Working overseas – the expatriate life

Whether it’s picking grapes in Spain, balancing the books in London or writing the great Aussie novel in the US, there’s a few financial and personal issues you need to get sorted before plunging headlong into your great expat adventure.

Working and travelling

Unless you find money actually growing on a tree somewhere in the Sahara Desert you are going to have to stop your travelling odyssey at some point and top up the funds with some work. Here are a few tips and tricks on landing that resume-enhancing, personal growth-inspiring work abroad.

Going through a placement agency

This alleviates the need for a lot of the background research into jobs available in various countries at various times of the year. And it means help with getting visas and work permits when you travel overseas.

Do-it-yourself

Rather than rely on someone else, or a recruitment agency, this requires more preparation before you go, like finding the best cities and short-listing possible employers. On arrival expect a tense period searching for work, but don’t worry, you’ll land something soon enough.

Scoring a transfer

If you work for a big company with international links, talk to them about scoring an overseas posting.

Using a recruitment agency

Recruitment agencies don’t usually deal with unskilled or inexperienced workers, but if you have a degree and experience in something like nursing, teaching, accounting or rocket science (just kidding), you will probably find a specialist international recruitment agency suited to your needs.

Opening an overseas bank account

Whether it’s dinars, dollars or drachmas, you’re going to need to put it somewhere and a bank is usually the safest spot.

In most cases what you need to get started are:

1. Proof of your identity i.e. passport
2. Proof of your overseas address

Registration

A good place to start your working adventure is to register online with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or in person with the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate. It may seem like a bit of a hassle, but the information provided by you will help them to find you in an emergency – think tsunami, civil war or family emergency. And don’t worry, your private details will stay just that … private!

Working overseas

If you’re 18 – 30, Australia has reciprocal arrangements with countries to allow you to work there. Under the Working Holiday Maker (known as WHOM – cool acronym!) visa scheme you can stay for up to 12 months from the date of first entry regardless of whether or not you spend the whole time there.

In most countries, you’re only allowed to work for part of your stay and not in your trade or profession. In other words, it has to be part of your holiday not your career. So do not pack a detailed resume in your luggage or you may get refused entry by suspicious immigration officials.

Below are the countries and regions involved in the Working Holiday Maker program with Australia.

Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

For people from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.

Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

For people from Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA on holiday and work visas in Australia.

What does a visa let me do?

Most will let you:

• stay up to 12 months
• leave and re-enter a country any number of times while the visa is valid
• work there for up to six months with each employer
• study for up to four months.

Double Taxation Agreements

Australia has agreements with a number of countries, known as Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), aimed at preventing the double taxation of income. Check the rules and regulations with the embassy, high commission or consulate of your travel destination before you go or when you get there.

We have DTAs with over 40 countries, including:

• China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore
• India, Thailand and Vietnam most Western and Southern European and Scandinavian countries
• Hungary and Poland
• Ireland and the United Kingdom
• South Africa
• United States of America
• New Zealand