How to work from anywhere: a practical guide
Working from anywhere is an exciting adventure, but it can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. This guide walks you through how to work from anywhere in the world and stay productive.
By Laura Nineham
SEO, GEO & Content Marketing Manager
6th Aug 2026
Working from another country, even for just a few weeks, is one of the most in-demand perks in the modern job market. At Flexa, we see this reflected in our data every year: work from anywhere schemes are the most searched-for benefit among candidates, with 75% of people prioritising them when evaluating their next role, according to our 2026 Talent Insights report. Location flexibility comes second only to salary in what candidates want from an employer.
But does your employer have a work from anywhere scheme, and if so, how can you actually use it to work from abroad?
How to ask your employer
If you’re already working for a WFA company, the first step is to read the policy properly. Most HR handbooks or intranet pages will set out how many days you're allowed, how far in advance you need to request a trip, and whether certain countries are excluded.
If the policy exists but isn't well documented, ask your manager directly rather than going to HR first. That’s because your manager will usually have a clearer sense of what's practical for your team, and what will actually get approved.
If there's no formal policy, that doesn't mean the answer is no. The key is to make it easy to say yes: come with a specific proposal, rather than a vague request.
When requesting to work from anywhere, make sure you tell your manager where you'll be, what hours you'll work, how you'll stay available to the team, and what the time zone difference means in practice. Addressing the obvious concerns before they're raised, and offering to trial it for a shorter period first, tends to work better than a broad ask for "more flexibility."
If you get a no, it's worth asking whether the issue is the policy or the practicalities. Sometimes a company doesn't officially offer WFA but will accommodate individual requests; sometimes the policy exists but hasn't been properly communicated. Either way, knowing where you stand gives you something to work with.
What to organise before you go
The practical admin of working from anywhere matters more than people expect, and most of it needs to happen before you book anything.
Check your WFA limit
The first question you’ll have is “how many days can I work from abroad?”. The answer usually lies in your employer’s WFA policy. Take a look and make sure you know exactly how it's counted, whether that's calendar days, working days, or nights away. Then check which countries are permitted under the policy; some employers exclude certain jurisdictions for tax or payroll reasons, and finding this out after you've booked is not ideal.
Check tax and employment laws
Tax and employment law is the part of working from anywhere that most people underestimate.
In the UK, the statutory residency test uses a range of factors to determine where you're liable for tax, with spending 183 days or more in a single country being one of the clearest triggers for tax residency in that country.
But even shorter stays can create obligations depending on your employment contract, your personal circumstances, and the rules of the country you're visiting. Your employer's HR or legal team should be able to tell you which countries they're set up to support; if they can't, that's worth flagging before you go.
If you’re unsure, make sure you speak to a qualified accountant or tax adviser for personalised advice.
Check visas
Beyond tax, check whether your destination requires a visa for remote workers. Many countries now offer dedicated digital nomad visas, including Portugal, Spain, and Japan, with processing times that can range from a few weeks to several months, so factor that into your planning. Also confirm that your travel and health insurance covers you while you're working abroad, since standard holiday policies often don't.
How to choose a WFA destination
When you’re thinking about how to work from anywhere in the world, you need to consider the infrastructure first and make sure you select somewhere that can properly support your work.
Make sure your destination has good internet connectivity
Reliable internet is non-negotiable. While reviewing accommodation, make sure you check reviews for people mentioning Wi-Fi issues and reach out to ask for more details if you need confirmation.
If you can, try to stay somewhere that has coworking spaces nearby – or at least some laptop-friendly cafes with strong Wi-Fi. Not only does it help you to mix up your environment, but it can be a safety net if your accommodation’s internet fails.
Consider time zones
The time zone overlap can make or break your work from anywhere experience. A two or three hour difference is easy to absorb, but anything over four hours starts to require real schedule adjustments, and whether that's workable depends entirely on your role and team.
Be honest about your own body clock. If you naturally wake up early and perform well before 9am, then you might be fine to head west and log on at the crack of dawn. But if you need longer for your brain to wake up, going east would give you a more leisurely start to your day.
For example, working from Lisbon, the Canary Islands, or Tallinn barely requires any schedule adjustment if you're UK-based; all three also have well-established remote worker communities and reliable infrastructure. Tokyo topped the International Workplace Group's 2025 workcation destination index for its broadband speeds, transport, safety, and newly launched digital nomad visa, though the time difference means it suits roles with more schedule autonomy.
Factor in the cost of living
Your budget is one of the key things to explore when you’re wondering how to work from anywhere. Particularly if you have to cover the cost of your bills at home while you travel, choosing to spend a couple of weeks in an expensive country can seriously limit what you’re able to do. Likewise, heading to a more affordable destination can support you to make the most of the area and let you stay away for longer.
You can get a sense of the local cost of living on websites like numbeo.com, which lists the cost of comparable items in major cities around the world.
How to track your WFA days
Most WFA policies run annually, so tracking your days from the first trip is easier than trying to reconstruct it at the end of the year. A simple spreadsheet works well, but so does tagging days in your calendar. If your employer uses an HR platform, check whether there's a formal logging process, since some companies require pre-approval for each trip rather than just a one-off conversation.
Build in a buffer wherever you can. If your policy allows 60 days, aim to stay under 55, so you have room to extend a trip without stressing about compliance. If you're working across multiple countries in the same year, track each jurisdiction separately, since some countries have very short thresholds before employment obligations kick in.
How to stay productive when working from anywhere
The evidence on remote work and productivity is broadly positive. Research consistently shows that remote workers are at least as productive as in-office counterparts, with studies pointing to fewer interruptions and better ability to focus on complex tasks.
What tends to matter most is having the right infrastructure and maintaining clear communication, rather than where you're sitting. But there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re primed to be productive.
Tip: build a routine
Routine matters more in an unfamiliar environment than it does at home. If you want to stay productive, starting and finishing work at consistent times protects both your focus and your evenings. That’s particularly important if you're in a different time zone, where the lines between work and off-time can blur quickly.
Tip: think about where you work
Choose your workspace intentionally. Working from your Airbnb every day is fine for a few days, but over a longer stay, coworking spaces offer structure, reliable connectivity, and the kind of low-level background noise many people find more conducive to focus than silence. They also tend to be good places to meet other remote workers if you're travelling solo for a longer stretch.
Tip: keep communication consistent
Visibility matters when you're not physically present, and a quick message about what you're working on goes further than you'd think. This isn't about performing productivity; it's about making sure your team isn't left guessing.
FAQs about working from anywhere
What should I organise before my first WFA trip?
The first thing you need to do before your trip is to check your employer's WFA policy for the day limit, permitted countries, and notice requirements. Next, look into tax obligations for your destination, check whether you need a visa for remote work, and confirm your travel and health insurance covers you whilst working — because standard holiday policies often don't.
How do I choose the right WFA destination?
To choose the best destination for working from anywhere, you should start with infrastructure, because reliable internet matters more than almost anything else. From there, consider time zone overlap with your team — a two to three hour difference is easy to work with, but more than four or five hours starts to require real schedule adjustments. The cost of living is also worth factoring in if you're covering accommodation on top of your home bills. Check sites like numbeo.com, which lets you compare costs across cities before you commit.
What's the best way to track my WFA days?
The best way to track your WFA days is with a system that you’ll keep updated, and a simple calendar tag or spreadsheet works well. Track from the first day of the year rather than trying to reconstruct it later, and count each jurisdiction separately if you're travelling to multiple countries. If your employer has an HR platform, check whether there's a formal logging process too, as some companies require pre-approval for each trip.
How do I stay productive when working from a new place?
To stay productive while you work from anywhere, you need to develop a routine you can rely on. That means establishing consistent start and finish times, protecting your focus and stopping evenings from bleeding into work, especially across time zones. Coworking spaces are worth considering for longer stays because they offer structure and reliable connectivity that Airbnb bedrooms rarely match. Keeping your team updated on what you're working on also goes a long way, since visibility matters more when you're not physically present.
What if I accidentally go over my WFA limit?
If you go over your WFA limit, let your manager or HR know as soon as you realise. Most employers will handle it with a conversation rather than a formal process, particularly if it's a first occurrence. The bigger risk is the compliance angle: if going over the limit means you've stayed longer in a country than is safe from a tax perspective, that's worth flagging to HR so they can take advice. Build a buffer into your planning (aim to use around 5 days fewer days than your limit) to avoid this situation.
Can I work from anywhere if I'm on a hybrid contract?
You might be able to work from anywhere if you’re on a hybrid contract, but you’ll need to check. Hybrid contracts typically specify how many days you're expected in the office, which can complicate WFA trips if your required in-office days fall during the period you're abroad. But many employers with hybrid arrangements also have WFA policies, because the two can work alongside each other.