Top 10 Countries for Working Abroad in 2025

💼 Top industries: winter sports, ecotourism, agriculture
☀️ Activities: hiking, surfing, rafting, biking
📝 Visa info: New Zealand Immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• A healthy work-life balance creates a truly unique atmosphere.
• NZ’s government and people are progressive and welcoming.

❌ Cons:

• There is limited career mobility within certain fields due to the small population.
• Life can feel fairly quiet and isolated.

If you’re a young adult looking to expand your perspective through a grand adventure and plan to fund it with work along the way, New Zealand may be the perfect destination for you! From adventure sports companies to tour operators to farmers, there are seemingly endless short-term and seasonal employment opportunities throughout the country.

Most job opportunities outside of agriculture will be in or around Auckland, Wellington, or smaller, tourist towns like Queenstown. These can be found through a work exchange program or job boards. If you have a Working Holiday Visa, you can apply for jobs once in NZ.

💼 Top industries: tech, international affairs, research
☀️ Activities: canal cruises, arts and culture, biking
📝 Visa info: The Netherlands immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• The vast majority of Dutch people speak English.
• There are low crime rates even in the cities.

❌ Cons:

• It can be hard to make friends with local people due to close-knit social circles.
• Salaries are high but expenses are also high.

A favorite destination among expats due to its quality of life, work-life balance, and strong economy, the Netherlands is another excellent option for working abroad. Additionally, the Netherlands is on the cutting edge of research and academia, and expats will find abundant opportunities to work in these fields. With a strong focus on sustainable energy and a clean environment, the Netherlands is also a great place to find work in tech or energy.

LinkedIn is a great place to network and search for jobs in The Netherlands. As a tech-forward country, most openings will be advertised online and accessible through top international job search sites. If you dream of finding a career in the Netherlands but aren’t sure where to start, consider getting an internship there first.

💼 Top industries: education, tech,
☀️ Activities: street markets, heritage tourism, cooking classes
📝 Visa info: South Korea immigration portal, working holiday agreement

✅ Pros:

• Work environments are collaborative and friendly.
• Jobs often come with a high salary and great benefits like accommodation.

❌ Cons:

• If homesick, finding grocery products from home can be challenging
• Employees often work longer hours than they are contracted for due to pressure to perform

From the bustling metropolis of Seoul to the stunning natural beauty of Korea’s interior, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Seoul, Busan, and Daegu have sizable expat communities, fun nightlife, and, most importantly, delicious food. Living and working in Korea is sure to be an experience of a lifetime for any international worker.

While all types of jobs are available to international workers, especially those fluent in English, South Korea stands out as one of the best destinations to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL). As an English teacher, you’ll be paid a competitive wage and housing is usually included in your contract. The Korean Ministry of Education and National Institute for International Education operate English Program in Korea (EPIK), with the goal of developing the English skills of Korean students.

💼 Top industries: agriculture, hospitality and tourism, marketing
☀️ Activities: water sports, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife and ecotours
📝 Visa info: Australia immigration portal, working holiday visa

✅ Pros:

• Workers enjoy high salaries.
• Oz has a fun and inclusive work culture.

❌ Cons:

• There are often long wait times for public transport in major cities.
• The cost of living is high for certain things like groceries and produce.

Australia consistently ranks highly as a country with excellent quality of life, standards of living, and overall happiness. People here enjoy a great work-life balance – and it is not hard to enjoy your time outside the office in such a beautiful country. From its wide-open outback, pristine beaches, and cosmopolitan cities, Australia has it all. Sydney and Melbourne are known for their multicultural population, making it extremely easy for an expat to adjust to life in Australia.

Australia is an excellent choice for travelers looking for a work exchange experience. There are established organizations like WWOOF that will connect you directly with a work exchange host who provides meals and lodging in exchange for up to 36 hours of work a week. Workaway is another popular resource for matching travelers with homestays, work exchanges, and volunteer opportunities.

💼 Top industries: engineering, finance, pharmeceuticals
☀️ Activities: castle tours, hiking, museums, sports
📝 Visa info: Germany immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• Germany has an excellent social welfare system.
• There is quick and efficient public transportation across the country.

❌ Cons:

• Germans can be private and reserved at first, making it challenging to make friends.
• High tax rates mean slightly smaller salaries.

The enriching culture and unbeatable work-life balance make Germany a great place to build a career overseas, especially for engineers. People work less (about 27 hours per week) and live better as a result! The larger cities remain the most popular among international workers, with Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt having the largest expat communities. Regardless of where you end up, you’ll get a taste of the eclectic charm that is characteristic of this innovative European country.

Finding work within your career field in Germany will be more difficult if you don’t speak German. Linkedin allows you to filter available jobs by industry, type of work, and the language in which the job can be performed. You may also want to consider doing a graduate degree in Germany (most are tuition-free!) to take advantage of their graduate job search scheme after graduation. If you’re already recent grad looking to take your career to the next level, think about doing an internship in Germany.

💼 Top industries: tourism, ecotourism, renewable energy
☀️ Avg. monthly salary: beaches, dance classes, ecotourism
📝 Visa info: Brazil immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• Brazilian people tend to be friendly and open.
• Healthcare is affordable, even for expats.

❌ Cons:

• Crime can be problematic in cities due to major income inequality.
• There is economic instability due to government corruption.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, and with that has the most opportunities for expats. This lively country has a booming tourism industry. While Portuguese is the primary language in the country, there are many opportunities for English speakers within large cities like Rio de Janeiro. Brazil places a high importance on work-life balance and fair compensation for long workweeks making it a great place to work if you’re tired of the rat race.

To find English-speaking jobs in Brazil, consider using job classified sites, like Glassdoor, that allow you to filter language preferences. Brazilian expat community pages on social media sites are another great place to connect with fellow travelers and find jobs targeting international workers. Additionally, a trip down to Brazil to meet with local companies is always a great networking option!

💼 Top industries: energy, biotech, agriculture
☀️ Activities: biking, amusement parks, museums
📝 Visa info Denmark immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• Because taxes are high, healthcare and education are free for everyone.
• Low rates of income inequality mean happy citizens.

❌ Cons:

• The cost of living is quite high.
• The weather is cold and there is limited sunlight for much of the year.

Denmark promotes a fantastic work-life balance, has strong social welfare resources, including professional child care and public healthcare, and is one of Earth’s safest and happiest countries. Combining this with the high standard of living and strong economy it’s easy to see why Denmark is one of the best destinations to work abroad.

There are plenty of options for finding work as an English speaker in Denmark, from working as an au pair to teaching English. You can follow the latest job postings here on the Go Overseas Job Board. Recent grads can also consider interning in Denmark.

💼 Top industries: finance, international business, textiles
☀️Activities: safaris, hiking, ecotourism
📝 Visa info: Botswana immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• A growing economy means more job opportunities.
• The weather is warm and sunny year-round.

❌ Cons:

• There is varied social acceptance of foreigners as well as people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
• Botswana experiences major income inequality.

While it may be a non-traditional location for expats looking for countries to work abroad, Botswana is a wonderful Southern African country with a stable democracy and strong finance sector. It is also one of the safest countries in Africa. According to The World Bank, Botswana is one of the fastest-growing economies globally, making it a great place to build a career.

English is one of the two official languages in Botswana (Tswana being the other), meaning the language barrier will be insignificant for most English speakers working there. Many international corporations operate and hire workers in Botswana, including Microsoft, Deloitte, World Bank Group, Heineken, Coca-Cola, Visa, and PWC, so opportunities are abundant. In addition to intra-company transfers, expats can find opportunities in Botswana through the Jobs4bw job board.

💼 Top industries: finanace, mining and petroleum, agribusiness
☀️Activities: adventure tourism, hiking, canoeing, camping
📝 Visa info: Canada immigration portal, working holiday visa

✅ Pros:

• All citizens and permanent residents receive universal healthcare.
• A strong employment market welcomes foreign workers.

❌ Cons:

• Weather can be extreme depending on where you live.
• The taxes and cost of living are high.

Canada is a progressive country with a solid list of mandatory employee benefits, including parental leave, 25 vacation days a year, and the highest minimum wage in North America. The average salary is high in Canada, and the cost of living is quite reasonable, making it a great destination to work and build savings. Canada is also one of the safest countries on Earth and has a thriving economy that is ranked 14th in size globally.

Since Canada has many job opportunities spanning across various sections, especially in IT, research, healthcare, and energy. English is the primary spoken language in most of Canada, so there will be no language barrier for English-speaking expats or interns. You can find general positions on Indeed or healthcare-specific listings on Healthcarejobs.ca.

💼 Top industries: tourism, agriculture, textiles
☀️ Activities: cultural sites, historical tourism, biking, ecotourism
📝 Visa info: Cambodia immigration portal

✅ Pros:

• Low cost of living means you can enjoy quality accommodation and services.
• You’ll find loads of natural beauty and cultural sites in Cambodia.

❌ Cons:

• Developing infrastructure makes access to quality education and medical care difficult.
• Wifi can be spotty and unreliable in homes across the country.

The growing trend of digital nomads worldwide has inspired some countries to attract these workers with friendly visa schemes and other benefits. Cambodia is home to a significant expat community and has recently caught the attention of remote workers looking for a low cost of living, beautiful culture, tropical weather, and world-class cuisine. As a digital nomad, you’ll already be employed by a company that allows you to work from anywhere. You will simply need to secure your visa!

From the vibrant capital of Phnom Penh to the laid-back city of Siem Reap, international workers can rent a room for just $300 a month and will find coworking space nearby for as little as $5/day. Work from a coworking space or hop into a Wi-Fi cafe for a strong signal to keep you and your clients happy.

There are many other fantastic destinations to work and live abroad, and the perfect destination that meets your goals and aspirations may not be on this list. Don’t let that deter you from taking the leap and pursuing work overseas. The insight you will gain, the broader perspective you will develop, and the memories you will make will be worth all the work it takes.