It’s the dream of all travellers. Sitting on a beach, cocktail in hand on some far flung island working remotely. And this isn’t just a working holiday, it’s a trip that can go in infinitely. With European countries like Spain and Hungary now introducing digital nomad visas, the dream has become a reality. Or so it seems.

During the Covid pandemic companies were lining up to offer workers the flexibility to work remotely. They were easy to find and those opportunistic self-starters jumped at the chance to combine work with full time travelling. For a couple of years it looked as though this would be the new norm, with cheaper outgoings for businesses not having to pay for office space. However last year it began to change.

Companies began to worry about productivity at home and the isolation it can cause to it’s staff members. The added time it took managers to check up on team members started to sway business owners minds. A hybrid model started to be rolled out, which has been implemented at a large proportion of UK companies. This way of working has severely limited the scope of employees to choose where and when they work.

The idea of digital nomading has taken hold of the national consciousness with people seeking a way out of the 9 to 5 rat race. This has led to the small amount of businesses still offering fully remote jobs (working anywhere internationally), receiving hundreds and often thousands of applications. Most job listings now only offer positions that are remote within the UK. Further to this, the tax complications that arise from allowing someone to work from another country are seemingly too complicated for businesses to go to the effort.

The dire state of the UK economy and the implications of Brexit, has led some to decide to jump ship. Countries like Poland, that once emigrated in large numbers to the UK, are now choosing to live back home. With a better cost of living and future that looks much brighter, it is no surprise.

There are a few ways in which you can still travel and work outside of the UK:

English Teaching

This is probably the easiest way to travel the world and work. After Brexit the one export we can rely on is our language. It is the universal world business language and people from around the globe are desperate to English to further their careers. There is one caveat to this. You will need a degree to teach in most countries. Barring some South American countries who pay very low wages to English teachers, most of the EU will require a degree before being accepted. You will need a TEFL teaching accreditation, but this is fairly quick and easy to get, and not too costly.

Freelance Work

This is a good way to travel and work, although may require more work hours and stress to earn enough to sustain an income. Setting up your own business, social media marketing or copywriting are good options for remote work that are less likely to require normal office hours. Freelancing may have to be a side hustle before it becomes a viable full time job. Building clientele relationships and a portfolio of work is crucial for success.

Job Sponsorship

Again, like with English teaching job sponsorship is a lot easier if you have a degree or skills that make you an attractive candidate. Roles that require native English speakers will are the best choices such as customer service, copywriting and tourism roles. You will find it easier in countries like Hungary who are more readily willing to sponsor foreign English workers.