How to Hire a Foreign Worker: Frequently Asked Questions

When you’ve found the perfect hire for a role, it’s only natural that you—and your candidate—want to finalize the hiring process as quickly as possible.

However, if the person you want to work with lives in another country, hiring them can be a bit trickier than just sending an offer letter via email and waiting for their acceptance.

In this guide, we’ll go over some common questions that often come up when a company first begins to tap into the global workforce.

• What kind of jobs can a foreign worker do?
• What are the benefits of hiring a foreign worker?
• What are some potential challenges of hiring an international worker?
• Is it expensive to hire a foreign employee?
• Where can I find the best foreign employees?

What kind of jobs can a foreign worker do?

International workers do all kinds of jobs! There are talented professionals providing services all around the world—everything from crafting delicious culinary delights to planning marketing campaigns.

If your company is open to hiring remote workers, then you may be able to look into hiring internationally for any number of jobs in your company, from administrative assistants to fractional executives.

What are the benefits of hiring a foreign worker?

While the process of hiring a foreign worker can feel intimidating at first, the benefits of international hiring often outweigh the difficulties. By hiring in the global market, you can:

• Create a company culture that’s rich in diverse experiences and skill sets
• Better connect with global audiences by bringing in team members from each target market
• Leverage time zone differences to keep work moving forward around the clock

What are some potential challenges of hiring an international worker?

When hiring internationally, you and your new hire may need to navigate steps that can include:

• Navigating work authorization issues in foreign countries
• Establishing a company as an employer in a new country
• Understanding new tax and labor laws

Not following the appropriate steps can have consequences for both employers and employees. If you plan to directly hire an international team member, you’ll want to make sure that you’re consulting with the appropriate authorities and experts on subjects like taxes, immigration, and employment law.

If that doesn’t seem feasible for your company, don’t get too discouraged just yet—it doesn’t lock you out from working with international talent. You may want to explore working with independent contractors abroad, where the scope and style of work is suitable for it, or look into working with an employer of record (EOR) that is authorized to employ individuals in other countries.

Working with an employer of record

An employer of record (EOR) is another organization that acts as the employer of a new worker and assigns them to your team. The EOR is responsible for the administrative burden of things like payroll tax obligations, work authorization, and employee wages.

EORs operate in the country where the worker is located, which makes it easier for them to act as an international hire’s employer. They have the resources on hand to better understand, navigate, and comply with applicable labor law and country-specific benefits.

That said, it’s important to select a reliable and trusted EOR that is able to operate as an employer in the country where your new hire is located.

How to select an employer of record

Upwork Any Hire can help with this. Our quick and easy self-service portal makes it easier to hire professionals around the world by:

• Recommending whether the worker should be engaged as an independent contractor or an employee
• For employee classifications, arranging a trusted EOR to employ the worker while you work with them
• EORs will use employment contracts that are compliant with local employment laws
• Paying your hires quickly and accurately
• Organizing engagement-related documents

Plus, Any Hire includes built-in liability protection related to our classification recommendation—giving you peace of mind that you’re engaging effectively. If you accept our classification recommendation, Any Hire includes up to $50,000 in indemnification against misclassification liability to the extent caused by our recommendation.

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Is it expensive to hire a foreign employee?

Companies hiring international professionals can incur a variety of fees. For example, in the U.S., filing some of the initial paperwork required for a work visa costs more than $400—and there are likely to be additional filing fees and even legal fees in the process.

International hiring can also be a time-consuming process. Wait times for visa interviews may range from a matter of days to a year or more. It all depends on your hire’s home location and visa type.

Where can I find the best foreign employees?

If you’re open to building a global team at your company,  you can go about doing so in several ways:

Recruit at colleges and universities

Some international students would like to remain in your country after graduation. By attending career fairs at universities, you can meet a nice mix of domestic and international students looking for jobs.

Use online job boards

Stating your willingness to hire internationally can bring qualified applicants’ resumes right to your inbox. Be aware of any international hiring regulations laid forth by your company before you begin advertising to candidates, though.

Work with a headhunting firm

Headhunting firms that specialize in competitive, technical industries can help you find the right person from among an international talent pool.

Work with talent remotely

While some jobs must be done in person, many companies have found that embracing remote work opens up their hiring possibilities. Whether you decide to hire a full-time worker who lives in their home country and works from there, or you prefer to work with independent talent around the world, remote work is a great, straightforward option for many businesses.

Posting a job on Upwork is an easy and reliable way to connect with skilled remote professionals all around the world.

What if I still have questions about international hiring?

Contacting an immigration lawyer or employment lawyer is one of the next steps to take—they’ll be able to give you more specific advice related to your company and industry.

How to hire an international remote worker

No matter how you want to hire international talent, Upwork can help. From connecting with a self-employed graphic designer in Houston to hiring a full-time developer in South Korea or a part-time paralegal in Australia, you can find just the right fit through Upwork.

If you need to source talent, get started by posting a freelance or contract-to-hire job. And if you’ve already found international talent you’d like to hire but need some help with the process, you can get started right now with Any Hire.

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This article is intended for educational purposes and should not be viewed as legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional to find the solution that best fits your situation.