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Sure having a job abroad is great and unique, but does anyone talk about getting the infamous work visa to be able to live and work abroad?

No.

Why?

Because it’s honestly a pain in the butt and full of long tedious paperwork. And let’s be honest, no one likes doing paperwork. There’s a lot of back and forth between government departments and LOTS of waiting in between. Your patience is definitely going to be put to the test. Having now worked in two countries, I can tell you that the process doesn’t get any easier. However, when that visa finally does come through, you will be having all the feels for your new life abroad.

Work Visas 101

Typically work visas are sponsored for one year by a company or organization in the host country. You will need to be hired on and contracted by this company in order to receive a work visa. Every year the visa will need to be renewed.

Each country varies on the requirements for the visa and the length of time to process. In my experience in Thailand, work visas and permits for teachers take 5-6 months to process.

Your employer should take care of all of this for you. If they don’t, that is a red flag and you should be cautious about working for them. They should provide you with a contract and a list of required documents that you need to apply for the visa. Typically this includes items such as passport, passport photos, education degree, and background checks.

Benefits of the Work Visa

The big benefit of having a work visa is being able to be a resident of that country. This means you can open a bank account which opens many doors to be able to use online banking and mobile banking. You will also be able to stay in the country for the entirety of the visa, so no visa runs to neighboring countries. You’re also eligible to get a driver’s license in that country. That also comes with some perks like flying domestic without your passport and just your license.

The Waiting Game

Recently I’ve taken a position teaching in Istanbul. Under normal circumstances — without COVID — the visa process would only take about 2-3 weeks. For me, it took almost 2 months and on top of that, the consulates and embassy’s were closed or not accepting work visa applications until a later date.

Not only was it frustrating and time consuming, it made it hard to plan anything because I didn’t know when I was going to be able to leave. I was constantly checking emails everyday waiting for the one email that said yes you can process your work visa application.

That day didn’t come until weeks after I submitted the initial paperwork. In those weeks I felt like I was wasting time and had no real direction on where I was going in life. Throw COVID and quarantine on top of that and it just wasn’t a good mix. My fate was in the hands of government agencies.

When everything finally came together, I went from having nothing to do to having a million things to do all at the same time. Embassy appointments, packing, buying a plane ticket, finding a place to stay in Istanbul, and how I was going to leave the airport with a bunch of heavy luggage.

Is it Worth the Wait?

Hands down, yes it is worth the wait.

Were there times when I wanted to pull my hair out and have doubts about whether or not it would actually happen? Of course, but the thrill of being able to live and work in another country is something that not everyone has the opportunity to do.

You do not want to be in a situation where you’re working illegally and you’re unable to get paid or take your money out of the country. There are lots of employers who will try and cheat the system because they don’t want to wait for paperwork or pay the fees associated with the visa.

Visiting a country for a few days or weeks is completely different from actually living there and being immersed in the everyday life and culture. Things like going to the grocery store are suddenly exciting. Eating at a restaurant becomes an adventure trying to decipher the menu in another language.

Occasionally, museums or some major tourist attractions will give discounts or local pricing to you when you show proof of your work permit. So you can enjoy the attractions at a discount.

And remember, you have a whole year in this country. It will go by fast, but you don’t need to see and do everything in one day. Take sightseeing slow and enjoy living in a foreign country.