HACKER Q&A
📣 Hammerhead12321

Job sites specifically for international relocation/visa included?


Hi everyone! I worked a number of fairly well compensated roles, but after spending much time abroad I’ve realized I highly value being and working in an environment and culture new to me, so that I am constantly learning things in day to day life (a new language, for example), even if software roles aren’t as well paid as for example in the United States.

I understand it’s possible to get a good remote job and relocate that way, and there’s plenty of sites dedicated to finding remote jobs, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of some job sites that are hiring for roles with long term visas included (in cases where needed).

I hope this question makes sense, but I will clarify further if needed!


  👤 gregjor Accepted Answer ✓
I don't know of any such job sites. I know recruiters exist who specialize in international placement, usually for senior executives, scientists, and academics. Unless you have rare and in-demand skills you will probably find software developers aren't that hard to find locally in most countries.

In general companies can only hire and get visas for people who have skills not available in the domestic talent pool. All kinds of exceptions and workarounds (and frauds) happen, but if you're looking for a foreign employer to jump through the hoops of relocation and obtaining a visa you will need to have some demonstrable abilities they can't hire a citizen for.

Another path is working for a company that has offices overseas. Depending on your CV that may be easy or hard. For software dev jobs you would need some advantage over local talent, who probably get paid less if you're from the USA.

Then there's freelancing. You can live wherever you want once you get some remote contracts. No relocation and no visa, that's your problem. If you need a visa, and what that involves, depends on your passport, where you go, how long you plan to stay there, and a bunch of other country-specific things.

As a US citizen I worked in the UK a long time ago, with a work visa, and that wasn't easy to get. I've freelanced remotely for over ten years now and learned to deal with visas and immigration bureaucracy. I only work for US-based companies -- they pay better and I don't have any language or cultural barriers.


👤 andrewstetsenko