What’s the best part about being a remote worker? Well, you can work from anywhere, any nook in the world can be your workspace. A new city, a remote island (with WiFi, of course), a new country, and we can go on! And thanks to the rise in Digital Nomad visas and the trend of being a digital nomad, more and more countries want you to work out of it.
When it comes to it, there are as many as 52 countries that offer a digital nomad visa with attractive relaxations and norms. But the whole process is extremely daunting. Indian content creators prefer countries like Singapore, UAE, Portugal, Canada, and more as their fave remote working destinations.
But if you are someone who loves to learn from experience, yours or someone else’s, we had a virtual tête-à-tête with Isha Borah, an Internationally Acclaimed Assamese Fashion Content Creator. She talks at length about how she moved and has some handy tips too if you’d like to make the move.
Isha reminisces, “I remember the day when my husband told me about the amazing opportunity that he got from his company to move to Singapore for a better work position. We discussed it at length and finally decided to take the opportunity.”
“When the news finally sank in that we would be shifting to a foreign land, I experienced a rush of emotions. I was nervous but also happy and excited at the thought of moving to a beautiful place like Singapore and experiencing all the wonderful things that the Island nation had in store for us,” she says.
The move came at a time when Isha’s career was already taking off in India but she had her apprehensions about it. She says, “When the excitement simmered a little, I did feel a bit worried about my career. I had many questions, such as — how things would work for me there, will I be able to collaborate with Indian brands, and will I have to start from the start again, and so on. However, things eventually fell into place and thankfully it didn’t hamper my work at all.”
And how did it work out for Isha? She tells us, along with what should you keep in mind when planning the move and after it!
Tips By Isha For Content Creators Or Digital Nomads When Considering Settling Abroad
Learn about the different types of visas
Every country has its own Visa rules for expats. So, depending on which country you are planning to settle in, you will have to research a bit about their Visa rules. As far as my understanding goes, most countries require expats to have a work visa that is offered by their employer.
However, being a content creator is slightly different from being a professional who has a regular corporate job, as you are your own employer. Now, as you won’t have any employer to sponsor your work visa, you may want to check the visa rules for individual contributors.
Photo Credits: Canva
In Singapore, you can register your company (you can operate it without employing anyone) and sponsor yourself. In places like the UAE, you can also get a freelancer visa and a remote work visa. Some countries even offer seasonal or temporary work visas. Countries like the UK, France, Canada, and the US also allow individuals to self-sponsor after registering or incorporating your company.
There are rules around minimum turnaround, salary, existing and prospective clients for your business and of course existing finances to support your business. So, you may want to do the research or consult a professional to know more about the visa and immigration rules before you move to a different country so that you can continue your work seamlessly and without any legal complications.
Know the rules
Some countries have very strict laws and rules regarding topics that may not even be a subject of discussion in your home country. Make sure to know the rules and laws so that you don’t break them even unintentionally while creating your content, especially if you are collaborating with local brands or businesses. One small mistake can sometimes lead to serious consequences that can affect your work.
Brand collabs
After you have your work visa, you can continue creating content for your socials. If you are collaborating with a brand, ensure that the communication is clear. International deliveries charge a higher amount, so you may want to give them a heads-up about it. Also, do not forget to discuss the logistics and the dos and don’ts.
When I moved to Singapore, I didn’t know much about the local culture, the food, and the local way of life. The lack of familiarity often used to make me miss my loved ones back in India. It can be tough to get used to a new place, especially after you are done doing all the touristy things. However, that should not be a deterrent that stops you from adapting to your new way of life.
I started learning more about the culture, the food, and the local things. Once I got acquainted with these, the ride became smooth. People in Singapore are lovely. They are also very friendly and helpful. Even the food is delicious. So, if you are planning to settle abroad, ensure that you learn about the local stuff, so you can enjoy the country better. You can also imbibe the local elements in your content and make it more interesting.
These are some of the things that I did after I settled in Singapore. I am continuing my work with different brands from India and I plan to continue doing so. Settling abroad has only widened my perspective and enhanced my creative skills. So, if you are planning on settling abroad, I would suggest you go ahead with the plan and not feel too scared about jeopardizing your career. Once you are sorted with the visa and the rules and regulations, you can continue working as you did when you were in your home country.”
Well, that’s quite insightful and helpful, don’t you think? At Curly Tales India and Middle East, we always bring you the latest visa rule changes and updates for Indians and Middle Eastern folks. Keep reading Curly Tales for more such updates and insightful information. And, how did you find Isha’s suggestions? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cover Image Courtesy: Isha Borah
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