Working abroad offers lots of opportunities for employees, including boosting your career prospects, immersing yourself in a different culture and maybe even the chance to learn a new language!
If you’re considering this path, have a read of our blog for an overview of some of the best work abroad locations in Europe for expats.
Around 400,000 people relocated to the Netherlands in 2022, highlighting its popularity amongst expats from across the world. [1]
Eindhoven, the fifth largest city in the Netherlands, is found in the central Brabant region. This area has been nicknamed ‘Brainport’ due to its thriving technological offering, making it the perfect place for expats seeking roles in this sector.
It is home to the High Tech Campus, where around 300 businesses centred on technology and innovation are based. Eindhoven is well situated for travel nationally and internationally, with two modern train stations, the second largest airport in the country, and a large bus system.
It’s worth noting that in the Netherlands, employees can work a maximum of 60 working hours, and those in full-time employment are annually entitled to 4x the number of hours they work per week in holiday leave. Parents are also allowed 26 weeks of parental leave within the first 8 years of their child’s life.
Known for its medieval streets, small old town and delicious food, Tallinn has a population of more than 400,000 residents. In the Expat Insider Survey 2023, the city was ranked the 23rd best city to live for expats in the world. [2]
Following the introduction of its digital nomad visa in 2020, Tallinn has become an exciting destination for remote workers. Some of the core work sectors found here are IT, chemicals and manufacturing.
The city is also well connected for workers, with transport options including trams, buses, ferries and trains. One of the benefits of living here is that all residents can gain access to free public transport with the Tallinn Green Card.
Workers in Estonia are entitled to a minimum of 28 days of paid holiday leave a year and a standard working week is usually 40 hours for full-time employees.
Located in the northern part of Portugal, Porto is an excellent place to live for expats. With the stunning River Dourer, Baroque and neoclassical architecture and cobbly streets, there is lots to explore in this city.
It is the country’s second largest city and some of the key industries here incorporate IT, automobile and tourism. It’s important to note that a typical Portuguese working week consists of a limit of 40 hours for full-time employees, with a minimum holiday entitlement of 22 days per year.
Portugal is also a great location for digital nomads, having introduced a dedicated digital nomad visa in October 2022. To be eligible for this, workers must meet certain requirements, such as proof of means of subsistence and a work contract if you’re not self-employed.
The capital of Finland, Helsinki is home to 630,000 people and is located on the southern coast of the country. Some key features of the city include its stunning architecture, public saunas and economic sustainability.
Some of the main job industries on offer here include research and development and engineering. If you’re thinking of applying for jobs in Helsinki, use this as an opportunity to update your CV and further develop your skills.
Finland was voted 15th out of 100 in the countries analysed for work-life balance in the Global Life Work Index, highlighting the benefits it provides to expats. [3] Full-time staff are entitled to 24 days of annual leave in their first year of employment, increasing to 30 working days after this period. Employees who go on maternity leave can also get 105 days of paid maternity leave.
Barcelona is situated on the Mediterranean coastline of Spain and has a population of 1.62 million people. For those looking for jobs in this port city, sectors prevalent here incorporate advertising, tourism and pharmaceuticals.
In recent years, the El Poblenou seaside district of the city has seen a lot of development, known as the 22@ project, to make it into a thriving hub for technology and startup businesses.
Learning the local languages of Catalan and Spanish can be beneficial if you’re thinking of relocating to Barcelona. This is useful skill you can put on your CV that helps set you apart from other applicants.
There are also great transport links in Barcelona, consisting of the metro, trams, buses and an international airport. This is great for getting around the city, visiting nearby areas or travelling internationally.
For those considering moving abroad to work following your graduation, check out our useful blog about some of its benefits here.
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