International remote work (Spain)

Google / Eng
okgooogle

Go to company page Google Eng

okgooogle
Jan 3, 2021 26 Comments

I'm currently L5 SWE at Google NYC, TC $450k.

I'm looking to relocate to Spain for a few years and debating what my options are:

- Many remote-friendly companies require work from the US, or at least being a US resident with very occasional and temporary stints abroad if at all possible.
- Being an employee resident of Spain would require my employer to follow Spanish laws so this seems like a big hurdle for them. Not many big tech companies have engineering offices in Spain.
- Perhaps smaller companies could hire me as a consultant in which case I'll be responsible for my own withholding, benefits, etc. That seems doable but more complicated.
- Local job market in Spain doesn't seem great at all regarding TC.

I guess my best shot is either a startup or local company, forgoing larger TC.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

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TOP 26 Comments
  • Lets start with the basics: do you even have a working permit for Spain?
    Jan 4, 2021 7
    • If you can find a company paying 400-500k to a contractor then sure that will work. What I’m getting at is that it will be challenging to find such a place ;-)
      Jan 4, 2021
    • Google / Eng
      okgooogle

      Go to company page Google Eng

      okgooogle
      OP
      Yeah for sure. Maybe best bet is consulting work, that won't be full time but should be high hourly rate, which isn't bad either as I'm almost FIRE
      Jan 4, 2021
  • Aurora
    truthtellr

    Go to company page Aurora

    truthtellr
    Just get a fully remote job and don’t tell your company you are abroad
    Jan 8, 2021 3
    • New
      aCfE03

      New

      aCfE03
      Sounds like that's the right option. I've been exploring this question for a while now. So just become a resident of a state w/o state income tax (so you'll pay only federal), work for a fully remote company, live where you want. There's a little problem with timezones, so if you live in EU then your working hours will be something like 2pm - 10pm to match US day time. If you wanna get a residency, then this won't work :(
      Jan 9, 2021
    • Google / Eng
      okgooogle

      Go to company page Google Eng

      okgooogle
      OP
      Sounds illegal or at least trouble prone
      Jan 14, 2021
  • Google / Eng
    sweo

    Go to company page Google Eng

    sweo
    I gave up. Working remote in the US a few more years accumulating more money than I'd make in Spain in decades. Then move
    Mar 6 2
    • New
      R!

      New

      R!
      Thanks for the update
      Mar 6
    • Visa
      sds123

      Go to company page Visa

      sds123
      It’s a case of preference. I was in a similar situation, having been born in Spain but lived and worked in the US for many years. I ended up moving to Spain even though my TC dropped by 60%. Am, however, way happier and super glad I made the move. Should have done it sooner …
      Mar 6
  • New
    spanish-pm

    New

    spanish-pm
    I did this about 5 years ago - though I was working at a startup when I left. I'd start with managing expectations: pay in Spain is lower, pay for remote full-timers tends to be lower, and the big companies are much less interested in hiring remotely in Europe.

    1. If you can negotiate working remotely with your team, even with a 50% pay-cut, you'll be earning way more than any alternative.
    2. I'd network like crazy in the year before you leave - get to know the interesting, highly-paid, fully-remote consulting firms that your social network has created or discovered. You can find decent-to-awesome opportunities with all sorts of different expectations and compensation, e.g., 5-40 hours per week per client with pay from $50-$200 per hour
    3. You can try to find something local, but you'll take something like a 60% pay-cut and you'll work very similar hours
    4. You can do something completely different and live off of savings (rent for a great 2-bedroom in Central Madrid outside of the most expensive neighborhoods is less than $1500/month). So if you want to develop your skills, study, work on a personal project, or start a non-profit - there are few places that are as cheap and safe (financially, socially, and in terms of physical danger) than big cities in Spain.

    Happy to offer more about my experience, but it was a bit atypical from what I've heard.
    Oct 7, 2021 0
  • It's illegal to work out of the country you've been hired for more than 6 months. I believe consulting is the best option
    Mar 27, 2021 2