?


• Is there a tax-efficient structure available?


• Should I pay social security locally or in my home country?


• What will be my residency status and how does this impact upon my tax status?


• How do I prepare my local tax return?


• How is my contract administered?


• What is the availability and cost of furnished accommodation?


• What is the extent of the expat community locally?

This list is by no means exhaustive but it gives a good indication that there are many facets which require your close attention before moving offshore. If you want to make the move to your new contract overseas as trouble-free and as smooth as possible, you should use a company that is well versed in providing a comprehensive range of services to contractors working abroad.

If you require further information or support on working overseas please contact Link 357 whose three principals have a wealth of knowledge gained from working in various sectors in many countries around the world.

Personal global care is their ethos and they are proud of the close and personal attention that they give to each of their clients.

For further information please visit www.link357.com, and they will endeavour to make your next move as stress-free and efficient as possible.