Global remote work has grown significantly in recent years, offering significant advantages for both businesses and workers. Whether you’re looking for a content writer in Argentina or a website developer in Poland, working with contractor talent abroad can be an exciting opportunity. But it also comes with its challenges.
At Remitly, we want to help streamline the process and make it as simple as possible. In this article, we’ll take a look at hiring international contractors, picking the best ones for your firm, and how you can kickstart a successful work relationship.
Why hire contractor talent abroad?
Remote work isn’t just a trend; it’s becoming a part of the norm. One statistic shows that global remote work listings jumped from 1.5 million to 2.5 million between January and May 2025; a 67% increase.
This is because more companies are seeing the benefits of using talent from abroad— cost-effectiveness being an important one. For example, the average hourly rate for a contractor in the US is $63.72 (USD) per hour. By contrast, these are the average rates in some other countries (converted into USD for easy comparison):
This doesn’t have to mean sacrificing on quality, though. Contractors from these and any other countries around the world can be just as high-quality as those based in the US.
There are multiple other benefits to hiring international contractors:
- Access to a larger talent pool: Keeping your hiring practices limited to one location—even one country—limits your talent pool. This can be especially restrictive when skills and workers are in high demand. By hiring international contractors, you expand your access to skilled experts around the globe.
- Expand into new markets with local experts: Freelancers abroad have firsthand experience of their local region, so they can provide unique insights and perspectives. This can be valuable when you’re expanding into new markets, as you can adapt your products or services to the local audience.
This helps explain why using freelancers abroad can be an appealing prospect. Let’s take a look at what you need to know before you start working with any contractors, especially those living and working abroad.
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Find contractors abroad: tips for using global remote work contractors
Looking for contractor talent abroad, such as virtual assistants, developers or designers, can seem complicated at first, but it gets easier with the right approach. Taking the right steps makes the recruiting process more manageable.
Whether you’re hiring for a one-off project or need to build a fully remote team, consider the following steps before you start the process.
Define your needs before starting the search
To save time and ensure success, be sure of what you need:
- Have a clear idea of what work needs to be done and exactly which skills are required.
- Think carefully about timeframes and deadlines.
- Write a comprehensive job description that includes required skills, experience, and language capabilities.
- Think about time zone compatibility. For example, if the contractor will need to attend meetings, hiring someone in a very different time zone might complicate this.
- Don’t overlook cultural fit. You’ll want to make sure contractors work well within your business.
Once you’re clear on exactly what you need, you’ll be in a better position to find people who are a good match.
Understand compliance and legal requirements
Legal compliance is another key area. You’ll need to be aware of both US and local laws.
- Independent contractor vs. employee: Most countries have strict definitions of both independent contractors and employees. In the US, misclassification can lead to penalties.
- Tax obligations: Countries have different tax systems to be aware of, and not following local laws could put you at risk of fines. For example, some require taxes to be withheld at the source, while others don’t. US companies usually don’t withhold taxes for foreign contractors, but you must comply with reporting requirements.
Tools like Deel and Remote may help you maintain legal compliance by automating things like payroll, taxes, and other areas.
Evaluate and interview effectively
Once freelancers have pitched for your project, you’ll need to evaluate and interview them before making a decision. Checking portfolios is a great start, as it can give you an accurate idea of an individual’s abilities and style. These can often be backed up by testimonials and reviews. You can also request paid work samples or trial assignments to get a better idea.
Conducting interviews once you’ve narrowed down your options is also recommended. Tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams let you set these up without much effort. In the interviews, ask concrete, project-related questions focused on finding contractors that can deliver the results you’re looking for.
International recruiting platforms: top picks for hiring international contractors
Hiring international contractors has never been more accessible, and there are plenty of platforms you can use to help with the process. Not all international recruiting platforms are made equal, though. Several options offer specialized—and streamlined—services.
Freelance marketplaces
Freelance marketplaces specialize in helping companies find freelancers, both locally and abroad.
There are plenty to choose from, but some of the best known are:
- Upwork: There’s a wide range of freelancers on the platform, ranging from relative newcomers to experts with years of experience.
- Fiverr: One of the more affordable options, projects on Fiverr usually focus on quick tasks with a relatively short turnaround. Like Upwork, there are plenty of freelancers to pick from with various levels of experience.
- Toptal: While Toptal has fewer freelancers to choose from, it has a rigorous screening process. Freelancers are more expensive to hire, but they’re usually the best of the best and offer high-level skills.
Each platform has different features, like resources and tools to make collaborating with contractor talent abroad easier. The one that works best for you depends on your company’s needs.
Remote work job boards
Alongside these are international recruiting platforms that post remote job opportunities. While many of them focus on in-house roles, you can also find freelancers abroad.
Some of the more well-known of these platforms include:
- We Work Remotely: This focuses on remote-friendly jobs spanning both freelance and full-time roles.
- Remote.co: This offers a curated list of open remote jobs and even provides resources for both companies and workers to help with the hiring process.
You might also consider working with a recruitment agency that specializes in helping companies find remote workers. These can be an effective option as they take a lot of the recruitment process out of your hands, but they can be more expensive.
Choosing the right platform or agency will depend on your project size, budget, and compliance needs.
Onboarding and building successful relationships
It’s natural to feel unsure about hiring global remote workers at first, but navigating this new work relationship doesn’t have to be complicated. Proper onboarding makes sure your company is well-positioned to work effectively with freelancers abroad.
These best practices can help to ensure a positive working relationship:
- Set clear expectations: For your contractor to do well, they’ll need to know exactly what’s expected of them. Set expectations early, such as deliverables and timelines, and make sure they’re understood before moving forward. The clearer they are, the better.
- Provide comprehensive documentation: Providing project briefs, creating appropriate contracts, and handing over branding guidelines streamlines communication and reduces errors.
- Hold an onboarding meeting: An onboarding meeting—preferably through video—lets you highlight your expectations, get to know your freelancer better, introduce them to anyone else they’ll be working with, and answer any questions they might have.
- Give feedback early and regularly: This helps your freelancers get up to speed quickly and helps build trust.
- Respect local culture and practices: Being mindful of a contractor’s local traditions and culture is also key. Cultural sensitivity helps contribute to a positive working environment.
- Use collaboration tools: Some platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr, make managing tasks and communication quick and easy. Some other popular tools are:
These steps help to get the remote work arrangement off to a good start, but effective collaboration and communication are important throughout the duration of the agreement. Putting an emphasis on building a successful long-term partnership with your freelancers is a worthwhile investment of your time that can help fuel your company’s growth.
Summing it up
Hiring contractor talent abroad is an exciting opportunity, offering affordable access to experts abroad. As challenging as the task may feel at first, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
Start small, use international recruitment platforms, ensure legal compliance, and invest in building strong working relationships. Explore the tools we’ve highlighted to take the first step toward finding international contractors with confidence.
FAQs
What platforms are best for finding international contractors?
Upwork, Toptal, and Fiverr are some of the more well-known platforms for hiring freelancers. Options like Remote.co are also great international recruiting platforms for remote roles.
How can I ensure legal compliance when hiring contractors abroad?
Researching regulations local to the contractor is a great start. Platforms like Deel and Remote offer tools to oversee compliance, payroll, and contracts.
What qualities should I prioritize when hiring an international contractor?
Skills and experience are the most obvious qualities to focus on. However, you shouldn’t overlook their time zone and work ethic to make sure they can work efficiently with your company.
How can I handle payment for international contractors?
Platforms like PayPal and Payoneer are quick, affordable ways to send money to international contractors.